strategic interactive approach Archives

Melissa Jo Peltier, who created a documentary about Trump Voters

The Game Is Up: Disillusioned Trump Voters Tell Their Stories

In my book, The Cult of Trump, I explored the parallels between Trump and cult leaders, arguing that his presidency was much like a destructive cult. The indoctrination techniques Trump used to build fanatical devotion in his supporters is akin to those of Jim Jones, David Koresh, Ron Hubbard, and Sun Myung Moon. Trump’s lies, lack of conscience, inability to admit when he is wrong, and projecting his shortcomings onto others can be seen in many cult leaders. With his rise to the presidency, he became more authoritarian and though he lost the election in 2020, he continues the lie that it was stolen and his supporters continue to believe him.

Steven Hassan, October 27, 2022

How to help a friend or family member out of their extreme belief

Thanksgiving has always been a time for families to come together. Unfortunately, many families have experienced polarization or division regarding topics like politics, religion...

Steven Hassan, November 22, 2021

NECSI COVID COMMUNITY ACTION SUMMIT: A Cult Expert’s Advice on Dealing with Anti-Vaxxers and General Vaccine Hesitancy

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc worldwide, resulting in more than two million deaths, seriously weakening or destroying economic and social systems, resulting in a tremendous increase in mental health problems. A frantic search for effective vaccines has consumed the scientific community since it was first identified. Vaccines have now been developed at record speed.

Steven Hassan, February 9, 2021

Ex-MAGA Troll David Weissman Gives Interview about His Process of Realizing That Facts Matter

This past Monday, November 18, 2019, was the 41st anniversary of the Jonestown Massacre where over 900 people were killed. Last year, I wrote a blog about this tragedy and how it forever changed me: Jonestown and the Mind Control Cult of Jim Jones: A Survivor’s Story. Most of the people who died were members

Steven Hassan, November 21, 2019

What Is Wrong with Asking “How to Deprogram People from a Fervent Belief in Trump?”

I have been doing interviews for The Cult of Trump book and, increasingly, the question of deprogramming is used, especially in the header. What I would like my readers to understand is that this comes from the editor or producer and not at my request. I have never liked the term “deprogramming”, even though I

Steven Hassan, October 31, 2019

The Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems 2018 Sponsored by NECSI

July 26, 2018, This past Sunday, July 22, 2018, I was honored to be the opening plenary speaker at the 9th International Conference on Complex Systems (ICCS) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My talk was entitled, A Complex Systems Approach to Countering Mind Control, Trafficking and, Terrorism. It was well-received, the questions were many, and the feedback

Steven Hassan, July 26, 2018

Freedom of Mind: Index of Blogs

June 19, 2018 I try to blog every week with updates about my work, research, current events, high control groups, coercive control, media and other topics. I have written pieces on U.S. politics, world news, child abuse, human trafficking, terrorism, undue influence, multi-level marketing, and healing and recovery. Whether you are new to Freedom of

Steven Hassan, July 19, 2018

Errant Belief #10: “We Have Lost Hope”

Have a Positive Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Not a Negative One In my opinion, giving up hope is a dysfunctional coping mechanism to deal with the pain. Unfortunately, it suggests incorrectly that there is nothing constructive that can be done. If family members and friends no longer believe that the person will reestablish contact (if they have

Steven Hassan, June 21, 2018

Errant Belief #9: “She’ll Walk out on Her Own When She Is Ready”

Is She Really Free to Leave? This attitude presumes that the cult member has the freedom of mind, finances, and the resources to just “leave.” The bars are invisible but very real. In my experience, depending on the length of his involvement, the “exit cost” is usually very high to walk out of a high

Steven Hassan, May 31, 2018

The Freedom of Mind Approach to Recovery and Healing from Destructive Cults

The Freedom of Mind approach to recovery and healing from destructive cults is customizable and designed to meet the needs of most any person who has been influenced by a cult. People who were born or raised in a cult have spent their early developmental years under cult control. Other people may have entered into

Steven Hassan, May 17, 2018

Errant Belief #6: “He’s Too Intelligent to Join a Cult”

Intelligent People Fall Prey to Cults Creativity & Imagination Can Be Used to Control a Person Cult mind control groups thrive to the extent that they can recruit such intelligent, dynamic people. It is essential for all members of the Team (part of the SIA) to realize that cults target these people for recruitment. The

Steven Hassan, April 19, 2018

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Charles Duhigg’s New York Times Podcast: “Change Agent”

The “Change Agent” podcast is a five-episode series by The New York Times. It is hosted by Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author of “The Power of Habit” and “Smarter Faster Better.” It uses real-life problems to try and solve a surprising story. (When we worked on the podcast last year, Duhigg was

Steven Hassan, March 8, 2018