Undue Influence 101: A Framework for Understanding Thought Control Panelists: Bill Goldberg, Steve Hassan, Dana Wehle, Paul Grosswald ICSA Annual Internaonal Conference Silver Spring, Maryland July 4, 2014 Welcome New Jersey Safe & Sound www.njsafeandsound.org Overview 1. Recognizing Undue Influence 2. Understanding the Mechanisms of Undue Influence 3. Mental Health Consideraons for Families Confronted With the Cul-c Alienaon of a Loved One 4. Ques-on and Answer Session Panelists • Bill Goldberg, PsA, LCSW • Steve Hassan, M.Ed., LMHC, NCC • Dana Wehle, LCSW, PsA, MFA • Paul Grosswald, Esq. Part One The MulIple Faces of Undue Influence Bill Goldberg, PsA, LCSW www.blgoldberg.com Recognizing Undue Influence • The elements of influence in everyday life • Definions of undue influence • Categories of individuals who use undue influence • Who can employ undue influence? • Margaret Singer’s model of thought reform • Possible signs and symptoms of undue influence • Can undue influence be undone? Elements of Influence In Everyday Life Robert Cialdini Elements of Influence in Everyday Life Cialdini • Reciprocaon • Commitment and consistency • Social proof • Liking • Authority • Scarcity Defini-ons of Undue Influence • Gaining unfair influence by taking advantage of a posi-on of power over another • Inappropriate or excessive manipulaon that is exerted against a vulnerable person • Mental, moral or physical dominaon that deprives one person of independent judgment and subs-tutes another person’s objec-ves Categories of Individuals Who Use Undue Influence • Con ar-sts • People who desire to gain power over others • Those who may not have set out to exploit vulnerable people, but who find the temptaon too great • Those who raonalize that their self-serving ac-ons are really in the service of helping their vic-ms Who Can Employ Undue Influence? • Anyone in a posi-on of power • Adult to child • Aide/caregiver to disabled or elderly person • Abusive spouse/partner to baered spouse/partner • Therapist to paent • Religious leader to member of congregaon • Cult leader to follower • Gang leader to ini-ate • Sexual predator/human trafficker to vic-m • A`orney to client • Doctor to paent • Professor to student • Employer to employee Margaret Singer’s Model of Elements of Thought Reform • Isolaon • Creaon of a siege mentality • Dependency • Induced powerlessness • Fear of vulnerability • Vic-m is unaware Possible Signs and Symptoms of Undue Influence • Dras-c change in autonomy • Secre-ve relaonships • Use of clichés and simplis-c thinking • Cung off of historic relaonships • Delusional quality of accusaons, beyond misinterpretaons • History of abuse for alleged influencer Can Undue Influence Be Undone? • If what is operang is induced dependency, vic-ms will have moments of recogni-on and unconscious doubts • Rebuild trust so that ambivalence can be acknowledged • Use of third par-es to build trust Part Two Understanding Undue Influence: ManipulaIon and Coercive Persuasion Steve Hassan, M.Ed., LMHC, NCC www.freedomofmind.com Influence Connuum Construc-ve Destruc-ve Extreme Leadership • Honest o Respects Uniqueness of Person o Individuality • Trustworthy o Choice o Freewill • Accountable o Free Access to Informaon • Transparent o Sincerely Loving Influence Connuum Construc-ve Destruc-ve Extreme Organizaons • Informed Consent • Checks and Balances • Transparent • Encourages Growth Influence Connuum Construc-ve Destruc-ve Extreme Leadership o Censorship • Clones People Doctrine Over Personal Experience o • o Pressure to Think Right Way Obedience o Pressure to Feel Right Way • Dependency o Pressure to Behave Right Way • Fear/Phobia Influence Connuum Construc-ve Destruc-ve Extreme Organizaons • Pyramid • Authoritarian • Ends Jus-fy Means • Closed – Preserves Power Influence Connuum Construc-ve Destruc-ve Extreme Need to be cau-ous of Influence Apply BITE Model Ques-ons • Behavior • Informaon • Thought • Emoon The BITE Model as a Guide to Evaluang Groups and Situaons Steven Hassan M.Ed. LMHC, NCC www.freedomofmind.com Control of: • Behavior • Informaon • Thought • Emoon “BITE” - Behavior Control 1. Regulate individual’s physical 8. Restrict leisure, entertainment, reality vacaon -me 9. Major -me spent with group 2. Dictate where, how and with indoctrinaon and rituals and/or whom the members lives and self indoctrinaon including the associates or isolates internet 3. When, how and with whom 10. Permission required for major the member has sex decisions 11. Thoughts, feelings, and ac-vi-es (of 4. Control types of clothing and self and others) reported to hairstyles superiors 5. Regulate diet – food and 12. Rewards and punishments used to drink, hunger and/or fas-ng modify behaviors, both posi-ve and 6. Manipulaon and deprivaon negave 13. Discourage individualism, of sleep encourage group-think 7. Financial exploitaon, 14. Impose rigid rules and regulaons manipulaon or dependence 15. Ins-ll dependency and obedience “BITE” - Informaon Control 1. Deception: 4. Encourage spying on other members » Deliberately withhold information » Impose a buddy system to » Distort information to make it monitor and control member more acceptable » Report deviant thoughts, » Systematically lie to the cult feelings, and actions to member leadership 2. Minimize or discourage access to non-cult sources of » Insure that individual behavior information, including: is monitored by group » Internet, TV, radio, books, articles, 5. Extensive use of cult-generated information and propaganda, including: newspapers, magazines, other media » Newsletters, magazines, journals, audio tapes, » Critical information videotapes, YouTube, movies, » Former members and other media » Keep members busy so they don’t » MisQuoting statements or using have time to think and investigate them out of context from non- » Control through cell phone with cult sources texting, calls, Internet tracking 6. Unethical use of confession 3. Compartmentalize information into Outsider vs. » Information about “sins” used Insider doctrines: to disrupt and/or dissolve » Insure that information is not identity boundaries freely accessible » Withholding forgiveness or » Control information at different absolution levels and missions within group » Manipulation of memory, » Allow only leadership to decide possible false memories who needs to know what and when “BITE” - Thought Control 1. Require members to internalize 6. Memories are manipulated and false the group’s doctrine as truth memories are created Ø Adop-ng the group’s “map of reality” as reality 7. Teaching thought-stopping techniques Ø Ins-ll black and white thinking which shut down reality tes-ng by Ø Decide between good vs. evil stopping negave thoughts and Ø Organize people into us vs. allowing only posi-ve thoughts, them (insiders vs. outsiders) including: 2. Change person’s name and Ø Denial, raonalizaon, jus-ficaon, iden-ty wishful thinking 3. Use of loaded language and clichés which constrict Ø Chan-ng knowledge, stop cri-cal Ø Meditang thoughts, and reduce complexi-es into platudinous Ø Praying buzz words Ø Speaking in tongues 4. Encourage only “good and Ø Singing or humming proper” thoughts 8. Rejec-on of raonal analysis, cri-cal 5. Hypno-c techniques are used to alter mental states, undermine thinking, construc-ve cri-cism cri-cal thinking and even to age 9. Forbid cri-cal ques-ons about leader, regress the member doctrine, or policy 10. Labeling alternave belief systems as illegi-mate, evil, or not useful “BITE” - Emoonal Control 1. Manipulate and narrow the range of feelings – 6. Extremes of emo-onal highs and lows – love some emo-ons and/or needs are deemed as evil, wrong, or selfish bombing and praise one moment and then 2. Teach emo-on-stopping techniques to block declaring you are horrible sinner feelings of homesickness, anger, doubt 7. Ritualis-c and some-mes public confession of 3. Make the person feel that problems are always sins their own fault, never the leader’s or the group’s fault 8. Phobia indoctrinaon — inculcang irraonal 4. Promote feelings of guilt or unworthiness, such fears about leaving the group or ques-oning as: the leader’s authority: Ø Iden-ty guilt Ø You are not living up to your poten-al Ø No happiness or fulfillment possible Ø Your family is deficient outside the group Ø Your past is suspect Ø Terrible consequences if you leave: hell, Ø Your affiliaons are unwise demon possession, incurable diseases, Ø Your thoughts, feelings, ac-ons are irrelevant accidents, suicide, insanity, 10,000 or selfish reincarnaons, etc. Ø Social guilt Ø Historical guilt Ø Shunning of those who leave; fear of being 5. Ins-ll fear, such as fear of: rejected by friends, peers, and family Ø Thinking independently Ø Never a legi-mate reason to leave; those Ø The outside world who leave are weak, undisciplined, Ø Enemies unspiritual, worldly, brainwashed by family Ø Losing one’s salvaon or counselor, or seduced by money, sex, or Ø Leaving or being shunned by the group rock and roll Ø Other’s disapproval Ø Threats of harm to ex-member and family Strategic InteracIve Approach (SIA) A Complex System Approach to creang a network of trained individuals (family, friends, ex- members, media, clergy, therapists) to orchestrate a step by step ethical, influence program to empower an individual or set of individuals to think for themselves. Strategic InteracIve Approach (cont.) • The SIA is a long term recovery process for both the cult member and members of the family • The goal is to help the loved one recover their full facul-es; to restore the creave, flexible, independent adult who fully understands what has happened to them • In the SIA, each person has issues that should be addressed • A customized approach that encourages everyone to develop posi-ve, construc-ve paerns of communicaon • One focus is on the growth and development of healthy relaonships within the family • Everyone is traumazed by the cult involvement, even those who are not directly involved • Each case is different and presents new challenges; every set of family resources is unique Part Three Mental Health ConsideraIons for Families Confronted With the CulIc AlienaIon of a Loved One Dana Wehle, LCSW, PsA, MFA www.danawehletherapy.com Illustraon may not be reproduced without the wri`en permission of Dana Wehle .