B I T E Model for kids?

by Tylinbrando 5 Replies latest social family

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  Tylinbrando

  Had a little family study at the dinner table with my 10 & 12 year old sons. We discussed control tactics that some people use upon others. We specifically used the B I T E model. I reviewed some of the issues they have been struggling with (they spend half their time with JW mom) and asked them to tell me which category they fell under; behavior control, information control, thinking control or emotional control. Anyway they nailed it and they know BITE by heart. I think that's a great touchstone for critical thinking.
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  Simon

  maybe you could tell us what it is?
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  baltar447

  Great job!
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  Tylinbrando

  Mind Control – The BITE Model

  From chapter two of Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs (FOM Press 2012) formerlyReleasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves* © 2000 by Steven Hassan; published by Freedom of Mind Press, Newton MA

  Destructive mind control can be understood in terms of four basic components, which form the acronym BITE:

  I.	Behavior Control
  II.	Information Control
  III.	Thought Control
  IV.	Emotional Control

  It is important to understand that destructive mind
  control can be determined when the overall effect of these four
  components promotes dependency and obedience to some leader or cause.
  It is not necessary for every single item on the list to be present.
  Mind controlled cult members can live in their own apartments, have
  nine-to-five jobs, be married with children, and still be unable
  to think for themselves and act independently.

  Behavior Control

  1. Regulation of individual’s physical reality

  a. Where, how and with whom the member lives and associates with

  b. What clothes, colors, hairstyles the person wears

  c. What food the person eats, drinks, adopts, and rejects

  d. How much sleep the person is able to have

  e. Financial dependence

  f. Little or no time spent on leisure, entertainment, vacations

  2. Major time commitment required for indoctrination sessions and
  group rituals

  3. Need to ask permission for major decisions

  4. Need to report thoughts, feelings and activities to superiors

  5. Rewards and punishments (behavior modification techniques- positive
  and negative).

  6. Individualism discouraged; group think prevails

  7. Rigid rules and regulations

  8. Need for obedience and dependency

  Information Control

  1. Use of deception

  a. Deliberately holding back information

  b. Distorting information to make it acceptable

  c. Outright lying

  2. Access to non-cult sources of information minimized or discouraged

  a. Books, articles, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio

  b. Critical information

  c. Former members

  d. Keep members so busy they don’t have time to think

  3. Compartmentalization of information; Outsider vs. Insider doctrines

  a. Information is not freely accessible

  b. Information varies at different levels and missions within
  pyramid

  c. Leadership decides who “needs to know” what

  4. Spying on other members is encouraged

  a. Pairing up with “buddy” system to monitor and control

  b. Reporting deviant thoughts, feelings, and actions to leadership

  5. Extensive use of cult generated information and propaganda

  a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audio tapes, videotapes,
  etc.

  b. Misquotations, statements taken out of context from non-cult
  sources

  6. Unethical use of confession

  a. Information about “sins” used to abolish identity
  boundaries

  b. Past “sins” used to manipulate and control; no forgiveness
  or absolution

  Thought Control

  1. Need to internalize the group’s doctrine as “Truth”

  a. Map = Reality

  b. Black and White thinking

  c. Good vs. evil

  d. Us vs. them (inside vs. outside)

  2. Adopt “loaded” language (characterized by “thought-terminating
  clichés”). Words are the tools we use to think with.
  These “special” words constrict rather than expand understanding.
  They function to reduce complexities of experience into trite, platitudinous
  “buzz words”.

  3. Only “good” and “proper” thoughts are encouraged.

  4. Thought-stopping techniques (to shut down “reality testing”
  by stopping “negative” thoughts and allowing only “good”
  thoughts); rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive
  criticism.

  a. Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking

  b. Chanting

  c. Meditating

  d. Praying

  e. Speaking in “tongues”

  f. Singing or humming

  5. No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen
  as legitimate

  6. No alternative belief systems viewed as legitimate, good, or
  useful

  Emotional Control

  1. Manipulate and narrow the range of a person’s feelings.

  2. Make the person feel like if there are ever any problems it
  is always their fault, never the leader’s or the group’s.

  3. Feeling-stopping (with number 4, Excessive use of guilt). Like thought-stopping, this is the automatic suppression or blocking of feelings that are not acceptable by the cult identity- such as feeling \”homesick\” or feeling \”depressed\” or feeling \”resentful\”.

  4. Excessive use of guilt

  a. Identity guilt

  1. Who you are (not living up to your potential)

  2. Your family

  3. Your past

  4. Your affiliations

  5. Your thoughts, feelings, actions

  b. Social guilt

  c. Historical guilt

  5. Excessive use of fear

  a. Fear of thinking independently

  b. Fear of the “outside” world

  c. Fear of enemies

  d. Fear of losing one’s “salvation”

  e. Fear of leaving the group or being shunned by group

  f. Fear of disapproval

  6. Extremes of emotional highs and lows.

  7. Ritual and often public confession of “sins”.

  8. Phobia indoctrination : programming of irrational fears of ever
  leaving the group or even questioning the leader’s authority. The
  person under mind control cannot visualize a positive, fulfilled
  future without being in the group.

  a. No happiness or fulfillment “outside”of the group

  b. Terrible consequences will take place if you leave: “hell”; “demon possession”; “incurable diseases”; “accidents”; “suicide”; “insanity”; “10,000 reincarnations”; etc.

  c. Shunning of leave takers. Fear of being rejected by friends, peers, and family.
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  ABibleStudent

  BTTT Encase other JWs and exJWs do not know about Steve Hassan's BITE control model that dangerous cults like the WTBTS use to victimize members.

  Thanks for posting Tylinbrando and best of wishes helping your children to critically think for themselves.

  Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

  Robert
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  Gypsy Sam

  Marked