Posts by Dogpatch

19

Does Mind Control Exist?

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

there have been several newspaper stories published recently implying that brainwashing and mind control do not exist.

this is very unusual in that, suddenly before the trial of suspected terrorist cult members, we start seeing spontaneous articles from different news sources telling the american public that mind control does not exist.. this has happened before.

if you want to see an excellent reply to the last time a similar disinformation/misinformation campaign was activated then read the article below the dotted line.

Dogpatch

Hi Beans,
Sorry I don't recall what you were asking about, unless you mean the Awake of Sept. 22, 1984 on "An Open or Closed Mind--Which Do You Have?" which is pretty revealing. :-))
Randy

19

Does Mind Control Exist?

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

there have been several newspaper stories published recently implying that brainwashing and mind control do not exist.

this is very unusual in that, suddenly before the trial of suspected terrorist cult members, we start seeing spontaneous articles from different news sources telling the american public that mind control does not exist.. this has happened before.

if you want to see an excellent reply to the last time a similar disinformation/misinformation campaign was activated then read the article below the dotted line.

Dogpatch

There have been several newspaper stories published recently implying that brainwashing and mind control do not exist. This is very unusual in that, suddenly before the trial of suspected terrorist cult members, we start seeing spontaneous articles from different news sources telling the American public that mind control does not exist.

This has happened before. If you want to see an excellent reply to the last time a similar disinformation/misinformation campaign was activated then read the article below the dotted line. Also, below that, find a table that compares Education, Advertising, Propaganda, Indoctrination and Thought Reform.

These have generously been donated to the FACTNet website by Margaret Singer specifically for the purpose of empowering our subscribers regarding their search for clarity regarding these issues.

Whenever someone tells you that mind control does not exist, just ask yourself one question: "If mind control does not exist then why are intelligence agencies all over the world currently spending billions of dollars on research into mind control and other forms of coercive psychological influence?"

Yours Respectfully, FACTNet Staff

- --------------------

{A better, prettier, version of this article can be found at http://www.factnet.org/Thought_Reform_Exists.htm . (This is especially pertinent regarding the last section. Which is a table (grid) that cannot be shown in this e-mail but can be seen very well if you go to the above URL.)}

Thought Reform Exists: Organized, Programmatic Influence ("Thought Reform" throughout this article can be read as synonymous with "Brainwashing" & "Coercive Persuasion".)

Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph.D.

Recently, cult apologists have attempted to create the impression that the concept of thought reform has been rejected by the scientific community. This is untrue.

As recently as May of this year, the new Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association cites thought reform as a contributing factor to "Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" (a diagnosis frequently given to former cult members). Thought reform (notes 1,2,3 below) and its synonyms brainwashing and coercive persuasion (4.5) were also noted in DSM-III (1980) and is DSM-III revised (1987), as well as in widely recognized medical texts

(6. 7).

Thought reform is not mysterious. It is the systematic application of psychological and social influence techniques in an organized programmatic way within a constructed and managed environments (5,7,8,9,10). The goal is to produce specific attitudinal and behavioral changes. The changes occur incrementally without its being patently visible to those undergoing the process that their attitudes and behavior are being changed a step at a time according to the plan of those directing the program.

In society there are numerous elaborate attempts to influence attitudes and modify behavior. However, thought reform programs can be distinguished from other social influence efforts because of their totalistic scope and their sequenced phases aimed at destabilizing participants' sense of self, sense of reality, and values. Thought reform programs rely on organized peer pressure, the development of bonds between the leader or trainer and the followers, the control of communication, and the use of a variety of influence techniques. The aim of all this is to promote conformity, compliance, and the adoption of specific attitudes and behaviors desired by the group. Such a program is further characterized by the manipulation of the person's total social environment to stabilize and reinforce the modified behavior and attitude changes. (8,9,10)

Thought reform is accomplished through the use of psychological and environmental control processes that do not depend on physical coercion. Today's thought reform programs are sophisticated, subtle, and insidious, creating a psychological bond that in many ways is far more powerful than gun-at-the-head methods of influence. The effects generally lose their potency when the control processes are lifted or neutralized in some way. That is why most Korean War POWs gave up the content of their prison camp indoctrination programs when they came home and why many cultists leave their groups if they spend a substantial amount of time away from the group or have an opportunity to discuss their doubts with in intimate (11).

Contrary to popular misconceptions (some intentional on the part of naysayers), a thought reform program does not require physical confinement and does not produce robots. Nor does it permanently capture the allegiance of all those exposed to it. In fact, some persons do not respond at all to the programs, while others retain the contents for varied periods of time. In sum, thought reform should be regarded as "situationally adaptive belief change that is not subtle and is environment-dependent". (8,10)

The current effort by cult apologists to deny thought reform exists is linked to earlier protective stances toward cults in which apologists attempted to deny the cults' active and deceptive recruitment practices, deny the massive social, psychological, financial, spiritual and other controls wielded by cult leaders and thus dismiss their often destructive consequences.

These earlier efforts to shield cults from criticism rest on a seeker theory of how people get into cults, which overlooks the active and deceptive tactics that most cults use to recruit and retain members. When bad things happened to followers of Jim Jones or David Koresh, the twisted logic of some apologists implied that these "seekers" found what they wanted, thus absolving the cult leader and his conduct.

Finally, to promulgate the myth that though reform has been rejected by the scientific community, cult apologists doggedly stick to faulty understanding of the process contrary to findings in the literature, they ---- that physical coercion and debilitation are necessary for thought reform to occur, and that the effects of thought reform must be instant, massive, uniform, universally responded to, and enduring.

The recent upholding of thought reform in DSM-IV is but one more piece of evidence that this orchestrated process of exploitative psychological manipulation is real and recognized within the professional psychiatric field. To say then that the concept of thought reform is rejected by the scientific community is false and irresponsible. The phenomenon has been studied and discussed since 1951, and continuing studies by social psychologists and other behavioral scientists have solidified our understandings of its components and overall impact.

References:

1. Lifton, R.J. (1961). Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism. New York: W.W. Norton. (Also: 1993, University of North Carolina Press.)

2. Lifton, R.J. (1987). Cults: Totalism and civil liberties. In R.J. Lifton, The Future of Immortality and Other Essays for a Nuclear Age. New York: Basic Books.

3. Lifton, R.J. (1991, February). Cult formation. Harvard Mental Health Letter.

4. Hunter, E. (1951). Brainwashing in China. New York: Vanguard.

5. Schein, E.H. (1961). Coercive Persuasion. New York: W. W. Norton.

6. Singer, M.T. (1987). Group psychodynamics. In R. Berkow (Ed.). Merck Manual, 15th ed. Rahway, NJ: Merck, Sharp, & Dohme.

7. West, L.J., & Singer, M.T. (1980). Cults, quacks, and nonprofessional psychotherapies. In H.I. Kaplan, A.M. Freedman, & B.J. Sadock (Eds.), Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry III, 3245-3258. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.

8. Ofshe, R., & Singer, M.T. (1986). Attacks on peripheral versus central elements of self and the impact of thought reforming techniques. Cultic Studies Journal. 3, 3-24.

9. Singer. M.T. & Ofshe, R.(1990) Thought reform programs and the production of psychiatric casualties. Psychiatric Annals, 20, 188-193

10. Ofshe, R. (1992). Coercive persuasion and attitude change. Encyclopedia of Sociology. Vol. 1, 212-224. New York: McMillan.

11. Wright, S. (1987) Leaving Cults. The Dynamics of Defection. Society for the Scientific Study of religion. Monograph no. 7, Washington, DC.

- -------------------------

From Cults In Our Midst ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0787902667/factnet-20/104-9374991-597 1130 )

Table 3.2. Continuum of Influence and Persuasion

Focus of body of knowledge:

Education - Many bodies of knowledge, based on scientific findings in various fields. Advertising - Body of knowledge concerns product, competitors; how to sell and influence via legal persuasion. Propaganda - Body of knowledge centers on political persuasion of masses of people. Indoctrination - Body of knowledge is explicitly designed to inculcate organizational values. Thought Reform - Body of knowledge centers on changing people without their knowledge.

Direction & degree of exchange:

Education - Two way pupil-teacher exchange encouraged. Advertising - Exchange can occur but communication generally one-sided. Propaganda - Some exchange occurs but communication generally one-sided. Indoctrination - Limited exchange occurs, communication is one-sided. Thought Reform - No exchange occurs, communication is one-sided.

Ability to change:

Education - Change occurs as science advances; as students and other scholars offer criticisms; as students & citizens evaluate programs. Advertising - Change made by those who pay for it, based upon the success of ad programs by consumers law, & in response to consumer complaints. Propaganda - Change based on changing tides in world politics and on political need to promote the group, nation, or international organization. Indoctrination - Change made through formal channels, via written suggestions to higher-ups. Thought Reform - Change occurs rarely; organization remains fairly rigid; change occurs primarily to improve thought-reform effectiveness.

Structure of persuasion:

Education - Uses teacher-pupil structure; logical thinking encouraged. Advertising - Uses an instructional mode to persuade consumer/buyer. Propaganda - Takes authoritarian stance to persuade masses. Indoctrination - Takes authoritarian & hierarchical stance. Thought Reform - Takes authoritarian & hierarchical stance; No full awareness on part of learner.

Type of relationship:

Education - Instruction is time-limited: consensual. Advertising - Consumer/buyer can accept or ignore communication. Propaganda - Learner support & engrossment expected. Indoctrination - Instruction is contractual: consensual Thought Reform - Group attempts to retain people forever.

Deceptiveness:

Education - Is not deceptive. Advertising - Can be deceptive, selecting only positive views. Propaganda - Can be deceptive, often exaggerated. Indoctrination - Is not deceptive. Thought Reform - Is deceptive.

Breadth of learning:

Education - Focuses on learning to learn & learning about reality; broad goal is rounded knowledge for development of the individual. Advertising - Has a narrow goal of swaying opinion to promote and sell an idea, object, or program; another goal is to enhance seller & possibly buyer. Propaganda - Targets large political masses to make them believe a specific view or circumstance is good. Indoctrination - Stresses narrow learning for a specific goal; to become something or to train for performance of duties. Thought Reform - Individualized target; hidden agenda (you will be changed one step at a time to become deployable to serve leaders).

Tolerance:

Education - Respects differences. Advertising - Puts down competition. Propaganda - Wants to lessen opposition. Indoctrination - Aware of differences. Thought Reform - No respect for differences.

Methods:

Education - Instructional techniques. Advertising - Mild to heavy persuasion. Propaganda - Overt persuasion sometimes unethical. Indoctrination - Disciplinary techniques. Thought Reform - Improper and unethical techniques.

- -------------

This editorial opinion provided by FactNet, Inc. FactNet is a nonprofit Internet archive and newswire service dedicated to protecting freedom of mind by reducing harms caused by cults and mind control. FactNet's web page is located at http://www.factnet.org and has received over 21,000,000 hits. Re-distribution and proper re-posting of this document is appreciated. Please use proper net etiquette when doing so.

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6

Randy Watters

by seven006 in

jw
friends

randy, .

i have replied to your emails about doing some art for your site several times but the emails keeps getting rejected.

i went to your site and clicked on the email button and sent another reply but it also came back.

Dogpatch

Gotcha! All is well on this side now. :-))
Randy

10

Chapter Two-Visions of Glory

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

chapter two of visions of glory is now up at:.

http://www.exjws.net/vg2.htm.

randy

Dogpatch

I have three copies of the abridged edition, brand new, for $58 each.
http://www.freeminds.org/sales/otherwt.htm

Watchtower Store
http://www.freeminds.org/sales/menuframes.htm

Randy

21

Sister Who died Refusing Blood

by silentlambs in

jw
friends

i normally do not comment on this type of subject, yet i have just been informed there may be child abuse involved for her two children at the hands of a fellow jw.

i will investigate to find the facts, yet if this were true this family has lost much in the "spiritual paradise.

" when i have more information i will clarify.

Dogpatch

Watchtower News February 28, 2002

(WTNH, Feb. 25, 2002 11:00 PM) _ A healthy young woman goes into the hospital for a simple procedure done rarely with complications. But the recent death of this local woman who had fibroid tumors removed from her uterus has members of her family blaming a religious group for not allowing doctors to do all they could to save her. J.R. Brown, spokesman for the Watchtower's Media department, says they do all that they can. It was not enough, and the family may sue.

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/category.asp?C=21495&nav=3YeX5iA6

Directly to theReal Video clip (7 minutes)
http://video.wtnh.com/news/2002/feb/clips/02252002-death.ram
Randy

10

Chapter Two-Visions of Glory

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

chapter two of visions of glory is now up at:.

http://www.exjws.net/vg2.htm.

randy

Dogpatch

Chapter two of Visions of Glory is now up at:
http://www.exjws.net/vg2.htm
Randy

1

ride the Segway

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

watch the new segway!.

http://www.extremetech.com/article/0,3396,s=1005&a=19892,00.asp.

watchtower news.

Dogpatch

Watch the new Segway!

http://www.extremetech.com/article/0,3396,s=1005&a=19892,00.asp

Watchtower News
http://www.watchtowernews.org

4

Latest UN/NGO scans for 2002

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

this was posted before on kent's site, but the latest united nations response to an inquiry and the brochure on ngos they sent, as well as the new 2001-2002 directory of ngos is now up at:.

http://www.randytv.com/secret/united_nations_2001.htm.

randy.

Dogpatch

This was posted before on Kent's site, but the latest United Nations response to an inquiry and the brochure on NGOs they sent, as well as the new 2001-2002 directory of NGOs is now up at:
http://www.randytv.com/secret/united_nations_2001.htm
Randy

The main page for all the UN updates, to bookmark, is:
http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm

Net Soup!
http://www.freeminds.org

35

My new illustrations for those who have asked

by seven006 in

jw
friends

here are a few 3d illustrations that i have recently finished, a few of you have asked to see some of my new work so i posted it here, i hope these images aren't too big.

i have just finished a quick and dirty html site to show a little bit more work, here is the link.. http://sumagroup.com/maloneart/.

i hope this works!.

Dogpatch

Absolutely outstanding, Dave! Love the site also.
If you ever want to do an illustration for my web page, I take contributions! :-))
Randy Watters

http://www.freeminds.org
http://www.exjws.net
http://www.watchtowernews.org
http://www.randytv.com

2

Nathan...

by dungbeetle in

jw
friends

check your email please...and if anyone can get in touch with him directly, please ask him to check his email.

in 1975 a crack team of publishers was sentenced to death by a judicial commiteee.

they promptly escaped from the cult and now live life on the run.

Dogpatch

I am stuck with the "two post limit" so can't start a new thread today, but if someone else who hasn't posted twice could, the book "Visions of Glory" is shaping up online at:
http://www.exjws.net/vg.htm

Thank you Dungbettle and Nathan Natas!
Randy Watters