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Dr.
Robert J. Lifton's Criteria for Thought Reform
Thought Reform and The Psychology of Totalism
Chapter 22 (Chapel Hill,
1989)
The Future
of Immortality
Chapter 15 (New York 1987)
1. Milieu
Control.
This involves the control of information and communication both
within the environment and, ultimately, within the individual, resulting in a
significant degree of isolation from society at large.
2.
Mystical
Manipulation.
There is manipulation of experiences that appear spontaneous but in fact were
planned and orchestrated by the group or its leaders in order to demonstrate
divine authority or spiritual advancement or some special gift or talent that
will then allow the leader to reinterpret events, scripture, and experiences as
he or she wishes.
3.
Demand for
Purity.
The world is viewed as black and white and the members are
constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for
perfection. The induction of guilt and/or shame is a powerful control device
used here.
4.
Confession.
Sins, as defined by the group, are to be confessed either to a personal monitor
or publicly to the group. There is no confidentiality; members' "sins,"
"attitudes," and "faults" are discussed and exploited by the leaders.
5.
Sacred Science.
The group's doctrine or ideology is considered to be the ultimate Truth, beyond
all questioning or dispute. Truth is not to be found outside the group. The
leader, as the spokesperson for God or for all humanity, is likewise above
criticism.
6.
Loading the
Language. The
group interprets or uses words and phrases in new ways so that often the
outside world does not understand. This jargon consists of thought-terminating
clich�s which serve to alter members' thought processes to conform to the
group's way of thinking.
7.
Doctrine over
person. Member's personal experiences are subordinated to the
sacred science and any contrary experiences must be denied or reinterpreted to
fit the ideology of the group.
8.
Dispensing of
existence. The group has the prerogative to decide who has
the right to exist and who does not. This is usually not literal but means that
those in the outside world are not saved, unenlightened, unconscious and they
must be converted to the group's ideology. If they do not join the group or are
critical of the group, then they must be rejected by the members. Thus, the
outside world loses all credibility. In conjunction, should any member leave
the group, he or she must be rejected also. (Lifton, 1989
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