How to Detect Mind Control
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Name Calling
This can include being called negative names (used
inappropriately) likeliar, psychotic, paranoid, crazy,
communist, etc. The purpose, intentional
or unintentional, of the usage of these names is to
discredit the person they are being used on, without
discussing the facts of the debate or topic. Sometimes
names are used to shock the listener, which may
put the listener into a more susceptible mind state
and not critically think about the topic but simply
accept the negative name or opinion subliminally.
Glittering Generalities
Democracy, capitalism or other ideas are often
discussed in these terms. These terms may be described
positively without a critical analysis of all sides of the issue.
The important thing is to look at the ideas behind the
terms and analyze them critically. A group may also
only discuss the positives of the organization, ignoring any
negative criticism about the group. The important thing
is to check out any group or organization as completely as
possible before joining. But I believe it is also
important to trust people when they are safe,
so that we can recover by sharing and connecting.
Exaggeration
A user of propaganda may use terms like "many,"
"a lot," "numerous," or "a few" without backing up
these numbers or statistics. The usage of these words
may make a person or organization look better or worse
without data or substantial proof.
Emotional Manipulation
Sometimes it is important to look at the argument(s)
with as little emotion as possible, and try to see the facts only.
From http://carmen.artsci. washington.edu/propaganda/fear.htm,
"...there are four elements to a successful
fear appeal:1) a threat, 2) a specific
recommendation about how the audience
should behave, 3) audience perception
that the recommendation will be effective
in addressing the threat,and 4) audience
perception that they are capable of
performing the recommended behavior." Groups
may also use these techniques on their members. They
may say, "If you don’t do this, then the world will end,
we will close, etc." For members that are very needy or
attached to the organization or person making the
statement, this threat may be very difficult to ignore.
In E-mail, this may be caused by the use of capital letters
or other techniques. The writer may say things like, "apples
are always red," and then, "apples are always blue," to
cause confusion in the reader and make them more
susceptible to the ideas in the E-mail. While the mind
is trying to figure out which statement is true, the
reader’s mind may become more susceptible to the
suggestion or idea.
Sutphen in his article talks about "Shock and
Confusion," how people go into a meditative
state when scared and are more likely to
be compliant to the second suggestion. If
people are made to feel guilty that they were
given something, they are more
likely to follow the next command, like
give money, etc.
For survivors, I think the important thing is to
realize when these techniques are being used on
us. To fight the second suggestion and not follow it
blindly. This may entail leaving the area immediately
and going to a safe spot. Online this may mean reading
certain E-mails with support people present. And to
avoid those that may use these suggestions on us
whenever possible. Learning how to develop safe
support systems and safe resources can help with
this. I believe it is dangerous to believe that
we can’t be MC’ed.
Guilt may also be used as a technique, especially
on survivors. Making people feel like they haven’t
done enough for a particular group or
organization, asking people to do things without
considering all sides of the issue or their own needs.
Neediness can also be used. Survivors may be
looking for approval, acceptance and a place to
discuss their feelings. So they may not be able to
critically decide what support systems may
be the safest for them. Groups will first be very
nice or overly nice to them (love bombing), but
this will often disappear later and emotional
manipulation and threats or guilt may be used
to try to cause the desired behavior.
Subliminal Commands
The techniques used to create subliminal
commands can vary. I believe they usually
create a meditative state in the individual. I
have heard that TV can cause these states. "Glassy
eyed stares" or "being spaced out" are often used
to describe this state. Shock or fear or other
extreme emotional states may also be used to
create meditative states. These commands may
help the writer bypass the reader’s conscious mind.
Specific triggers may be used on survivors. These
may sound like the ideas of those that do not believe
in the existence of recovered memory or ritual
abuse. These can include calling a person paranoid,
psychotic or crazy (see "name calling") and allude
to the fact that a person’s paranoia is connected to
a psychotic disorder, which, I believe, usually
isn’t the case. This can be used to try and get
the survivor to doubt their own reality and the
reality of their memories. (See SMART issue
#27 for the low rate (less than 5 percent) of
"false" memories.)
Subliminal triggers may also be used intentionally
or unintentionally to remind a survivor of a specific
ritual or past program. Repeated use (or the one
time use) of certain terms, that could be triggering
for survivors, could qualify. The writer may be using
these terms to scare or trigger the reader.
A colleague of mine wrote me and told me that
she uses three criterion to determine online if a
person may be a perpetrator of MC.
1) If the person uses guilt.
2) If the person tells them to
"f_ off." (Could be considered a
technique to shock the reader.)3) Using lots of triggers to control
their actions.I think the one thing that all 3 above have
in common is they entail some sort of
emotional manipulation and/or trigger.Changing the Topic
Rather than deal with the specific topic, a group
or person may try to change the topic, or discredit
the other side, rather than deal with the criticisms or
arguments in the debate. A variety of propaganda
techniques may be used to try and do this. This
technique has occasionally been used by
politicians and others.
Repetition
One way of remembering something is to
constantly repeat it. This is one way we learn
to remember new words and songs. Rather
than debating the points of the debate, a debater
may simply continue calling a person a liar or
crazy or a traitor, etc. (see "name calling")
without backing up their statements. How
often is an idea in an argument presented without
a source or logical backing. This is one place in a
debate or argument where a debater may show
their "true colors." Are they interested in
debating the points of the argument or are
they using propaganda and mind control
techniques?
Testimonials
Individuals that are not qualified to discuss
the particulars (the specific facts) of a debate
or product may join the debate or ad
campaign and make statements that
may have little or no logical backing or
factual basis. Organizations and companies
may use a variety of techniques to encourage
such participation.
Band Wagon
The user of propaganda may encourage people
to join the cause without asking them to think
about the facts and other side of the argument. This
may include a kind of hero worship, including fancy
clothes, high expenditures, claims of a large
following, etc. I think the most important thing is
to follow your instincts and recovery, not
someone else. Other people may have valid
and helpful things to say, but I believe our
recovery has to be our own.
Logical Fallacies
These will be intentionally used by the user
of propaganda to manipulate opinion.
Example: John likes apples.
Hitler liked apples.
John likes Hitler.
This can be used in politics. Equating communism
to fascism because one or several communist
governments may have been fascist is an
example of this. A person may agree with
someone on one topic and disagree with the
same person on another topic. The user of
propaganda may try to lump the two people
or a group of people together that disagree with
them, suggesting a conspiracy, when
it may only be people agreeing on a certain topic.
You might hear that we can’t trust anyone if
certain people aren’t safe. This is a logical fallacy
and isn’t true. It may take time for the
survivor to trust again, but I think we need
to keep trying to trust safe people, so we can heal.
Unwarranted Extrapolation
This is another logical fallacy. A person receiving
a criticism may claim that a critique of themselves
or their group may cause divisiveness in
society or their movement. ("Love it or leave
" is an example of this.) The repetition of this idea
may reinforce the idea in the reader’s mind. An
alternative way of looking at this is that the same
critique could also make the movement stronger, by
encouraging people to think about their choices
and use caution before making those
choices. It may encourage all those in the
movement to become healthier, making
the movement even stronger.
In all logical fallacies, and in terms of
propaganda in general, try to
see the other possible conclusions
of the argument, not simply
those presented by the user of
propaganda.
How to Avoid Blindly Accepting Propaganda
and Being Mind Controlled
(Please note: these are only suggestions. You
may want to analyze each of them to see if
they have any value to you and if
necessary, add some of your own.)
"The subjects easiest to influence are
usually young, trusting,gullible, and
non-critical people from protective
backgrounds or people who may be
particularly vulnerable because of some recent
unsettled transition (my note: survivors may
also fit in this category)...the rejects are likely to
be individuals who have easy access to accurate,
critical, or counterbalancing information. Insolent,
self-centered,street-wise, highly critical or
recalcitrant individuals are generally
culled out..." Though everyone is susceptible
to some degree.
1) Try to find out both sides of the story.
2)Learn about propaganda and mind control
techniques and learn how to recognize them. If
necessary, learn to avoid those using these
techniques(this may be online or offline.) The
media and advertisements may be a
good place to start either learning about
these techniques or avoiding them. At times,
advertisements don’t even discuss the product
or its attributes at all.
3) When in a potential situation where you can
be MC’ed or propagandized,learn how to
recognize the feelings of going into a
meditative state and learn some of the
techniques for getting out of these
states. (Details are at "Conference trigger
management and safety" are available via
E-mail, snail mail (for $1.00 US only) or at
http://members.aol.com/ smartnews/page5/NBpresentation99.htm)
I believe that avoidance of these situations
is usually the best way to keep from being
MC’ed or propagandized.
4) The user of propaganda or mind
control techniques may exhibit a
"lack of morals," lying and/or disregarding
the rules of the debate, list,
group or society. This is similar to the
"us vs them" or may be justified
by "the ends justify the means"
arguments organizations may use, see
SMART #29 (Cult Information Article.)
5) Try to use your gut feelings. If
something doesn’t feel right, step
back or remove yourself from the
situation. I believe that a legitimate
group or organization will give an
individual the time and room to make
their own choices (see "Emotional
Manipulation" above).
I believe the following statement also
applies to being MC’ed and/or
fooled by propaganda. From FactNet,
"No one "joins a cult." People recruited into
destructive groups think they are doing
something else, something beneficial and
worthwhile. Anyone can be recruited
given the right sales pitch and the right
conditions in one’s life. We are all potential
victims." While I believe it is necessary to
learn from our mistakes, I think that
feeling too much guilt doesn’t help. It may
be necessary to make an amends when
safe. This may be simply by getting healthy
and possibly educating others.
As always, please use your own
judgement and try to research
everything as fully as possible. Don’t
accept anything anyone says simply
because they say it or claim to be
an expert or whatever. Try to check
it out for yourself. I am not an expert, and I
am continually learning new things about
myself and the above topics.
Neil Brick
Sources
Please note: These sources are listed for
educational information only. We are not
necessarily recommending them as resources
for survivors.
"The Battle for Your Mind," by Dick
Sutphen, "Persuasion and Brainwashing
Techniques Being Used on the Public Today," is at
http://www.magnet.ch/serendipity/sutphen/brainwsh.html
"Propaganda Techniques," by Aaron
Delwiche and linked pages at
http://carmen.artsci. washington.edu/propaganda/contents.htm
(pictures may be triggering)
"Q & A on mind control," FactNet,
Inc., http://www.factnet.org/
rancho2.htm#one (Please note: at
http://www.factnet.org/cris_xpt.htm
(which may be triggering) FactNet lists
names on their cult experts page,
SMART has heard allegations about a
couple of these people and
several may not be pro-survivor.)
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