Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Troubled Teen Industry

Apologia - Serious debate only, please!

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GregFL:
Yes, there were predecessor programs deb. But this Model, what we loosely refer to here as "the program" containing  the brainwashing, restriction of movement, isolation and humiliation model derived from the synanon with  AA techniques thrown in for good measure, dates back to about 1967-68 CEDU,and then Art Barker took it in 1970 and turned it into a drug rehab for adolescents. Synanon had been initially mostly for adults. Programs far and wide share hauntingly similar techniques derived from the synanon model, AA, and of course, Korean thought reform, including such gems as  isolation, sleep deprivation, caloric restriction and public humiliation.


I think your idea is a sound one. Perhaps we could learn of a adolescent program using "the program" model that predates CEDU? that would be very interesting indeed.


Come in the evening, or come in the morning; Come when you 're looked for, or come without warning.
-- Thomas O. Davis (1814-1845): The Welcome.

--- End quote ---

Antigen:
Deb, here's a flow chart showing some of the Seed variety of programs.

http://www.thestraights.com/the-straigh ... hts-fc.htm

But this is a perfect project for relational database work. To start out with, I guess add one field to your list.

Date of opening/closing
Owner/Founder's name
Brief summary of techniques/methods (50 words)
Personal experience (50-100 words)
Links to relevant reports on the facility.
X-Reference: Corporate and individual names that appear in association with other programs.

To do that automagically (which is the whole aim of practical databasing; you want to dump in the data and have it magically sort itself out, showing you relationships and trends you might miss relying on just your own observation and short/long term memory) we'd require a few more fields.

I guess we'd need these, to start with:
owner/founder
director
umbrella/foundation
lawfirm (they all have one)
political affiliations

Any other suggestions?

I have found that the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it

--Harry S. Truman
--- End quote ---

Anonymous:
Ginger - it was late when I responded and failed to say that I had asked a graduate why she felt the program worked and that was the response I received from her.  I don't necessarily agree with the "the program can't fail" statement, because it isn't clear on what she meant by that statement. I have asked her what she meant by that statement, and will add that when I receive it.

I chose to add it here as it was received just to see what kind of responses it would receive.  

Her response included a few links, but I chose not to add those.

I had my own ideas of why it works, parent involvement is definitely one of the biggies, though.  The other is the family, along with their child works from the inside out. They begin to rebuild their relationships, first through letters, then through phone calls, then through visits and family seminars.  

I know the seminars are not secret in the sense that what is or can be gained is posted right on the seminar website.  The purpose for not sharing the content makes sense to me.  I wouldn't want to know in advance what to expect.  Everyone "gets" their own experiences and to know in advance would create expectations of getting the same things as the other person. Problem is that Dr. Phil put it all out to the world to see a couple of years ago.  I worked for a major corporation then and our employer "gifted" this same sort of seminar to the employees, just geared toward employee relations.  I got a LOT of value from it.  I then chose to attend the wwasp seminars for my personal life and got even more from it.  No one told me what I "should" get out of them. My personal experience was not brainwashing, whatever that means.

One link that she sent that gives the info on each seminar. There are links at the bottom to each one. Where's the "secret?"
 
http://www.resourcerealizations.com/ind ... public.cfm

Clearly many of you are not open to this kind of inner work. That's okay!  Did anyone say it's for everyone?  Many aren't ready for it, and again, that's okay.

Can someone explain what "brainwashing" means in the program for the kids?  I hear a lot of complaints about the process of the program for the kids, but not what makes it good/bad.

Deborah:
Clearly many of you are not open to this kind of inner work. That's okay! Did anyone say it's for everyone? Many aren't ready for it, and again, that's okay.*****

I consider that comment to be arrogant. There are many ways in which people "grow" and change.

I attended an 8-day workshop, that I didn't know at the time was based in this same philosophy-est, lifespring. It wasn't promoted as such. It was very confrontational and it became clear to me that the people "running" the workshop were projecting their own "stuff" onto everyone else.
The leader was a PhD in psychology.

I agreed to show up on time, be honest, not bail, and take the direction of the leader; although I did question the latter "committment" in front of the group, and said I'd agree if the direction was reasonable. There was plenty to eat, no vow of secrecy, and we weren't sleep deprived.

About half-way through, the leader asked everyone to sit in front of the group and tell their life story, while being video taped. When I was finished the leader attacked me for being a "victim". Because I was privy to the leaders own story, it was clear to me that he was actually venting his anger toward his mother for not protecting him from an abusive step-father. Ironically, he was angry at me because I wouldn't go "kidnap" my son from a TBS and risk jail time.

That's when I broke the committment and left the workshop. There had been several red flags prior to this "exercise" and I'd had several heated debates with the leader and at one point accused him of being sexist; but this was the point in which I knew that the leader had not done his own "inner" work and was unable to think objectively about me or anyone else.

Many of the participants had taken previous workshops. Five people from the workshop came to my room. All wanted me to return but all had a different reason, motive. One guy that I liked alot felt abandoned, cried and asked me to please return and hear his story. One guy said he just wanted to understand me, he'd found some of the things I said interesting. He also said that he'd never seen the leader be so hard on a participant-several others confirmed this. I suppose he had never been challenged and didn't take kindly to it. It disrupted the control he needed in the group. One woman, who was a lover of the leader tried her skills at manipulating me back. I ended up "counseling" her on an issues she hadn't been honest about herself.

Bottomline, I would not have been honest to myself if I had stayed and continued to be silent and/or allowed myself to be the whipping boy for the leader. I did not pay to be ridiculed or silenced.

I got the same sense of the "leaders" in the RR seminars from accounts I've read.

****Can someone explain what "brainwashing" means in the program for the kids? I hear a lot of complaints about the process of the program for the kids, but not what makes it good/bad.****

Brainwash - a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up certain beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas.

That appears to be an accurate definition of the methods used in BM facilties and many "inner growth" workshops.

The difference is that I could walk out. The teens can't and their parents often don't due to group pressure. The people I was in "workshop" with "needed" a fearless leader.

My son wasn't a liar before going to TBS. He learned quickly how to lie and how to assess what the adults around him WANTED to hear, in order to avoid abuse. The first few months were hell for him. He couldn't figure it out. In group the "counselor" asked what was up. He expressed concerned about what his older brother was going through at the time. She called him a liar and put him on restriction (no social time, work detail, limit calories) until he was willing to "tell the truth". So...he did the logical thing... he made up a lie... which she accepted as the truth. My son is pretty much on the ball. I can only imagine how this must confuse and ****up the weaker minded kids. That doesn't resemble any form of useful therapy I am aware of or constitute "inner" work. That is training in "how to think the way I think". And lable yourself as I do.  In addition, he was told on a regular basis that his thinking was not accurate and that he was basically no good. Uh hum... in a nutshell, brainwashing.

I do not for a minute believe his situation was unique, but rather the method used by most if not all BM facilities.

Antigen:
What is mind control? Here's a handy reference.

Lifton's Eight Criteria of Mind Control


Milieu (Environmental) Control - Control over the members' flow of information and social interaction. In many groups, there is a "no gossip" rule that keeps people from expressing their doubts or misgivings about what is going on.  Members are taught to report those that break the rule, a practice that increases dependence on the leadership. They are sometimes told not to believe anything they see or hear reported by the media.

Mystical Manipulation - The group attributes supernatural influences where none are present--attributing a accident to a member that left to be "God's punishment"--or manipulates situations so they appear spontaneous--members believing that their new feelings and behavior has arisen spontaneously because of joining their new group. The effect is enhanced by the milieu control because dissenting or alternative ideas are not present.

Demand for Purity - Unreasonable rules and unreachable standards are imposed upon the members. The critical, shaming essence of the cult environment is gradually internalized by the members, which builds lots of guilt and shame, further magnifying their dependence on the group. Individuals easily feel inadequate, but are more willing to submit to this because the milieu control limits critical questioning, and the mystical manipulation validates the group's rules.

Confession - Past and present behavior, undesirable feelings are to be confessed. However, the information gained about you can be used against you to make you feel more guilty, powerless, fearful and ultimately in need of the group and the leader's goodness. This environment is set up by the unreasonable demand for purity.

Sacred Science - The teachings of the group are viewed as the ultimate, unquestionable truth. The leader of the group is likewise above criticism as the spokesperson for God on earth, whose Truth should be applied to all humankind and anyone who disagrees or has alternative ideas is not only irreverent, but also unscientific. Mystical manipulation often lends credence to the group's doctrine.

Loading the Language - The group's language serves the purpose of constructing their thinking and shutting down critical thinking abilities. "Groupspeak" forces members to censor, edit and slow down spontaneous bursts of criticism or opposite ideas. Soon members find it easier to talk among themselves than with outsiders, who are given derogatory names such as "of Satan," "unconverted," etc.    

Doctrine Over Person - As members rewrite their own personal history or ignore it, they are simultaneously taught to interpret reality through the group concepts and ignore their own experiences and feelings as they occur. Members learn to fit themselves into the group's way of life and individuals are valued only as they conform to group doctrine.

Dispensing of Existence - The group's totalist environment emphasizes that the members are part of an elite or special group. Outsiders are considered unworthy or unenlightened. This thinking leads to the thinking that their whole existence centers on being in the group. If you leave, you join nothingness. This is an extension of doctrine over person. Existence comes to depend on creed (I believe, therefore, I am), submission (I obey, therefore, I am) and total merger with the group's ideology. This is the final step in creating members' dependence on the group.

Adapted from Chapter 22 of Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism by Robert J. Lifton.


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What is a Destructive Cult?

Definition:

A destructive cult is a highly manipulative group which exploits its members and can cause emotional, financial and physical harm. It dictates, in an absolute manner, the behavior, thoughts and emotions of its followers. Coercion and manipulation techniques are used to transform the new recruit into a loyal, obedient and subservient member.

Destructive cults claim a special status, for themselves or their leader that usually sets them in opposition to mainline society and/or the family.

Destructive cults conceal their real nature and goals from prospective members by adopting deceptive behavior in order to attract new recruits.

Cultic Thinking:

Cultic thinking is a way of conceptualizing reality and society by dividing them in two monolithic blocks (black/white, saved/damned, good/evil). Within this framework there is no room for gray areas. Individuals and movements with this kind of thinking automatically classify themselves in the category of the pure and the saved. Subsequently, they look for scapegoats in order to explain problems experienced by them or by society. Cultic thinking is laced with fear and can lead to intolerance and extremism, and is particularly prevalent in times of personal, social or economic crisis.



 
Finally, question for anon. You've said several times now that the "tools" only work if the client willingly takes them up and works them, or something to that effect. How do you reconcile that with involuntary commitment.
Marijuana clearly has medicinal value.
 Thousands of seriously ill Americans have
 been able to determine that for themselves,
 albeit illegally. Like my own family, these
 individuals did not wish to break the law but
 they had no choice.
 

--Lyn Nofziger, former deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee
--- End quote ---

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