Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Seed Discussion Forum

The beginning, links with Synanon

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cleveland:
I seem to remember John Underwood referred to with reverence. Maybe he was the sourse of some if this. I never met him.

It's hard for me to believe this was started in 1970, pretty much over as a 'legit' program (except for a small number of true believers) by 1977, straggling on as a tiny inner circle until about 2002.

But the offshoots of this program live on in treatment techniques and public policy to this day!

Also ironic is that the techniques of the 1960s counterculture (Synanon) were picked up by Republicans in the War on Drugs! Reading about the Semblers and others is really scary. If anything, Striaght aqd some other offshoots were far worse than the Seed.

Even today, I wonder, how do you help people transoform their lives without stepping all over their rights? I live in an inner city neighborhood and there is so much pathology here. When I was at the Seed I did believe we were going to change the world, and the Seed picked up on my idealism and turned me into an automaton, trampling my free will.

So, what will the alternative turn out to be? Now that community, culture and politics are failing us?

More questions than answers.

FueLaw:
When looking back I always thought Underwood was the brains and backbone of the Seed. He was very clever and could be very mean. He had a very confrontive approach and method. I believe this was from other rehabs.  It seemed like his role was to deal with (break down) the real hard asses. He was legendary in his day.

I always felt alot of the methods used by the Seed were from either Pete ( a cross eyed Ialian dude) or Underwood.

dragonfly:

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