Let me see if I can give you an example. I attended an 8-day 'personal growth' workshop a few years ago. While it wasn't a W seminar, the 'coach', also a licensed therapist, was into est/Lifespring. I discovered this after the fact.
One of the excercises was to get naked and tell your sexual history while being video taped. A little on the edge, but I decided that I'd check it out, knowing that if it were done well it could be useful. If it weren't, I would simply decline. And decline, despite the fact that all 18 participants had 'promised' to follow the coaches directions, show up on time, and complete the workshop. In that opening circle, every single person there agreed to that commitment except me. I told him that I would follow any 'reasonable' direction he gave. That was the most I could promise. The looks from other people gave me the impression that they perceived me as a party pooper, difficult, untrusting, whatever. I'm sure they all thought I really 'needed' this workshop. For many it was not their first.
Three or four people completed the exercise about the third day into the workshop. The coach was pretty harsh with the guys but soft on the women. There was one woman, who was timid and obviously self-conscious about her body image and uncomfortable with the exercise. I sat in shock as he 'coached' her at the end of her story by telling her that she had a very desirable body, big tits, etc, and that any guy would want to have sex with her. :roll:
When it came my turn I refused to participate which caused a showdown between the coach and I that lasted for over an hour, much to many participant's disappointment. Actually, it wasn't the first or last disagreement we had in the group's presence. I accused him of being sexist and not clear enough to help others when it came to this issue. He gave me the ultimatum to either participate or leave the workshop. I left.
Five people showed up at my room later, at different times. All had a different 'interpretation'. Few saw his comments as sexist and viewed them as 'helpful'. Helpful because he had boosted her confidence in her body image. Go figure. All but one wanted/needed me to return and cooperate. Keep my commitment to the group. The one who didn't was curious and wanted me to explain my 'interpretation' of the event. And get this, it was the woman's husband! One woman was in tears when she left because she 'needed' me to return, as was another young man who I'd developed a very close relationship with very quickly. It was important to him that I be there for his story. I told him that I'd be happy to listen to his story but would not return in order to do so.
Yeh, it's about interpretation. I apparently was the only one there who interpreted it that way. I definitely sensed that the other participants needed a 'guru', they needed to trust him, perceived him to be wiser than themselves and consistently showed a willingness to defer to his direction, based on his sometimes flawed interpretations and perceptions. So, this 'coach' trained 17 people to believe that the way to improve a woman's self esteem is by assuring her that she is sexually desirable to men.
The difference with this workshop and the seminars that the teens are required to attend. I had the freedom to walk out. They don't.
And that's where I personally draw the line. I didn't have an agenda to sway his 'followers'. They were consenting adults and free to make their own decisions. I don't think it's appropriate for teens to be forced into this type of experience.
What's similar is that participants are subjected to the thinking of the coaches who may or may not have a clue about what they are doing.
I'll give you one other example from this experience. One of the exercises was that the group went to the forest. Acutally there were several exercises at this location, but one in particular, the group was supposed to follow the coach where ever he went. This was an ancient redwood forest with signs posted everywhere to 'stay on the path'. He lead them 'off the path' (interesting metaphor, don't you think) several times. I didn't follow. Others did. Back at the facility I asked if anyone else had noticed the signs and why they followed him off the path. Only one guy had noticed the signs, but followed anyway.
The coach did all the 'confronting'. I was the only one who confronted him. In a different venue, I could have been railroaded by the others as mentally unstable, deviant, whatever label one would choose to use; and subjected to whatever 'treatment' they felt I needed. People get scared when someone thinks differently than the group.
The entire 8 days was an eye-opening experience for me. A sociological experiment in which I got to see first-hand how 'lost' the average person is. How desperately they need a 'daddy' to follow. How few people can actually think for themselves. How easily they are to be manipulated. I learned a lot, DESPITE the workshop, not because of it. How often do we hear that from program participants?
