In Lifton's model, as I understand it, there is a continuum of influence. He mentions 8 principles and most social institutions use a few. It is when you get all 8 cylinders cranking that we can see some huge shifts of beliefs in a person. A child who is made to believe that it is his duty to kill his neighbors and even his family in Africa. We need to understand more about this process that starts with an advertising slogan for the latest soft drink and ends is genocide. We are social primates and are just beginning to understand how connected our webs of belief are to each other, and how much of it is transfered below our conscious rational minds.
Religions have fought the growth of this understanding and protected groups whose policies are designed to bypass critical examination. I have no problem with people choosing beliefs that I consider wacky. But I want people to have a chance to evaluate the claims without undue influence. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Peter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > --- curtisdeltablues <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > > > However, it should be pointed out that the > > > idea of 'brainwashing' or 'mind control, > > > vis a vis, 'cults' has almost been totally > > > discredited. > > > > By whom? Want a nice example? The child solders of > > Africa. > > > > It is not completely understood like much of modern > > understanding of > > the mind. But coercive persuasion and thought > > reform as detailed in > > Lifton's work are an important piece in our > > understanding of the > > relationship of our social and private mental > > natures. > > > > Of course specific cases can be shot full of holes > > in a court of law > > as does almost every theory of the soft sciences > > every day. That has > > nothing to do with its scientific usefulness as a > > theory to help us > > understand ourselves better. > > I agree with Curtis here. The original idea of > brainwashing or mind control was the complete and > total influence over another's behavior, thought and > emotion. That just doesn't occur. However, there can > be a very powerful influence in these domains. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard J. > > Williams" > > <willytex@> wrote: > > > > > > satvadude wrote: > > > > I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on the > > > > matter Richard. Any reaction to the story? > > > > > > > It all depends on the definition of 'cult'. > > > > > > The term 'cult' is just another term for 'sect'. > > > There are at least eight dictionary definitions > > > of the term 'cult'. > > > > > > Apparently, the United States does not have a > > > classification for cults in its legal system. > > > > > > From what I've read, no one has as yet been > > > able to define 'cult' in any meaningful way. > > > > > > However, it should be pointed out that the > > > idea of 'brainwashing' or 'mind control, > > > vis a vis, 'cults' has almost been totally > > > discredited. > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > To subscribe, send a message to: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Or go to: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ > > and click 'Join This Group!'Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > >
