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Steven Hassan, PhD

29 Oct, 12 tweets, 4 min read

Want to know if a group is a destructive cult? Are you able to recognize ethical vs. unethical influence?

My Influence Continuum can help!

I developed this visual aid years ago to make it easier for people to discern ethical vs. unethical influence.

Let's take a look: 👇

On the LEFT side of this chart, we have ETHICAL influence (also known as "constructive" or "healthy" influence). Everything that appears on this left side of the spectrum is positive and non-problematic.

On the RIGHT side of this chart, we have UNETHICAL influence (also known as "destructive" or "unhealthy" influence). Everything that appears on this right side of the spectrum is problematic and cause for concern.

The influence continuum is divided up into 3 sections...

On the TOP section, we investigate how individuals or members of a group are treated. Are individuals encouraged to be their AUTHENTIC self or are they expected to embody a false (cult) identity? Can members exercise their FREE WILL, or are they expected to be obedient?

On the MIDDLE section, we investigate the LEADERS of groups. Is the leader psychologically healthy, or is the leader narcissistic? Is the leader accountable and can admit when they're wrong or does the leader claim absolute authority and can never admit if they've made a mistake?

And on the BOTTOM section, we investigate the organization itself. Does the organization have a healthy system of checks and balances or does the organization have an authoritarian structure? Are members free to LEAVE at any time or are they NOT allowed to leave?

For ALL of these categories, the answers about a particular leader or a group won't always be on one side of the spectrum...they might be somewhere in the middle.

What we want to determine are OVERALL trends. Are most of your answers on the LEFT or RIGHT side of the continuum?

And that's the interesting part of the influence continuum. Many groups are a mixed bag. Many ethical groups have some elements that in a vacuum may appear "unethical" but overall the group ISN'T destructive.

Take the U.S. military for example....

During boot camp, recruits are sleep deprived, have their heads shaved to look the same & can't always call home.

But..

Our military PAYS people, they can leave if they want and can say mean THINGS about the military when they leave. Cults don't allow that.

One more example..

Take the popular fitness trend CrossFit. I realize every CrossFit gym is different, but in general, CrossFit gyms are a sea of unconditional love, compassion & humor.

There IS what some would call "pressure" to perform, but overall, CrossFit is on the LEFT side of the continuum.

So yes. I hope this helps in understanding if a leader or group is practicing ethical or unethical influence. Use this spectrum with your church or any other group you're a part of!

All of us deserve to have freedom of mind. 🙏

(Hey everyone. Just one quick note on the CLOSE UP slides for the sections (“For Individuals,” “For Leaders,” “For Organizations”). The white arrow is backwards. “Ethical” should be on the left and “Unethical” should be on the right. Just noticed and will update my slides! 🙏

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More from @CultExpert

Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

28 Oct

I was in the Moonies. The Moonies are a Korean cult. Today I'm going to tell you about ANOTHER Korean cult called Shincheonji.

Shincheonji, like the Moonies, are a pseudo-Christian doomsday cult. The cult was founded by Lee Man-hee in the 1980s.

Lee claims to have a special ability to interpret Christian scripture, and claims that HIS interpretations are the ONLY legitimate ones. He also claims he is immortal and salvation can only be obtained through belief in him rather than in Jesus Christ (sound familiar?).

Like many other cults, Shincheonji DECEPTIVELY recruits. They hold events but DON'T tell people they are attending a Shincheonji event. They hold "Bible studies" that provide academically weak instruction (not based on any legitimate Biblical interpretation).

Read 9 tweets

Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

27 Oct

5 years ago TODAY, hundreds of militarized police descended on a small camp of Indigenous water protectors that stood directly in the path of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The officers forcibly evicted residents and arrested 142 people. Medics and journalists were also arrested.

This violent confrontation between law enforcement and the water protectors showed in glaring detail the COORDINATION between federal, local, state police & private security in suppressing protest.

It's important to remember WHY people were protesting.

This pipeline, like so many other pipelines, cut through land the pipeline company didn't have the authority to claim. Treaties were (as they've always been) completely ignored. In this case, the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie.

Read 12 tweets

Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

22 Oct

Have you ever had a friend from high school who is involved in multi-level marketing? Their feeds become a wash of inspirational quotes and videos trying to sell & recruit others.

Did you know that many multi-level marketing schemes are actually CULTS?

Let's talk about it: 🧵

There are 5 main types of cults:

Religious cults
Psychotherapy/educational cults
Political cults
Cults of personality
Commercial cults

Multi-level marketing when it's predatory falls into the "commercial cult" category. These cults prey on people's desire for wealth & power.

Like other authoritarian cults, predatory multi-level marketing has a pyramid structure with members at the bottom making money for people further up the pyramid. Quite regularly, most of the money people make (which doesn't occur 99% of the time btw) is from recruiting others.

Read 10 tweets

Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

21 Oct

Facebook is reportedly CHANGING the focus of their company.

Their new focus?

Building the "metaverse."

FB is building a digital platform enhanced by augmented & virtual reality where people interact through digital avatars.

Why do I find this problematic? Let me tell you:

Of ALL the things Facebook could be working on right now, why is building a virtual reality world even a priority?

Here's a better, more pressing list of items they should instead focus on:

-Protect people’s personal data. This of course would require a change in their model of using people’s information to sell things to them but this is what the public wants and their current model is highly unethical.

Read 8 tweets

Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

19 Oct

It is critical that the media & healthcare professionals communicate how SAFE the Covid vaccines are.

Negative debilitating reactions are quite RARE so highlighting stories like this scares people (often to not get vaccinated).

Here's the narrative that SHOULD be communicated:

"You're probably NOT going to have any type of serious side effect. Most people don't. Your arm might be a little sore for a day, but that's it. You might feel a little nauseous but receiving this life-saving vaccine and NOT dying from Covid or having long haul COVID is worth it"

This was the experience I had. After my first to Pfizer vaccines, I had absolutely NO side effects. After my Moderna booster, I had a little soreness in my arm for a couple of days but that was IT!

Read 5 tweets

Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

14 Oct

@KDTrey5

If I was advising Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) or James Harden (@JHarden13) on HOW to talk to their teammate Kyrie Irving about his fears about receiving the COVID vaccination, here's what I would advise:

First off, you're doing a GREAT job maintaining a positive relationship! 🙏

If you are finally able to persuade him, it will be built upon this positive relationship with one another. When I help family members help someone out of a cult (that's what I do btw), BUILDING this trust and rapport is always the FIRST step. So great work there.

Next...

Listen & really try to UNDERSTAND Kyrie's fears about getting the vaccine. What is he telling you privately? Is he WORRIED the vaccine is physiologically harmful? Does he not just want to be told what to do? KNOWING his frame will be very helpful going forward.

Next...

Read 14 tweets

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