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Steven Hassan, PhD Profile picture
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9 Nov, 4 tweets, 2 min read
It's been announced that @LeoDiCaprio will portray cult leader Jim Jones in a future feature film written by @ScottyRosenberg. I genuinely hope this movie takes the study of undue influence seriously. Too often, in movies and news reports, the topic ISN'T covered properly.
I've watched in frustration for 45+ years as cult members are treated as gullible or even stupid. Writers need to show that INTELLIGENT educated people can have their mind manipulated and taken over. Writers need to show HOW this is done.
Undue influence is a very REAL phenomenon and a well-written movie or documentary could do untold GOOD in the world. Education like this essentially INOCULATES one from cults, manipulative relationships, pyramid schemes and more.
For more on Jonestown, here's a blog of mine from a few years ago. I interviewed Vernon Gosney who was a member of Jim Jones' cult and was even shot at Jonestown.
freedomofmind.com/jonestown-and-…

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More from @CultExpert

Steven Hassan, PhD Profile picture
8 Nov
Want to HELP a friend or family member OUT of a cult or conspiracy theory?

Want to understand the Trump phenomenon or the anti-vax movement or QAnon?

My books will give you answers. Here's a synopsis & the proper order to read my books if you really want to learn this subject:
"Combating Cult Mind Control" should be read FIRST and is the FOUNDATION for the study of undue influence. This book sets the frame and is widely regarded as the BEST book for protection, rescue and recovery from destructive cults. amazon.com/Combating-Cult…
"Freedom of Mind" should be read SECOND and builds on my first book. This book focusses on my Strategic Interactive Approach (my method to get someone out of a cult) and shows you HOW to do this with someone you care about.
amazon.com/Freedom-Mind-H…
Read 5 tweets
Steven Hassan, PhD Profile picture
5 Nov
Want to guess what U.S. Senator gets money from multi-level marketing cults?

Kyrsten Sinema

As was reported in @politico today, Sinema has taken money from the parent company of Amway (cult), the executive chair of Mary Kay (cult) and Herbalife (cult).
politico.com/news/2021/11/0…
But this just scratches the surface. Sinema has taken money from countless other "nutrition" and "beauty" MLM's. Every one of these entities is associated with the controversial Direct Selling Association, the trade group that promotes multilevel marketing.
Though these groups may appear harmless (if not a little annoying), a great percentage of MLM's are actually authoritarian commercial cults.

(For a deep dive on MLMs, and WHY I label them "cults," read the thread below. It will catch you up 👍):
Read 9 tweets
Steven Hassan, PhD Profile picture
4 Nov
Drug and alcohol treatment programs can often be LIFE-SAVING.

But it's important to stringently investigate WHO these groups are.

Why?

Because there's a long legacy of CULT behavior inside these groups. Obviously I'm not talking about ALL programs, but many.

Let's discuss..🧵
One of the FIRST drug treatment programs in existence was a group called "Synanon." This group was founded in 1958 by a man named Charles Dederich.

Dederich pioneered using ex-addicts as “counselors.” He promoted a “tough love” approach and established a “culture of recovery.”
Synanon “Treatment” centered on something called “The Game.” In essence, this was a “hot seat” tactic (used by many other cults) where members sit in a circle, and the target is psychologically attacked by the group. The goal is to “break" them. People regularly felt humiliated.
Read 21 tweets
Steven Hassan, PhD Profile picture
29 Oct
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...
Read 12 tweets
Steven Hassan, PhD Profile picture
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 Profile picture
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

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