Thread by @CultExpert

I take great pride when someone tells me my BITE model and Influence Continuum changed their life and helped them escape a harmful situation (a cult, abusive relationship, trafficking situation, etc.).

But there's ONE place I want these tools utilized the most...

The courtroom.

Right now, in this country (and sadly in most other countries), there's NO accepted models for judges and jurors to evaluate unethical influence. We have laws on the books for elder abuse, and human trafficking, but that's it.

Why is this?

Because undue influence, to an untrained judge or jury is DIFFICULT to evaluate according to either large spread scientific community or legal precedent. Unlike physical harm or property damage, the harm of undue influence is often INVISIBLE to the uneducated.

Moreover, many still think that anyone over the age of 18 is an adult & should "know better."

But of course this is ludicrous. People–even the most intelligent & educated–through deception & social influence techniques can have their minds manipulated without their realizing it.

This has been a well-established field of study for decades & it is vital that our justice system catch up.

I want the definition of undue influence to EXPAND to include all instances in which people are placed under mind control or are victims of undue influence. For this to happen, judges and juries need to have the TOOLS necessary.

Enter my doctoral dissertation:

In March 2019, I published my first peer-reviewed journal article. I surveyed 1044 former cult members with the goal of determining the efficacy of my BITE model of Authoritarian Control in identifying undue influence.

The items in the BITE model of mind control were found to have a reliability score of .98, and a Cronbach’s alpha of .93 demonstrated internal consistency and validity. This is very high and in my view shows that the BITE Model is a reliable tool our courts should use.

My work BUILDS on the work of law professor Dr. Alan Scheflin. The Scheflin Social Influence Model offers an overall framework for expert witnesses to comprehensively evaluate undue influence.

I believe his model, with my BITE model, offers the first tool to scientifically evaluate unethical influence.

For a more detailed analysis and an easy-to-watch walkthrough of my findings, here's a link to a blog where I go in to greater detail....
freedomofmind.com/the-bite-model…

I know talking about "legal definitions" may sound boring and wonky but TRUST ME! This is the BULLSEYE! If our courts adequately protected and prosecuted undue influence, it would be much more difficult for cults like Scientology or MLMs like LuLaRoe to operate and ruin lives!