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Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

24 Dec 21

When a small grain of sand gets into an oyster, it can turn into a beautiful pearl.

THIS is how I want you to think about helping a family member OUT of an extreme belief.

If you are able to successfully empower a new thought, it can develop into something beautiful!

But...

This CAN'T be done by FORCE. You can't yell or tell them they're stupid or tell them to read an article that contradicts their worldview. Do this with love, respect, & patience.

Do not allow yourself to be abused or bullied. Stay resourceful.

Ask questions.

And Eventually..

A new thought, like a grain of sand, can get inside and develop into a beautiful pearl (their true identity!).

When I was in a cult, this is what happened to me. My deprogrammers asked me questions. Nothing penetrated consciously until the last day of my deprogramming.

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Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

20 Dec 21

Many of us feel POWERLESSNESS when we hear depressing political news. Many also want to know "how can I get involved?"

Here's how you do it:

Think globally, act locally.

Why not help de-radicalize someone you know and care about? Rather than just cut someone out of your life, if you have the bandwidth, and learn what is effective, you could put in a few hours each week into the effort.

In this thread, I will link to a few other threads and blogs I've composed that outline my Strategic Interactive Approach (SIA). This is the approach I've applied for the last 45+ years in helping people out of cults and conspiracy thinking!

freedomofmind.com/help-a-family-…

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Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

17 Dec 21

There's been a great deal of talk about expanding the Supreme Court and entirely NOT enough talk about impeaching Amy Coney Barrett.

First, this is not a "Republicans bad, Democrats good!" appeal. I often disagree with Clarence Thomas but I would NOT call for his impeachment.

This is about Amy Coney Barrett's DEEPLY troubling affiliation with the destructive group "People of Praise."

The People of Praise (POP) are not a conventional religion. The POP displays many cult-like attributes.

Here's a brief summary of the People of Praise:

The People of Praise reportedly require a lifetime covenant commitment, require wives & children to be submissive to husbands, promote fear of losing God’s grace, allow & even encourage corporal punishment of children & wives, engage in forced exorcisms, & shun former members.

Read 10 tweets

Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

16 Dec 21

Many of you are familiar with my BITE Model (as a reminder, BITE stands for):

Behavior Control
Information Control
Thought Control
Emotional Control

The BITE model outlines the specific set of methods and techniques that can influence how a person thinks, feels, and acts.

I've come to understand that Information Control is one of the most POTENT parts of my BITE model and there are few groups who've been controlled through information more than Indigenous people.

Indigenous kids were forced into schools and required to assimilate.

Our very own Declaration of Independence-our most FOUNDATIONAL document-refers to Indigenous people as "merciless Indian savages."

Read 4 tweets

Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

14 Dec 21

Though he is so often misquoted by insincere politicians, Martin Luther King Jr. really FULLY embodied the approach I teach.

King DIDN'T turn his head to injustice. He confronted it HEAD ON, but he did so with love and compassion.

Just look at his Six Principles of Nonviolence:

Read 8 tweets

Steven Hassan, PhD

@CultExpert

13 Dec 21

Whenever I talk about my patient, kind approach for getting people out of cults and extreme beliefs, there is always a small group of people that get mad at me. They tell me how TOXIC a family member or person has been and that they needed to cut them off for their own sanity!

As always my friends, this is your own life. 🙏 It is not my intention to tell you you're "wrong." Do as you wish.

I've been doing this for 45+ years though, and never once was anger or confrontation or isolation helpful (and I've worked with the most EXTREME of the extreme!).

Perhaps, if it is too painful, those of us who DO have the bandwidth to have conversations with family or estranged friends from high school can be the ones who step up!

I can report one refreshing, encouraging aspect of this approach though:

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