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Review of Robert J. Lifton, "Eight Criteria for Thought Reform" From "Thought Reform & the Psychology of Totalism"
Absolutely relevant to our present situation!☝️☝️☝️
Review of Robert J. Lifton, "Eight Criteria for Thought Reform" From "Thought Reform & the Psychology of Totalism"
Absolutely relevant to our present situation!☝️☝️☝️
2/
Lifton interviewed American Korean POWs, 15 Chinese who fled their homeland after being subjected to indoctrination. Held interviews up to a year. BTW he pushed the AMA to include PTSD as a diagnosis. He later studied NAZI doctors, victims of Hiroshima, Veterans of Vietnam.
Lifton interviewed American Korean POWs, 15 Chinese who fled their homeland after being subjected to indoctrination. Held interviews up to a year. BTW he pushed the AMA to include PTSD as a diagnosis. He later studied NAZI doctors, victims of Hiroshima, Veterans of Vietnam.
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Here are the 8 criteria:
Milieu Control. This involves the control of information and communication both within the environment and, ultimately, within the individual, resulting in a significant degree of isolation from society at large.
Fox, 45 tweets, polarization
Here are the 8 criteria:
Milieu Control. This involves the control of information and communication both within the environment and, ultimately, within the individual, resulting in a significant degree of isolation from society at large.
Fox, 45 tweets, polarization
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Mystical Manipulation. The manipulation of experiences that appears spontaneous but is, in fact, planned and orchestrated by the group or its leaders in order to demonstrate divine authority, spiritual advancement, or some exceptional talent or insight that sets the leader
Mystical Manipulation. The manipulation of experiences that appears spontaneous but is, in fact, planned and orchestrated by the group or its leaders in order to demonstrate divine authority, spiritual advancement, or some exceptional talent or insight that sets the leader
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and/or group apart from humanity, and that allows reinterpretation of historical events, scripture, and other experiences. Coincidences and happenstance oddities are interpreted as omens or prophecies.
We all see how obvious this is. "Alternative Facts". @GOP
Lies abound.
and/or group apart from humanity, and that allows reinterpretation of historical events, scripture, and other experiences. Coincidences and happenstance oddities are interpreted as omens or prophecies.
We all see how obvious this is. "Alternative Facts". @GOP
Lies abound.
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Demand for Purity. The world is viewed as black and white and the members are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. The induction of guilt and/or shame is a powerful control device used here.
Twitter blaming
Demand for Purity. The world is viewed as black and white and the members are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. The induction of guilt and/or shame is a powerful control device used here.
Twitter blaming
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Demand for Purity. The world is viewed as black and white and the members are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. The induction of guilt and/or shame is a powerful control device used here.
black & white thinking, blame
Demand for Purity. The world is viewed as black and white and the members are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. The induction of guilt and/or shame is a powerful control device used here.
black & white thinking, blame
8/
Confession. Sins, as defined by the group, are to be confessed either to a personal monitor or publicly to the group. There is no confidentiality; members' "sins," "attitudes," and "faults" are discussed and exploited by the leaders.
Blame, firings
Confession. Sins, as defined by the group, are to be confessed either to a personal monitor or publicly to the group. There is no confidentiality; members' "sins," "attitudes," and "faults" are discussed and exploited by the leaders.
Blame, firings
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Sacred Science. The group's doctrine or ideology is considered to be the ultimate Truth, beyond all questioning or dispute. Truth is not to be found outside the group. The leader, as the spokesperson for God or for all humanity, is likewise above criticism.
global warming
Sacred Science. The group's doctrine or ideology is considered to be the ultimate Truth, beyond all questioning or dispute. Truth is not to be found outside the group. The leader, as the spokesperson for God or for all humanity, is likewise above criticism.
global warming
10/
Loading the Language. The group interprets or uses words & phrases in new ways so that often the outside world does not understand. This jargon consists of thought-terminating clichés, which serve to alter members' thought processes to conform to group's way of thinking
Loading the Language. The group interprets or uses words & phrases in new ways so that often the outside world does not understand. This jargon consists of thought-terminating clichés, which serve to alter members' thought processes to conform to group's way of thinking
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More on thought stopping cliches. Commonly used phrase, or folk wisdom, sometimes used to quell cognitive dissonance. Though the clichéd phrase in and of itself may be valid in certain contexts, its application as a means of dismissing dissent or justifying fallacious logic
More on thought stopping cliches. Commonly used phrase, or folk wisdom, sometimes used to quell cognitive dissonance. Though the clichéd phrase in and of itself may be valid in certain contexts, its application as a means of dismissing dissent or justifying fallacious logic
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IS what makes it thought-terminating.
“Everything happens 4 a reason”, “Why? Because I said so”(Bare assertion fallacy),“I’m the parent, that’s why”(Appeal to authority),“2 each his own”, “It's a matter of opinion!”, “You only live once”, &“We will have to agree to disagree”.
IS what makes it thought-terminating.
“Everything happens 4 a reason”, “Why? Because I said so”(Bare assertion fallacy),“I’m the parent, that’s why”(Appeal to authority),“2 each his own”, “It's a matter of opinion!”, “You only live once”, &“We will have to agree to disagree”.
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"MAGA". Their language is infused w/ thought stopping cliches. Trump relies on many thought stopping cliches. Type them in search to find Russian Trolls. They use them over & over.
"MAGA". Their language is infused w/ thought stopping cliches. Trump relies on many thought stopping cliches. Type them in search to find Russian Trolls. They use them over & over.
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Doctrine over person. Members' personal experiences are subordinated to the sacred science and any contrary experiences must be denied or reinterpreted to fit the ideology of the group.
Conspiracies.
Doctrine over person. Members' personal experiences are subordinated to the sacred science and any contrary experiences must be denied or reinterpreted to fit the ideology of the group.
Conspiracies.
/15
Dispensing of existence. The group has the prerogative to decide who has the right to exist and who does not. This is usually not literal but means that those in the outside world are not saved, unenlightened, unconscious and they must be converted to the group's ideology.
Dispensing of existence. The group has the prerogative to decide who has the right to exist and who does not. This is usually not literal but means that those in the outside world are not saved, unenlightened, unconscious and they must be converted to the group's ideology.
/16
If they do not join the group or are critical of the group, then they must be rejected by the members. Thus, the outside world loses all credibility. In conjunction, should any member leave the group, he or she must be rejected also.
seen in racism, DACA, & immigration
If they do not join the group or are critical of the group, then they must be rejected by the members. Thus, the outside world loses all credibility. In conjunction, should any member leave the group, he or she must be rejected also.
seen in racism, DACA, & immigration
17/ Cognitive Dissonance. Research by Festinger. Psychological distress holding opposite beliefs, values, ideas. My favorite example is asking someone who does not like you to do you a favor. If they do the favor they like you. They can't resolve disliking you w/ helping you.
18/ I think MAGA is brainwashed w/ Trump the God like cult leader, can do no wrong. You can see all 8 criteria for thought reform at play. No evidence or research involved. No reflection on history. Just the whim of the Cult leader. Pointless to debate them.
unroll
