Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 72
Third-Stage Brainwashing Formulations
Proposition 18. (Page 225) Such supplementary scientific foundations ...include putative
research on hypnosis, addiction, the psychoanalytic transference concept, charisma, the
attitude-change literature, disorientation, male chauvinism/gender bias, and so on. As the
reader of Zablocki‘s articles may recognize, his approach includes several of such
supplementary foundations for allegations of involuntary world view transformation, i.e.
addiction, transference, hypnosis, disorientation.
disputational X relevant correct
There is absolutely no allegation of transference or hypnosis in my theory. I have no idea
where Anthony gets these ideas. Disorientation is discussed as a relatively minor result of
the traumatization of the target individual that takes place during the intermediate stages of
brainwashing. Of the ―supplementary foundations‖ that Anthony mentions, only one,
addiction, is a part of my theory. As I discuss in my comments on Proposition 14, above, I
do not consider addiction to be a foundation for allegations of involuntary world view
transformation, and neither does anybody else working in the addiction field. No addiction
scientists that I know of believe that addiction robs one of free will (nor do they believe that
this is even a meaningful scientific statement). Although addictions can be overcome, many
of them require a tremendous effort to resist. The literature on nonchemical addictions
(such as addictions to gambling or sexual promiscuity) is still controversial at this point, but
there is no doubt that such topics do not in any way rely on statements about free will.
Zablocki’s Third-Stage Brainwashing Formulation: Disorientation, Defective
Thought, Suggestibility, and the False Self
Proposition 19. (Page 226f )The following are the individual elements or hypotheses
within Zablocki‘s definition:
19a) Absence of Pre-motives. People who join new religions cults are not seeking
alternatives to mainstream world views prior to their membership in the new group.
19b) Disorientation. New religions or cults induce irrational altered states of
consciousness as the core technique in seducing people into giving up their existing
world view. (Zablocki refers to this primitive state of consciousness as disorientation
other brainwashing theorists have referred to it as hypnosis, dissociation, trance,
etc., but there is no meaningful distinction between these various terms for primitive
consciousness as they are used by brainwashing theorists, i.e. they are functional
synonyms within the brainwashing world view.)
19c) Defective Cognition: In the disoriented state essential to brainwashing the
person has a significantly reduced cognitive capacity to evaluate the truth or falsity
of world views with which he or she is confronted.
19d) Suggestibility. As a result of externally induced disorientation and defective
cognitive capacity, the victim of brainwashing is highly ―suggestible,‖ i.e. prone to
accept as her/his own ideas and world views which are recommended to him or her
by the person or organization that has induced the defective cognitive state.
19e) Coercive or involuntary imposition of a defective or false world view. The above
sequence of criteria of brainwashing results in the involuntary imposition of a
defective or false world view which anyone in a rational state of mind would have
rejected.
19f) Coercive imposition of a false self. As a result of the brainwashing process, the
person manifests a pseudo-identity or shadow self which has been involuntarily
imposed upon him/her by brainwashing.
Third-Stage Brainwashing Formulations
Proposition 18. (Page 225) Such supplementary scientific foundations ...include putative
research on hypnosis, addiction, the psychoanalytic transference concept, charisma, the
attitude-change literature, disorientation, male chauvinism/gender bias, and so on. As the
reader of Zablocki‘s articles may recognize, his approach includes several of such
supplementary foundations for allegations of involuntary world view transformation, i.e.
addiction, transference, hypnosis, disorientation.
disputational X relevant correct
There is absolutely no allegation of transference or hypnosis in my theory. I have no idea
where Anthony gets these ideas. Disorientation is discussed as a relatively minor result of
the traumatization of the target individual that takes place during the intermediate stages of
brainwashing. Of the ―supplementary foundations‖ that Anthony mentions, only one,
addiction, is a part of my theory. As I discuss in my comments on Proposition 14, above, I
do not consider addiction to be a foundation for allegations of involuntary world view
transformation, and neither does anybody else working in the addiction field. No addiction
scientists that I know of believe that addiction robs one of free will (nor do they believe that
this is even a meaningful scientific statement). Although addictions can be overcome, many
of them require a tremendous effort to resist. The literature on nonchemical addictions
(such as addictions to gambling or sexual promiscuity) is still controversial at this point, but
there is no doubt that such topics do not in any way rely on statements about free will.
Zablocki’s Third-Stage Brainwashing Formulation: Disorientation, Defective
Thought, Suggestibility, and the False Self
Proposition 19. (Page 226f )The following are the individual elements or hypotheses
within Zablocki‘s definition:
19a) Absence of Pre-motives. People who join new religions cults are not seeking
alternatives to mainstream world views prior to their membership in the new group.
19b) Disorientation. New religions or cults induce irrational altered states of
consciousness as the core technique in seducing people into giving up their existing
world view. (Zablocki refers to this primitive state of consciousness as disorientation
other brainwashing theorists have referred to it as hypnosis, dissociation, trance,
etc., but there is no meaningful distinction between these various terms for primitive
consciousness as they are used by brainwashing theorists, i.e. they are functional
synonyms within the brainwashing world view.)
19c) Defective Cognition: In the disoriented state essential to brainwashing the
person has a significantly reduced cognitive capacity to evaluate the truth or falsity
of world views with which he or she is confronted.
19d) Suggestibility. As a result of externally induced disorientation and defective
cognitive capacity, the victim of brainwashing is highly ―suggestible,‖ i.e. prone to
accept as her/his own ideas and world views which are recommended to him or her
by the person or organization that has induced the defective cognitive state.
19e) Coercive or involuntary imposition of a defective or false world view. The above
sequence of criteria of brainwashing results in the involuntary imposition of a
defective or false world view which anyone in a rational state of mind would have
rejected.
19f) Coercive imposition of a false self. As a result of the brainwashing process, the
person manifests a pseudo-identity or shadow self which has been involuntarily
imposed upon him/her by brainwashing.
