Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 74
disputational X relevant X correct
This nondisputational proposition is composed mainly of a segment that Anthony correctly
quotes from an earlier (1997) article. Although correct, the citation out of context is
misleading. I make it clear in that earlier article that I was exploring various unproven
conjectures for explaining why brainwashing works. Although I stand by this earlier
conjectural quotation, it is not part of my scientific argument. Anthony‘s quotations from my
writings range over thirty years, but he presents them—misleadingly—as though all are part
of a single current scientific attempt to formulate a falsifiable theory.
Proposition 22. (Page 228) The ―profoundly modified self‖ referred to by Zablocki in the
above quote as characteristic of brainwashing is essentially the same as the false self or
―pseudo-identity‖ which Singer, (1995, 60, 61, 77-79), West and Martin (1994) and other
brainwashing theorists regard as an essential aspect of brainwashing.
disputational X relevant correct
Sez who? We have another instance of the false equivalency fallacy cropping up here. Only
now B =the theories of Singer, West, and Martin, none of whom are social psychologists.
Anthony has not done any of the difficult work of establishing an equivalency between my
theory and those of these three scholars. Without doing this work, he has no right to simply
assert that my theory is equivalent to theirs. Additionally, the ―profoundly modified self‖
that Anthony quotes me as discussing has no place in my theory but only in earlier
conjectural work in which I speculate about the question of ―why‖ brainwashing may work
the way it does.
Proposition 23. (Page 228) The new identity is viewed as false because allegedly it is
imposed wholly by extrinsic influence and thus is seen as discontinuous with the
pre-existing values and self-conception of the person that is, as being “ego-dystonic,‖ to
use Zablocki‘s appropriation of psychoanalytic terminology. (Within psychoanalysis, the
term ―ego-dystonic‖ refers to distortions of rational thought processes, such as delusions,
hallucinations, obsessive thoughts, or compulsive behaviours, produced by eruptions of
primitive unconscious materials into consciousness.)
disputational X relevant correct
There are two separate problems with this proposition. The first is that gets the definition of
ego dystonic wrong. According to the American Psychiatric Glossary (seventh edition) 1994,
American Psychiatric Press, the term ego dystonic refers to ―aspects of a person‘s behavior,
thoughts, or attitudes that are viewed by the self as repugnant or inconsistent with the total
personality.‖ There is no assumption that these aspects involve delusions, hallucinations, or
any of the other disorders Anthony suggests. The second problem is that the first sentence
in the proposition is wrong it is based on the erroneous assumption that the brainwashed
person‘s new identity is viewed as false either by the subject or by the observer. No such
value judgments are made or implied.
Proposition 24. (Page 228) Zablocki states: The result of this [brainwashing] process,
when successful, is to make the individual a deployable agent of the charismatic authority.
disputational X relevant X correct
Yes, this interpretation is correct and important, but the statement is merely a descriptive
one that does not dispute the validity of the theory.
Proposition 25. (Page 229) As Zablocki has stated, the cult is able to overwhelm—and
replace with a shadow self—the pre-existing authentic self of the person only by inducing an
altered, primitive state of consciousness in which the person is unable to resist
disputational X relevant X correct
This nondisputational proposition is composed mainly of a segment that Anthony correctly
quotes from an earlier (1997) article. Although correct, the citation out of context is
misleading. I make it clear in that earlier article that I was exploring various unproven
conjectures for explaining why brainwashing works. Although I stand by this earlier
conjectural quotation, it is not part of my scientific argument. Anthony‘s quotations from my
writings range over thirty years, but he presents them—misleadingly—as though all are part
of a single current scientific attempt to formulate a falsifiable theory.
Proposition 22. (Page 228) The ―profoundly modified self‖ referred to by Zablocki in the
above quote as characteristic of brainwashing is essentially the same as the false self or
―pseudo-identity‖ which Singer, (1995, 60, 61, 77-79), West and Martin (1994) and other
brainwashing theorists regard as an essential aspect of brainwashing.
disputational X relevant correct
Sez who? We have another instance of the false equivalency fallacy cropping up here. Only
now B =the theories of Singer, West, and Martin, none of whom are social psychologists.
Anthony has not done any of the difficult work of establishing an equivalency between my
theory and those of these three scholars. Without doing this work, he has no right to simply
assert that my theory is equivalent to theirs. Additionally, the ―profoundly modified self‖
that Anthony quotes me as discussing has no place in my theory but only in earlier
conjectural work in which I speculate about the question of ―why‖ brainwashing may work
the way it does.
Proposition 23. (Page 228) The new identity is viewed as false because allegedly it is
imposed wholly by extrinsic influence and thus is seen as discontinuous with the
pre-existing values and self-conception of the person that is, as being “ego-dystonic,‖ to
use Zablocki‘s appropriation of psychoanalytic terminology. (Within psychoanalysis, the
term ―ego-dystonic‖ refers to distortions of rational thought processes, such as delusions,
hallucinations, obsessive thoughts, or compulsive behaviours, produced by eruptions of
primitive unconscious materials into consciousness.)
disputational X relevant correct
There are two separate problems with this proposition. The first is that gets the definition of
ego dystonic wrong. According to the American Psychiatric Glossary (seventh edition) 1994,
American Psychiatric Press, the term ego dystonic refers to ―aspects of a person‘s behavior,
thoughts, or attitudes that are viewed by the self as repugnant or inconsistent with the total
personality.‖ There is no assumption that these aspects involve delusions, hallucinations, or
any of the other disorders Anthony suggests. The second problem is that the first sentence
in the proposition is wrong it is based on the erroneous assumption that the brainwashed
person‘s new identity is viewed as false either by the subject or by the observer. No such
value judgments are made or implied.
Proposition 24. (Page 228) Zablocki states: The result of this [brainwashing] process,
when successful, is to make the individual a deployable agent of the charismatic authority.
disputational X relevant X correct
Yes, this interpretation is correct and important, but the statement is merely a descriptive
one that does not dispute the validity of the theory.
Proposition 25. (Page 229) As Zablocki has stated, the cult is able to overwhelm—and
replace with a shadow self—the pre-existing authentic self of the person only by inducing an
altered, primitive state of consciousness in which the person is unable to resist
