Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1986 Page 65
Therapy of every sort operates through the conscious utilization of transference
phenomena. In hypnosis, the hypnotist actively produces a positive transference and
attempts to create a situation, or ―context,‖ in which the subject will act appropriately to
please a benevolent ―parent‖ figure (Sarbin, 1950). Some groups invite recruits to dinner
and then ―love bomb‖ them. Recruits are pampered and made to feel like special people.
Very quickly, regressive urges to childhood behavior arise as recruits are hand-fed sections
of orange from smiling peers who seem to accept the recruits totally, ―warts and all.‖
Uncritical acceptance is truly found only in a parent‘s love for a newborn child. Only an
infant is really loved and fully accepted for ―himself.‖ Positive transference is created by
this apparent acceptance as the recruit experiences his newfound friends as ―good‖ and
giving parent figures. Members of cultic groups later comment that ―it felt good belonging,‖
right from the beginning, and that ―you can‘t help but respect people who feel strongly
about anything.‖ As they set off for a ―delightful experience in the country--the
indoctrination camp--they sing songs and huddle together like boy scouts waiting for the
troop leader to move them on to the next event. The ―pacing‖ continues there as both
verbal and non-verbal indirect suggestions are used to further mold the recruit‘s attitudes
so that they conform to the group‘s norm.
Indirect Suggestion
Erickson (1954) developed and articulated the art of manipulation through indirect
suggestion. He discovered that most ―adults‖ were unable to accept ―direct‖ suggestions
about their behavior because this was too great a threat to their sense of autonomy.
Indirect suggestion left the ―adult‖ with a greater sense of control over his choice of a new
behavior. In therapy, this new behavior is always chosen by the client, although indirect
suggestion may be a tactical device to help the client achieve the new behavior. In the new
religious groups, new behaviors--ostensibly directed towards the ―one happy united world‖
or other buzz-concept goals--are in fact chosen by the recruiters, e.g., increased
membership and revenues.
The indirect suggestions are also ―paced‖ in the initial indoctrination sessions. Both verbal
and non-verbal messages are given to recruits about ―proper‖ behavior. A particularly
elegant example of the brilliant double messages which can be conveyed in this manner is
expressed by the following report from a young newspaperman who ―infiltrated‖ one of the
indoctrination camps. He described his 3 a.m. arrival and the separation of men and
women into sleeping groups. At 6:30 a.m., the leaders roused the recruits for calisthenics, a
reasonable exercise. The group formed a circle with members and recruits alternating. A
member in the center led the exercises. First, the whole group was asked to complete
twenty jumping jacks--an exercise familiar to all. They were then instructed to do twenty
―free-style‖ jumping jacks. The recruits stood around for a moment quite bewildered. What
in the world is a ―free-style‖ jumping jack? The only way for them to proceed was to
observe the members and to do what they did. Within moments of waking up, the demand
to do ―free-style‖ jumping jacks developed a conformity mind set among the recruits. They
were following others in the name of freedom!
Incremental changes of this sort abound. A group can be absorbed in some task or lecture
and a leader will say, ―This seems to be going so well and is so interesting, let‘s skip lunch
today and finish it.‖ Recruits experience small requests of that sort as ―no big thing,‖ but
little by little they are led to changed behavior which becomes more and more strictly
enforced by the group‘s total control of validating positive feedback. The good daddy gives
gold stars for the appropriate behavior. As one former member noted, ―Each thing that
they do to control your behavior is seen as a sacrifice to give you greater power to be a
better member.‖
Therapy of every sort operates through the conscious utilization of transference
phenomena. In hypnosis, the hypnotist actively produces a positive transference and
attempts to create a situation, or ―context,‖ in which the subject will act appropriately to
please a benevolent ―parent‖ figure (Sarbin, 1950). Some groups invite recruits to dinner
and then ―love bomb‖ them. Recruits are pampered and made to feel like special people.
Very quickly, regressive urges to childhood behavior arise as recruits are hand-fed sections
of orange from smiling peers who seem to accept the recruits totally, ―warts and all.‖
Uncritical acceptance is truly found only in a parent‘s love for a newborn child. Only an
infant is really loved and fully accepted for ―himself.‖ Positive transference is created by
this apparent acceptance as the recruit experiences his newfound friends as ―good‖ and
giving parent figures. Members of cultic groups later comment that ―it felt good belonging,‖
right from the beginning, and that ―you can‘t help but respect people who feel strongly
about anything.‖ As they set off for a ―delightful experience in the country--the
indoctrination camp--they sing songs and huddle together like boy scouts waiting for the
troop leader to move them on to the next event. The ―pacing‖ continues there as both
verbal and non-verbal indirect suggestions are used to further mold the recruit‘s attitudes
so that they conform to the group‘s norm.
Indirect Suggestion
Erickson (1954) developed and articulated the art of manipulation through indirect
suggestion. He discovered that most ―adults‖ were unable to accept ―direct‖ suggestions
about their behavior because this was too great a threat to their sense of autonomy.
Indirect suggestion left the ―adult‖ with a greater sense of control over his choice of a new
behavior. In therapy, this new behavior is always chosen by the client, although indirect
suggestion may be a tactical device to help the client achieve the new behavior. In the new
religious groups, new behaviors--ostensibly directed towards the ―one happy united world‖
or other buzz-concept goals--are in fact chosen by the recruiters, e.g., increased
membership and revenues.
The indirect suggestions are also ―paced‖ in the initial indoctrination sessions. Both verbal
and non-verbal messages are given to recruits about ―proper‖ behavior. A particularly
elegant example of the brilliant double messages which can be conveyed in this manner is
expressed by the following report from a young newspaperman who ―infiltrated‖ one of the
indoctrination camps. He described his 3 a.m. arrival and the separation of men and
women into sleeping groups. At 6:30 a.m., the leaders roused the recruits for calisthenics, a
reasonable exercise. The group formed a circle with members and recruits alternating. A
member in the center led the exercises. First, the whole group was asked to complete
twenty jumping jacks--an exercise familiar to all. They were then instructed to do twenty
―free-style‖ jumping jacks. The recruits stood around for a moment quite bewildered. What
in the world is a ―free-style‖ jumping jack? The only way for them to proceed was to
observe the members and to do what they did. Within moments of waking up, the demand
to do ―free-style‖ jumping jacks developed a conformity mind set among the recruits. They
were following others in the name of freedom!
Incremental changes of this sort abound. A group can be absorbed in some task or lecture
and a leader will say, ―This seems to be going so well and is so interesting, let‘s skip lunch
today and finish it.‖ Recruits experience small requests of that sort as ―no big thing,‖ but
little by little they are led to changed behavior which becomes more and more strictly
enforced by the group‘s total control of validating positive feedback. The good daddy gives
gold stars for the appropriate behavior. As one former member noted, ―Each thing that
they do to control your behavior is seen as a sacrifice to give you greater power to be a
better member.‖
