Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1986 Page 67
This is the essence of she confusion technique. Erickson describes the effectiveness of this
technique as being an example of man‘s need for the world to make sense and have
meaning (Erickson, 1964). When one is confused for any length of time, the first apparently
sensible, straightforward statement made is accepted. The lecture on God continues:
Everything came from God and we lost God. Therefore, there cannot be
anything which has nothing to do with God. Nevertheless, we lost God,
therefore we don‘t know anything in this universe. We lost the beauty of
nature, beauty of creation, beauty of birds, beauty of trees, beauty of the
world. Just imagine [an invitation into one‘s inner mind]. Man was created as
the lord over God‘s creation.
The lecturer invites the recruit to see himself in a special way: ―Just imagine.‖ He then
describes the path to actualizing man‘s proper role as lord of the earth. The lecturer,
thereby, touches the ―special person‖ needs of the recruits, who are presented as ―world
savers.‖ Needless to say, ―proper‖ cult behavior is the means to this end.
The use of metaphor and interspersal
Interspersal is the embedding of messages within other messages, which makes them
difficult to resist. Metaphors here are stories or parables in which actions are ―suggested‖
by implied comparison rather than directly (Erickson, 1966). As the indoctrination lecture
continues, the suggestion that man, especially the cult member, is to become God-like,
leads to the following embedded metaphor.
God created this tiny flower in which I am living, in which we are now. Then
for what purpose, for what purpose did he create this flower without resting
even at night-time? He worked to make this flower from morning to night
without rest. Even though no one could understand how precious and
beautiful it was, still Heavenly Father created this flower from morning to
night without sleep. For what purpose? For what purpose? To give joy to
whom? To man [emphasis in the original]. In order to give this present to
me, Heavenly Father worked hard every day, every day, even overnight
without sleeping. He created this flower when I didn‘t know anything. Have
you ever cried to see one tiny flower? You have understood God‘s love for
you. Is that right?
That many cult members work incredibly long hours is a well known fact. Suggestions
about long, hard, work, even over night, are established in the equation of God‘s work and
the work of the cult. The group is actually working for the good of Man, even if members do
not understand how, and even if no one else can appreciate how precious and beautiful
their work is. The metaphor is then appropriately tied off with an emotional pull and the
subject is quickly changed to prevent any critical internal comment. Have you cried over
beauty? (yes) Then you understand God‘s love for you. Is that right? ―Is that right?‖
requires the answer yes, which seals the previous metaphor in place.
I have not addressed in this article the self-hypnotic effects of chanting, or the other
methods used to recruit and hold cult members. But in reviewing the techniques of
suggestion that are used, and the continuous embedding of suggestion, I have attempted
to address the question of hypnosis as an explanation for cult conversion. I believe that
hypnotic techniques are used masterfully by the new groups, although they do not alone
explain the phenomenon.
References
Erickson, M. (1954). Indirect hypnotic therapy of an enuretic couple. Journal of Clinical
Hypnosis, 2, 171-174.
This is the essence of she confusion technique. Erickson describes the effectiveness of this
technique as being an example of man‘s need for the world to make sense and have
meaning (Erickson, 1964). When one is confused for any length of time, the first apparently
sensible, straightforward statement made is accepted. The lecture on God continues:
Everything came from God and we lost God. Therefore, there cannot be
anything which has nothing to do with God. Nevertheless, we lost God,
therefore we don‘t know anything in this universe. We lost the beauty of
nature, beauty of creation, beauty of birds, beauty of trees, beauty of the
world. Just imagine [an invitation into one‘s inner mind]. Man was created as
the lord over God‘s creation.
The lecturer invites the recruit to see himself in a special way: ―Just imagine.‖ He then
describes the path to actualizing man‘s proper role as lord of the earth. The lecturer,
thereby, touches the ―special person‖ needs of the recruits, who are presented as ―world
savers.‖ Needless to say, ―proper‖ cult behavior is the means to this end.
The use of metaphor and interspersal
Interspersal is the embedding of messages within other messages, which makes them
difficult to resist. Metaphors here are stories or parables in which actions are ―suggested‖
by implied comparison rather than directly (Erickson, 1966). As the indoctrination lecture
continues, the suggestion that man, especially the cult member, is to become God-like,
leads to the following embedded metaphor.
God created this tiny flower in which I am living, in which we are now. Then
for what purpose, for what purpose did he create this flower without resting
even at night-time? He worked to make this flower from morning to night
without rest. Even though no one could understand how precious and
beautiful it was, still Heavenly Father created this flower from morning to
night without sleep. For what purpose? For what purpose? To give joy to
whom? To man [emphasis in the original]. In order to give this present to
me, Heavenly Father worked hard every day, every day, even overnight
without sleeping. He created this flower when I didn‘t know anything. Have
you ever cried to see one tiny flower? You have understood God‘s love for
you. Is that right?
That many cult members work incredibly long hours is a well known fact. Suggestions
about long, hard, work, even over night, are established in the equation of God‘s work and
the work of the cult. The group is actually working for the good of Man, even if members do
not understand how, and even if no one else can appreciate how precious and beautiful
their work is. The metaphor is then appropriately tied off with an emotional pull and the
subject is quickly changed to prevent any critical internal comment. Have you cried over
beauty? (yes) Then you understand God‘s love for you. Is that right? ―Is that right?‖
requires the answer yes, which seals the previous metaphor in place.
I have not addressed in this article the self-hypnotic effects of chanting, or the other
methods used to recruit and hold cult members. But in reviewing the techniques of
suggestion that are used, and the continuous embedding of suggestion, I have attempted
to address the question of hypnosis as an explanation for cult conversion. I believe that
hypnotic techniques are used masterfully by the new groups, although they do not alone
explain the phenomenon.
References
Erickson, M. (1954). Indirect hypnotic therapy of an enuretic couple. Journal of Clinical
Hypnosis, 2, 171-174.
