International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation Volume 8 2025 100
joining the Family: accepting him as their leader,
adopting his belief system, and ultimately committing
murders on his orders.
Nielsen states that Manson had such great psychological
insight into his young followers that they believed he
had the actual ability to read their minds (1984:321).
Moreover, he greatly impacted those he met. He created
confusion and then provided leadership with quick but
complicated answers to questions:
Even though he told everyone to do their own
thing, to be themselves, his own personal
magnetism, combined with a constant process
of selection, attracted those who thirsted for a
leader. Control was what Charles was into all
along, in spite of the claims of liberation and
freedom. (Sanders 1971:36)
While interviewing Family members before the Tate-
LaBianca trial, Bugliosi gained insight into how Manson
manipulated, or “brainwashed,” people by using LSD,
“a mind-altering drug which tends to make the person
ingesting it a little more vulnerable and susceptible to
the influence of third parties” (Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:237). The Family frequently took LSD trips, and
Manson was responsible for dispensing the doses, often
taking a smaller dose himself so he could retain control
(see Kent 2004:111). Family member Paul Watkins
believed that Manson used LSD trips “to instill his
philosophies, exploit weaknesses and fears, and extract
promises and agreements from his followers” (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:237). Brooks Poston, another Family
member, confirmed Watkins’ hypothesis, adding
that Manson implanted his philosophies while new
members were under the influence of LSD (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:235).
Through the combination of his psychological insights
and the use of LSD, Manson ultimately controlled the
thoughts and actions of the Family members. Leading
up to the Tate-LaBianca murders, he “continued
programming members of the family, preparing them
to carry out his orders without question: the drug
effects began to blur distinctions among the many faces
of Charlie—it was not really the ‘father’ anymore—
as much as an extremity of the ‘Infinite Soul’ which
was, of course, everything and everybody in Manson’s
inside world” (Gilmore and Kenner 1971:85). At the
trial, Bugliosi provided the jury with many examples
of Manson’s control over the group and proved that
“Manson had such a hold over his followers, and
specifically his co-defendants, that never in a million
years would they have committed these murders
without his guidance, direction, and orders” (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:225). Indeed, a former Family
member described Manson’s co-defendants as “virtual
zombies” who followed his orders without question
(Daily Breeze 1977:A5).
A lack of remorse or guilt is another manifestation of
psychopathy. According to Hare,
Despite the brutality of innocent victims being
slaughtered in their own homes, Manson showed no
remorse for ordering the Tate-LaBianca murders.
When reflecting on his feelings at the time of the
murders, Manson described his thoughts: “Fuck this
world and everyone in it. I’d give them something
to open their eyes, and then take our group out into
the desert” (Manson and Emmons 1986:203). While
Manson felt anger toward society, he claims he felt
nothing toward the victims. When his co-defendants
relayed the horrific details of the Tate murders,
Manson said he wasn’t shocked and “did not feel pity
or compassion for the victims” (Manson and Emmons
1986:206). Rather than feel “remorse or compassion,”
Manson instead was amused at the “theories and
speculations of the police and reporters” (Manson and
Emmons 1986:208). Even when time had passed after
the murders, he still claimed he felt no remorse, but
only the fear of getting caught (Manson and Emmons
1986:218). Over a decade later, in an interview with
Tom Snyder in 1981, he remained remorseless (Tampa
Tribune 1981:5-A).
Hare includes shallow affect as a criterion for
psychopathy. “Psychopaths seem to suffer a kind of
emotional poverty that limits the range and depth of
their feelings. While at times they appear cold and
Psychopaths show a stunning lack of concern
for the devastating effects their actions have
on others. Often they are completely forthright
about the matter, calmly stating that they have
no sense of guilt, are not sorry for the pain and
destruction they have caused, and that there is no
reason for them to be concerned. (1993:40–41).
joining the Family: accepting him as their leader,
adopting his belief system, and ultimately committing
murders on his orders.
Nielsen states that Manson had such great psychological
insight into his young followers that they believed he
had the actual ability to read their minds (1984:321).
Moreover, he greatly impacted those he met. He created
confusion and then provided leadership with quick but
complicated answers to questions:
Even though he told everyone to do their own
thing, to be themselves, his own personal
magnetism, combined with a constant process
of selection, attracted those who thirsted for a
leader. Control was what Charles was into all
along, in spite of the claims of liberation and
freedom. (Sanders 1971:36)
While interviewing Family members before the Tate-
LaBianca trial, Bugliosi gained insight into how Manson
manipulated, or “brainwashed,” people by using LSD,
“a mind-altering drug which tends to make the person
ingesting it a little more vulnerable and susceptible to
the influence of third parties” (Bugliosi with Gentry
1974:237). The Family frequently took LSD trips, and
Manson was responsible for dispensing the doses, often
taking a smaller dose himself so he could retain control
(see Kent 2004:111). Family member Paul Watkins
believed that Manson used LSD trips “to instill his
philosophies, exploit weaknesses and fears, and extract
promises and agreements from his followers” (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:237). Brooks Poston, another Family
member, confirmed Watkins’ hypothesis, adding
that Manson implanted his philosophies while new
members were under the influence of LSD (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:235).
Through the combination of his psychological insights
and the use of LSD, Manson ultimately controlled the
thoughts and actions of the Family members. Leading
up to the Tate-LaBianca murders, he “continued
programming members of the family, preparing them
to carry out his orders without question: the drug
effects began to blur distinctions among the many faces
of Charlie—it was not really the ‘father’ anymore—
as much as an extremity of the ‘Infinite Soul’ which
was, of course, everything and everybody in Manson’s
inside world” (Gilmore and Kenner 1971:85). At the
trial, Bugliosi provided the jury with many examples
of Manson’s control over the group and proved that
“Manson had such a hold over his followers, and
specifically his co-defendants, that never in a million
years would they have committed these murders
without his guidance, direction, and orders” (Bugliosi
with Gentry 1974:225). Indeed, a former Family
member described Manson’s co-defendants as “virtual
zombies” who followed his orders without question
(Daily Breeze 1977:A5).
A lack of remorse or guilt is another manifestation of
psychopathy. According to Hare,
Despite the brutality of innocent victims being
slaughtered in their own homes, Manson showed no
remorse for ordering the Tate-LaBianca murders.
When reflecting on his feelings at the time of the
murders, Manson described his thoughts: “Fuck this
world and everyone in it. I’d give them something
to open their eyes, and then take our group out into
the desert” (Manson and Emmons 1986:203). While
Manson felt anger toward society, he claims he felt
nothing toward the victims. When his co-defendants
relayed the horrific details of the Tate murders,
Manson said he wasn’t shocked and “did not feel pity
or compassion for the victims” (Manson and Emmons
1986:206). Rather than feel “remorse or compassion,”
Manson instead was amused at the “theories and
speculations of the police and reporters” (Manson and
Emmons 1986:208). Even when time had passed after
the murders, he still claimed he felt no remorse, but
only the fear of getting caught (Manson and Emmons
1986:218). Over a decade later, in an interview with
Tom Snyder in 1981, he remained remorseless (Tampa
Tribune 1981:5-A).
Hare includes shallow affect as a criterion for
psychopathy. “Psychopaths seem to suffer a kind of
emotional poverty that limits the range and depth of
their feelings. While at times they appear cold and
Psychopaths show a stunning lack of concern
for the devastating effects their actions have
on others. Often they are completely forthright
about the matter, calmly stating that they have
no sense of guilt, are not sorry for the pain and
destruction they have caused, and that there is no
reason for them to be concerned. (1993:40–41).
