Cult Persuasion brainwashing mind control cult conversion and

Cult Persuasion “brainwashing, ” mind control, cult conversion, and deprogramming

Roots of cultic research POW camps in the Korean war: emergence of the term “brainwashing” “When Prophecy Fails: Festinger, Riecken, & Schacter’s 1956 analysis of an end-of-the earth cult 1960’s: popularity of Hare Krishnas and transcendental meditation

Modern day cults: a sad, brief chronology 1978: Reverend Jim Jones and 900 followers, including children, commit suicide in Jonestown Guyana by drinking cyanide-laced punch. 1993: At least 80 Branch Davidians, followers of David Coresh, perish in a fire and shoot-out with the BATF at their compound in Waco, Texas. 1994: 67 members of the “Order of the Solar Temple, ” cult are found burned to death in the French alps in Switzerland in Quebec, Canada. “Rael” and Brigitte Boisselier, Raelian bishop and CEO of Clonaid

Modern day cults: a sad, brief chronology • 1997: 39 members of the “Heaven’s Gate” cult, led by Marshall Applewhite, commit suicide in California. They • die so they can join the Mother Ship following the Hale. Bopp comet. 2000: More than 900 members of a reclusive Christian doomsday cult in Africa were murdered by their leaders. Many burned to death, others were buried in mass graves.

Omnipresence of cults and cult activities Some estimates suggest there are over 5000 cults in the U. S. alone (including militia groups, extremist religions, and new age sects) The new millennium rekindled interest and membership in cults. Some estimates suggest upwards of 185, 000 converts per year Not all cults are religious or spiritual in nature. Modern cults include large group-awareness trainings, psychotherapy, business, political, and "New Age" groups

Problems with defining cults What is the difference between a “cult” and a “social movement, ” or an “extremist group” or a “club. ” Which, if any, of the following are cults? Unification Church (“moonies”) Church of Scientology Amish the Manson family Masons or Shriners Militia groups Hell’s angels Suicide bombers Fraternities Amway Trekkers and Trekkies Boy Scouts of America

“brainwashing, ” a misnomer People can’t be “brainwashed. ” There is no science of brainwashing that allows people to be programmed, deprogrammed, or reprogrammed like a computer. A cult convert has to be a willing participant in his/her conversion. Cults use the same basic techniques of persuasion as other persuaders, but in addition, they rely on many unethical strategies Strategies; physical isolation, ego-reinforcement, sleep deprivation, deception, etc. Cults control the physical environment of members as well (that is why cults often live away from the rest of society in a compound, commune, etc.

Recruitment techniques: the cult conversion process How it starts: Windows of vulnerability: targets are most susceptible during an emotional crisis (divorce, death of loved one, serious illness, etc. ) • target’s judgment may be confused, impaired • target is looking for an answer to life’s problems Befriending the target Ingratiation strategies (compliments, flattery, especially about sources of insecurity) Lure of forming a serious or close relationship Invitation to attend a meeting or retreat isolation from friends, family control over environment, Difficult to leave Deception: withholding the true identify of the group, withholding the purpose of befriending another, etc.

Psychological techniques of persuasion Unconditional positive regard “love bombing, ” group hugs, etc. Meditation, chanting, and other mind-numbing techniques Peer group pressure Pressure to conform, be part of the group Verbal abuse Techniques Confession Fear, guilt appeals Sacrifice; personal, financial Loyalty tests Demonizing (doubts are the Devil at work) • • •

Physical techniques of persuasion Physical isolation Sleep deprivation Fasting Control of the person’s time (rigorous schedule, no free time) Loss of privacy Constant praying or witnessing of beliefs to the group • Repetitive motion (chanting, dancing) • Hallucinations (via • • • hyperventilation, hallucinogens, chanting, etc. ) Body manipulation Extreme dress codes Loyalty tests

Examples of Destructive Cults Aum Shinri Kyo Branch Davidians The Family (Charles Manson) Heaven's Gate The People's Temple (Jim Jones) Order of the Solar Temple

Should the Nazi’s be considered a cult? Why or Why not?

Criminal Profiling & Serial Killers

What is criminal profiling? • Construction of a psychological, behavioral and demographic profile of the type of person likely to have committed the crime • Usually applied to serial crimes (serial murders, serial rapes…)

First documented case • New York City 1950’s • “Mad Bomber” • Psychiatrist James Brussell constructs a profile: • • White male, 40’s - 50’s Lives with aunt or sister Hates father, loves mother Will wear double-breasted suit when apprehended

“Father of profiling” John Douglas • 25 years with the FBI, Investigative Support Unit • Developed profiling techniques now taught in the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit • Consulted on Atlanta child murders, Green River killer, Unabomber

What to look for • Signature - something done to fulfill or satisfy the offenders emotional state • Not the same as Modus Operandi • Modus Operandi - what is needed to complete the crime

What to look for • State of the crime scene • Gives clues about the type of offender • Age • Race • Motive

Organized vs. Disorganized • Organized crime scene: • • • Body is hidden Weapon is removed from scene Appears to be well-planned The victim is specifically targeted Restraints often used Aggression takes place before death

Organized vs. Disorganized • Disorganized: • • • Body not hidden Weapon is present Appears to be spontaneous Victim may be an acquaintance Aggression or sex post-mortem

What does it all mean? • Organized crime scene suggests an offender: • • • Average or above average IQ Employed, usually quite skilled Socially competent Uses alcohol in commission of crime Uses car to drive to crime scene/hunt for victim Obsessed with media coverage of his crimes

What does it all mean? • Disorganized crime scene suggests an offender: • • • Below average IQ Unstable employment record, unskilled Socially isolated Lives close to crime scene Strict discipline as a child Extremely anxious

Criminal Profiling • Statistics from FBI (1981) • 88 cases solved using profiling out of 192 • 17% of these cases were solved by profiling ALONE • Canada & Profiling • VICLAS (violent crime linkage analysis) • Computer matches crimes with similar characteristics

Serial Killers

Definition of a Serial Killer • Murder of three or more persons • Involves a distinctive “cooling off” period • Can be days to months to years • Differs from Mass Murder (3+ persons killed together) & Spree Killing (3+ persons killed in short period of time at different locations)

Typical serial killer • White male • Late 20’s to early 30’s • Kills within his own race • Method of murder is “hands on” (strangulation or stabbing) • Victims selected because they share specific characteristics (for example, Ted Bundy chose young women with long hair, parted in the middle)

The Lust Murderer: subtype of a serial killer • Sadistic and brutal crime • Committed almost exclusively against women • Two types of offenders: • Organized Nonsocial • Disorganized Asocial

Example of lust killers • James Russell Odom & James Clayton Lawson • Met in a mental institution • Talked about their fantasies regarding women: Odom raping and Lawson mutilating • Their crime: • Kidnapped, raped and brutally mutilated a woman

Lust Killers • Lawson quoted as saying: • I wanted to cut her body so she would not look like a person and destroy her so she would not exist.

Profiling a Serial Killer: “The Trailside Killer” • San Francisco Mount Tamalpais August 1979 • • • Edda Kane (44 years) found dead Facedown, kneeling position Single gunshot wound to back of head No evidence of sexual assault No robbery

Trailside Killer • March 1980 • Barbara Schwartz (23 years) • Stabbed in chest • Naked, kneeling position • October 1980 • Anne Alderson (26 years) • Shot in head • BUT: not naked, not kneeling

Trailside Killer • November 1980 • Shauna May (25 years) • Found in a shallow grave NEXT TO Diana O’ Connell (22 years) who had been missing for one month • Both shot in head

Trailside Killer • Same day: two more bodies • Richard Stowers (19 years) and fiancee Cynthia Moreland (18 years) • Determined to have been killed the same weekend as Anne Alderson in mid. October

Trailside Killer • March 1981 • • • Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Ellen Marie Hansen (20) & Steven Haertle Threatened to rape Ellen, shot & killed her when she protested Steven was shot but survived Able to give a description of the man

Trailside Killer: Constructing a profile (John Douglas) • Crime scenes in secluded areas only accessible by foot: Killer was comfortable in area, a local • Victims attacked from rear in blitz-style attack: Killer was asocial, not able to charm victims with conversation. Blitz-style attack was the only way he could control victims

Trailside Killer: Constructing a profile • Victims ranged in ages and appearance: Killer didn’t know victims. He is acting out a fantasy • Victims were white: Killer is white • Able to evade police: Low to mid 30’s • Probably spent time in jail, possibly attempted rape • Blue-collar work

Trailside Killer: Constructing a profile • Very intelligent • Not random act - precipitating stressor • History of bed-wetting, fire-starting and/or cruelty to animals (as a child) • SPEECH IMPEDIMENT • Secluded, didn’t want to be seen • Relied on over-powering victim • Indicates a disability, but unlikely physical because was able to control victim

Trailside Killer Caught • David Carpenter • • • White male, 50 (*profile of age incorrect) Industrial arts teacher History of attacking women and served jail time Domineering and abusive mother Bed-wetting & cruelty to animals as a child SEVERE STUTTER