This article is adapted from Dr Margaret Singer's Coercive Mind Control Tactics

coerce .

1 : to restrain or dominate by force

2 : to compel to an act or choice

3 : to bring about by force or threat

Through the use of its question and answer format the WTS conducts a behavioral change programs using coercion to cause the acceptance of a set of beliefs, and behaviors.

In such a program the propspective member is slowed pushed to change during a progression of seemingly small steps. The prospective member rarely notices each small change.

Group dynamics are often used to reinforce the new belief system. At meetings the new study never sees objections or questionning of the material presented. They learn quickly to accept the information without question.

The goal of the indoctrination program is to overcome the student?s ability to critally analize the material presented to them. The material is simplistic but the student has no idea how misleading the logic is within the material. The question and formatted answers prevent real consideration of the information and lead to easy acceptance. Presented with this simplistic form of "education" the prospective member loses the ability to make independent decisions and exercise informed consent.

The tactics used to create undue psychological and social influence, often by means involving anxiety and stress, fall into seven main categories.

TACTIC 1

Increase suggestibility

and "soften up" the individual through specific hypnotic or other suggestibility-increasing techniques such as: Extended audio, visual, verbal, or tactile fixation drills, Excessive exact repetition of routine activities, Sleep restriction and/or Nutritional restriction.

I used to think this did not apply to the JWs. But I have reconsidered this. The monotonous "read the question, read the paragraph, find the answer and repeat it and so on" has the tendency to numb the senses. The monotony of the study procedure itself is bad enough but the process also involves preparation before the actualy study. And the same material is covered repetitively all of the study material provided by the WTS. Even after many years as a full member of the JWs people will be confronted with the same material presented in a myriad of different ways but always with the same question and answer format.

While the practice of chanting or meditation as know in some groups might not be a practice amongst the JWs this constant repetition of the same material would have the same effect asthose other practices.

TACTIC 2

Establish control over the person's social environment, time and sources of social support

by a system of often-excessive rewards and punishments. Social isolation is promoted. Contact with family and friends is abridged, as is contact with persons who do not share group-approved attitudes. Economic and other dependence on the group is fostered.

From the time a person begins to study with the JWs they are subjected to suble attepmts to get them to conform to certain behaviors and beliefs. People are told that if anyone objects to their studying with the JWs and some of their initial changes that the objections are really from Satan who is trying to pull them away from doing the right thing and serving God. As friends and family refuse to accept the new changes the student gradually begins to isolate themsleves from the Satanic influence of those who oppose them. With fewer of the old friends and family around them the JWs gain a greater hold on the new person and have greater influence over them. In time the only friends the person will have are other JWs. The group becomes the source of emotional, physical and spiritual attachment and therefore dependancy.

TACTIC 3

Prohibit disconfirming information

and non-supporting opinions in group communication. Rules exist about permissible topics to discuss with outsiders. Communication is highly controlled. An "in-group" language is usually constructed.

Most information not published by the WTB&TS is prohibited. Anyone caught with information that opposes the position of the WTB&TS can be brought before a judicial committee and receive reproof by the elders. Communication with outsiders should always be with a view to "give a witness? or to indoctrinate them. Relationships with outsiders are strongly discouraged and marriage is to be with only other members. Failure to follow the rules results in reproof.

TACTIC 4

Make the person re-evaluate the most central aspects of his or her experience of self

and prior conduct in negative ways. Efforts are designed to destabilize and undermine the subject's basic consciousness, reality awareness, world-view, emotional control and defense mechanisms. The subject is guided to reinterpret his or her life's history and adopt a new version of causality.

During the process of indoctrination all apsects of an individual?s life are to be examined to make sure they are in conformity to the rules. Before baptism as a JW prospective members undergo an oral examination to ensure they understand the basics of the beliefs and that they do indeed conform. All beliefs and behaviors of the member becomes focused through the world-view of the WTS.

TACTIC 5

Create a sense of powerlessness

by subjecting the person to intense and frequent actions and situations that undermine the person's confidence in himself and his judgment.

Members are encouraged to seek the assistance of the elders to help them make most life decisions. Members are continuously remeinded that they are subject to attack my Satan and must rely on the WTS and the elders for guidance and protection. Without this assistance they will most definitely succumb to the attacks of the Devil. Relying on oneself or on one?s own understanding is an act of pride and rebellion and is subject to sanctions.

TACTIC 6

Create strong aversive emotional arousals

in the subject by use of nonphysical punishments such as intense humiliation, loss of privilege, social isolation, social status changes, intense guilt, anxiety, manipulation and other techniques.

Most members become very fearful of the possibility of reproof by the elders. Members know that other members may report them for behavior or ideas that are contrary to the WTS beliefs. Discipline such as marking or public reproof serve to act as controls. However, the greatest fear is not that God will punish them but that the elders will disfellowship them and therefore cut them off from association with all their friends and family. Since they have cut off all association with non-JWs they know they will be effectively isolated if they are Dfed.

TACTIC 7

Intimidate the person

with the force of group-sanctioned secular psychological threats. For example, it may be suggested or implied that failure to adopt the approved attitude, belief or consequent behavior will lead to severe punishment or dire consequences such as physical or mental illness, the reappearance of a prior physical illness, drug dependence, economic collapse, social failure, divorce, disintegration, failure to find a mate, etc.

Stories abound of people who have left the WTS to live lives of debauchery, filled with sickness, poverty and addictions along with a wide range of other social and physical problems. Constant reminders serve to warn people of the dangers of living outside the organization. Safety exists only for those who are obedient and submissive followers.

Wow.  That's pretty crazy.  I've read it before (on a KaZaA document by L. Ron Hubbard) and I've heard of Southern Baptists using it.  The best way to avoid it is to be knowledgable on the subject.  Thanks!

Thank you for the post.  Really good stuff.

Group dynamics are often used to reinforce the new belief system. At meetings the new study never sees objections or questionning of the material presented. They learn quickly to accept the information without question.

Although we know the truth about the organization's tactics, the Governing Body and the mind-washed rank and file would falsely point to that very same statement as evidence of unity in the organization. 

*** w01 3/1 p. 10 What Is the Spiritual Paradise? ***

Although coming "out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues," they enjoy a unity that is difficult to comprehend until you experience it.?Revelation 7:9.(⁹

 After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands.)

*** w01 4/1 p. 17 True Christianity Prevails! ***

11 Despite the amazing diversity of God?s people, they dwell in unity with one another. (Psalm 133:1-3) This adds to the evidence that holy spirit is at work in the lives of those serving God. His spirit is a powerful force for good that enables his servants to display love, joy, peace, kindness, and other appealing qualities

I really love how they also associate their version of unity with love, joy, peach, kindness, and other appealing qualities.

Blah.

Corvin

yes Knowledge is power.

and as Corvin points out we need to be able to see how it can be twisted to mean whatever someone with ulterior motives wants it to mean

My personal experience is that "I have seen them use none of those tactics".... except tactic number 2.

The "Witnesses" I have come in contact with did not PUSH for any type of mind controle situation.  Sorry to hear that your congregation and experience was not the same.

Yes, you ponder the grueling meeting, study and field service requirements they expect and the devastating physical and emotional toll it takes on JWs and their children.

I saw a documentary once about third world Latin America. They showed how many people there are constantly ill and exhausted by tropical diseases such as malaria. They said that because of this it's easy for governments to dominate and control them. It's also easy for people to make military coos. They say this is the real reason most of these countries are under in developed conditions. The WTBTS keeps JWs over busy and exhausted. So much so that their heads spin. Then there is the fear doctrine they preach. It's easy to scare people when they are very, very tired. They control with fear.

Flyin'

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Lady Lee. This list, as other mind-control models, extensively covers the aspects of group control based in programmed fear and guilt. I think that there is another component to this as well. There are strong postive emotional hooks that probably are the flip-side of all this. Covin touched on one, particulary evident in one of the quotes he provided:

Self-improvement rackets offering seminars which orchestrate techniques of coercive pursuasion and manipulation of the group dynamic, such as the Landmark Forum, constantly tout the same rhetoric, "you just have to experience it".

Any group that uses these techniques of control also touts the positive flip-side, such as having shared experiences, belonging to "a new family", having a sense of purpose and meaning, life finally making sense, being part of the "elite", etc.

excellent, i am going to show this to my doc.  It is so true, u are at the WT and book studies and no dissent is allowed.  so u assume, all is good.  powerful stuff.

TACTIC 3

Prohibit disconfirming information

and non-supporting opinions in group communication. Rules exist about permissible topics to discuss with outsiders. Communication is highly controlled. An "in-group" language is usually constructed.

This is such a good point. Within minutes of talking with another jw - or trying to size up a person - a jw can tell a lot just by the words the person uses. Does he use outdated terms "back calls" instead of "return visits" etc? Shows he's not up to date "spiritually."

No jw I ever knew would talk about what really happens to a df'd/da'd person to outsiders....or the MANY reasons (and none sins) that a jw could be kicked out for.

During a WT study? It was a rare person who would not just repeat the sentence/paragraph for their answer. And no addional information was brought in.

Thanks Lee.

waiting

God! This touches a sore point. My husband went to jw 50th aniversary last month. His hair is nearly white now........and he's let it grow quite long over his collar. His curls are beautiful. So is his beard.

JW's judge a person on their looks - and this cannot be refuted by anyone who is or knows jw's.

My husband was judged (and told/encouraged by jw's) - to "come back to the meetings - no matter how badly you've been hurt." Several sisters threatened to cut his curls off - so he'd "look better." And I wouldn't have put it pass them to actually do that. Stupid women.

They knew he wasn't coming to the Kingdom Hall......by the length of his hair.

He was judged a spritually weak person.......by the length of his hair.

lol - not sure where this fits in.......but the point is.......jw's MUST fit the jw mold.....or be judged as sinners/losers/independent thinkers/spiritually weak/worldly/materialistic......and so many other jw terms we all know and understand.

waiting - married to the good looking guy who can't wait for his ponytail.

Waiting

I think Tactic 4 would apply for the hair thing

 TACTIC 4

Make the person re-evaluate the most central aspects of his or her experience of self

and prior conduct in negative ways. Efforts are designed to destabilize and undermine the subject's basic consciousness, reality awareness, world-view, emotional control and defense mechanisms. The subject is guided to reinterpret his or her life's history and adopt a new version of causality.

How we dress, wear our hair etc is part of our sense of self. A huge part of the indoctrination is directed towards the dress code of the JWS. A few years ago when I took a friend to see what an assembly was like she was awed at how everyone dressed alike. Long dresses, shirts and ties w/ jactet for men and even the children in many cases. A person can't even start preaching until they "look right".

Didn't you ever feel like they were trying to steal and quash your individuality? "You paint as a hobby? You sew for you daughter? JWs do not have time for such things since we are sooo close to the end. There will be plenty of time to do that in the new system. For now you should spend all of your spare time in service." I always felt like they were trying to make uniform, cookie cutter, drone/clones out of us. We were to have no real individuality.

Flyin'