Steven Hassan Mind Control

Steven Hassan is a leading American Exit Counsellor who authored "Combatting Cult Mind Control" (1990); now a standard text for understanding the tactics and influences of the cults (Hassan & Das, n.d.). Hassan believes that cults try to suppress people's distinct individual freedom by suppressing their free will, talents, creativity, and ability to think for themselves. The ultimate goal of indoctrination and gradual disassociation is to make unique individuals into "clones" that fit the cult's mold or, theologically speaking, to re-mold people bearing God's image to people reflecting the image of the cult leader/s (ibid.).

Behavior control is about directing the individual's behavior and movements within his/her physical reality (Groenveld, n.d.). The cult may exert control over a person's accommodation, interpersonal association, physical appearance, time of sleep, partner selection, speech, education, career, finance, leisure, sexual activities, and children (Hassan, 1990:60; Groenveld, n.d.; Four Aspects of Mind Control (FAMC), n.d.). Each cult has its own specific schedules and behaviors to which members are expected to conform. Often, there are rigid rules and guidelines that members are expected to enact in accordance with displaying loyalty to the group's philosophy. Absolute obedience and dependence to both the group and its leadership is demanded (Hassan & Das, n.d.). Cults often demand large time commitments for group related activities and indoctrination (ibid). Behavioral modification techniques, including the use of positive and negative reinforcements, and punishment, are actively used to encourage and maintain "correct" behaviour (FAMC, n.d.). People are encouraged to report feelings, thoughts, and activities to superiors for continual monitoring (Hassan & Das, n.d.).The leaders know that they cannot directly control the thoughts of people, but if they can control people's behavior, then their minds and hearts will follow (Hassan, 1990:59; FAMC, n.d.; Groenveld,n.d.).

The WatchTower Society exerts behavioral control over their members. Richard Francis, an ex-JW after thirty yearsof membership, comments:

"Already there are millions of people who have given unqualified allegiance, at least in word, to this organization. They follow its advice in matters as important as sex, birth control, euthanasia, medical treatments, employment, education, career, business, marriage, divorce, child-training, interpersonal activities, social relationships, etc." (Francis, 1985:32).

Jehovah's Witnesses are told how to and told how not to dress and groom; with whom they may or may not eat, or associate; to study WatchTower Society literature rather than pursue higher education; to spend their time in "Kingdom activities" (proselytising, attending five congregational meetings each week, and attending three out-of-town conventions/assemblies annually), rather than in recreation, leisure activities, or even "overtime" to earn extra money for their family, and even what members should say in answer to objections raised in door-to-door ministry (Groenveld, n.d.). Jehovah's Witnesses even must submit monthly reports documenting their specific recruitment activities during that month (Branch Procedures, n.d.:16). Required behavior is linked with Scripture (and WT magazine articles) to ensure obedience.

Conformity is often misjudged by outsiders as either the demonstration strength of character or the display of loving unity (FAMC, n.d.). The opposite is often true. Unless Jehovah's Witnesses behave according to the WatchTower Society's "recommendations", they may be punished by having privileges withdrawn, be rebuked privately by the "elders" or at a "judicial hearing", be publicly shamed and "shunned" after being "marked", or even having their name read out to the congregation after being "disfellowshipped" (Burrows, n.d.[b]).

By controlling information, cults prevent people from making informed judgements and using critical evaluation to guide their thinking and decisions independently (Groenveld, n.d.). Cults often utilize deceptive techniques, such as distorting information, withholding information, or outright lying to recruit and maintain followers (Hassan & Das, n.d.; FAMC, n.d.). Accessing sources of information from outside of the cult is discouraged (i.e., television, radio, magazines, books), and any media critical of the cult from any source, but particularly if written by former members, is forbidden and to be rejected outright (Hassan& Das, n.d.; Hassan, 1990:65).

In contrast to its censorship of outside information, the cult will generate its own information about its doctrines, practices, history, and commentaries on contemporary and historical issues and organisations. These may take the form of journals, sacred writings (e.g. The Book of Mormon), newsletters, videos, or any other useful media (Hassan & Das, n.d.). Misquotations and statementsfrom non-cult sources are often used to justify the cult's views (ibid.). The people are encouraged to live on a learning diet consisting of a sole intake of cultic propaganda to align their thinking with the cult's views.

Even the cult's own information is not always accessible (Hassan & Das, n.d.). Often there is a hierarchical structure with levels of information for people according to their rank . Those in the recruit stage often receive glamorous tokens of information, but only as they become more entrenched in the group are they exposed to the more important and unpalatable doctrines (FAMC, n.d.). Who needs to know what is decided among the leadership (Hassan & Das, n.d.).

The WatchTower Society is a classic organization to study regarding its use of information control. Outside information, whether it contains religious or non-religious content, is censored to rank-and-file members. [1] The need to avoid information from former members is particularly emphasised. The WatchTower Society often uses graphic similes, such as likening "apostate" material to pornography or gangrene -- resulting in spiritual death. (WT 15/3/1986:14-15) [2]

The WatchTower Society generates enormous amounts of literature to be distributed all around the world, informing its people about its history, its beliefs and practices, and giving advice on personal issues of all varieties. The WatchTower Society in many ways stands as judge. It decides which history books are correct; which medical practices are moral; how to interpret the Bible; what beliefs and practices are God-honoring; when Christ has spiritually returned; and when the world will end.

The average Jehovah's Witness intellectual diet consists of studying WatchTower Society literature and discussing WatchTower Society doctrine. Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to read each edition of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines from cover to cover, as well as to come prepared to discuss the articles at five Kingdom Hall meetings held two days per week (Theocratic Ministry School Guidebook, 1971:36). Jehovah's Witnesses are also expected to be well versed in all of the other contemporary WatchTower literature. David Reed, a former Jehovah's Witness Elder comments that "the books, magazines, lessons, and so on, added up to over three thousand pages each year, compared with less than two hundred pages of Bible reading assigned" (1986:121). The articles and the discussions center around a few pertinent WatchTower doctrinal themes. The repetitiousness of the material and the intensity with which it is studied has a total indoctrination effect over the members.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe and teach that the Bible is God's Word, and therefore has the most important place in their devotion and beliefs. This is true in theory. In practice, the WatchTower organization and literature have the most influence. While the Bible does not change, the Jehovah's Witnesses have continuously changed and updated their beliefs and teachings as the WatchTower Society has introduced "new light", including occasionally reverting back to "old light". Although its contents are often based on biblical analysis, the WatchTower Society has instructed members that if they have a choice between reading the Bible or WatchTower literature, they should choose WatchTower literature. [3] The WatchTower Society states that it is not "inspired", yet it claims that God uses the Watchtower [magazine] to communicate to His people; "it does not consist of men's opinions". (WT 1/1/1942). Jehovah's Witnesses respond to it as if it were infallible. Jehovah's Witnesses claim they put the Bible first (WT 4/15/1971:35), yet history has shown their beliefs and behavior change whenever the WatchTower Society's reasoning and biblical interpretations change.

[1] "it would be foolhardy, as well as a waste of valuable time, for Jehovah's Witnesses to accept and expose themselves to false religious literature that is designed to deceive. ... Hence, it is out of wisdom and respect for God's counsel that Jehovah's Witnesses do not make a practice of exchanging valuable Bible study aids containing Scriptural truth for religious literature that disseminates error or apostate views" (WT 1/5/1984:31 - Questions from Readers quoted by Reed, 1996:58). Jehovah's Witnesses are not to "circulate among the brothers private material on matters such as medical or counseling services." (OKM9/1987:4 cited in Reed, 1996:59)

[2] "How could one become guilty of partaking of the table of demons in our day? By serving the interests of anything opposed to Jehovah. The table of demons includes all demonic propaganda, which is designed to mislead and turn and to turn us away from Jehovah. Who would want to feed his heart and mind on such poison?" (WT; 1/7/1994: 9)

[3] "Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the Divine Plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the "Scripture Studies" aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years -- if he lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the "Scripture Studies" with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (WT 15/9/1910:298) and more recently stated: "They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading', they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago, ..." (WT 15/8/1981:29).

Information is limited according to who is requiring it. To the "enemies of God", a Jehovah's Witness is allowed to lie. [4] Accessibility of information is limited. The higher the position one has in the organization the more material will be available for accessing. Those who write the WT articles often quote from a wide variety of books including works written by other Christian groups, secular authors, and even spiritists. These books are not allowed to be read by the rank-and-file Jehovah's Witness. WatchTower Society policy and procedure manuels, such as "Pay Attention to Yourselves and the Flock" (1991) are not to be viewed by anybody of lesser position than elder. The higher up the WatchTower Society's hierarchy, the more information and other sources will be available to him.

Footnote: [4] "As a soldier of Christ he is in theocratic warfare and he must exercise caution when dealing with God's foes. Thus theScriptures show that for the purpose of protecting the interests of God's cause, it is proper to hide the truth from God'senemies." (The Watchtower; 1/6/1960; pp. 352); "Lying to God's enemies is not really lying but war strategy." (WT1/6/1960:351); "While malicious lying is definitely condemned in the Bible, this does not mean that a person is under obligation to divulge truthful information to people who are not entitled to it." (Insight on the Scriptures, Vol 2, 1988:245 quoted in Reed, 1995:87)

Thought Control

Cults employ thought-controlling and thought-stopping techniques to maintain control of their people.Thought control is affected by conditioning members to internalize the cult's ideology and world-view as 'Truth' (Hassan & Das, n.d.). This acts as a filter for all incoming information and regulates how information is processed (Groenveld, n.d.). The group adopts its own unique language made up of words from everyday use, and Scripture having the meanings either subtly modified or grossly distorted. Changing the vocabulary has a twofold purpose. Its reductionist language serves to reduce the complexities of life and knowledge into simplistic, dualistic frameworks, thus reducing and limiting the understanding of cult members, and verifying the group's rationale that it alone has the answer to life (Hassan & Das, n.d.). The second purpose of "loading" the language is to create barriers between the insiders and outsiders (Hassan, 1990:62). In proselytism and evangelism, it serves to confuse the outsiders about their own religious beliefs contrasted with a more reasonable argument postulated by the recruiter. Apologetically, it may prevent discernment of the group's more undesirable and unacceptable doctrines to the antagonistic outsider or interested persons. For the ingroup it serves to help members think only in terms of the "official" thought patterns (Stevens, 1996:33).

Members are not only indoctrinated by the group, but are also encouraged to indoctrinate themselves through thought-stopping techniques (Hassan, 1990:62). Since the members are taught not to critically evaluate the leaders or doctrines, they must stop discordant reasoning and encourage only "good" and "proper" thoughts (Hassan & Das, n.d.). By employing techniques such as denial, rationalizing, justifying, wishful thinking, chanting, meditating, repetition of Bible-verses, singing, and speaking in tongues, the people can drown out any destabilising cogitations (ibid, FAMC, n.d.).

The Jehovah's Witnesses have their own unique language. Their language is simple, reductionist andmany of their terms are borrowed from Scripture. The subtle changes in, or limitations of meanings of words, help the WatchTower Society's doctrines become logically consistent, while making any alternative interpretation untenable and dubious. For example, the WatchTower Society has limited the biblical meaning of the term "soul" to exclude the possibility of it meaning an "immaterial part of man that lives beyond the grave"; "soul" can only be understood as just another term for a "living person", or animal (Reed, 1996:215). This makes their doctrine of annihilation after death more tenable. Hence, a fundamental task a Jehovah's Witness must employ in discussing doctrine with a Christian is to either explicitly redefine Scriptural words, or implicitly redetermine their meanings within the arguments presented, according to WatchTower Society definitions. It also helps them to deceitfully disguise their doctrine. An example of this is when Jehovah's Witnesses tell people they are preaching the "good news", they do not mean the "good news" about Jesus' imminent return, as most people

familiar with biblical terminology would understand it to mean, but the news that Jesus has returned (WT 1/10/1980:28-29; Reed, 1996:122).

The WatchTower Society often allows words no alternative shades of meaning (unless it supports WatchTower doctrine). This further limits Jehovah's Witness thought to colorless literalism, and distorts the message of the original biblical languages with which the words often have numerous and varying meanings.

A Jehovah's Witness will also repeatedly discuss phrases and topics that he or she wants the recruit to become familiar with (e.g., emphasizing the need to honor God's name - Jehovah; emphasizing the need to maintain correct knowledge, and to shun anything with pagan origins). By redefining and controlling vocabulary and language both Jehovah's Witnesses and their recruits are taught how to think.The

Jehovah's Witnesses continually fill their minds with the language and thinking of the WatchTower Society, and are taught to think and argue only according to WatchTower Society training. Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to think independently. If they do start thinking independently, they must quickly stabilise themselves by reading WatchTower literature, speaking to their elders, or spending more time in WatchTower Society activities, lest they be found out, accused and punished.

Emotional Control

Cultic groups seek to manipulate members' feelings to ensure control. Although they do encourage positive feelings (i.e., people should be ever joyful, because they live in "the Truth"), their most destructive power lies in their ability to initiate and manipulate people's own negative feelings, such as fear and guilt, for the cult's own ends (Groenveld, n.d.; Hassan, 1990:63).

The group places all blame (other than the blame projected onto other "enemy" groups) for problems on their people. Their people learn to do likewise, blaming themselves for anything that goes wrong, rather than examining the group, its teaching, or its leadership (Hassan & Das, n.d.; FAMC, n.d.).Manipulation of negative emotions comes in several forms. Guilt is used in many ways. People are made to feel guilty for thinking discordant thoughts, their past, family, affiliations and for failing to live up to the group's expectations (Hassan & Das, n.d.). Fear is also a powerful motivator to maintain obedience. People are taught to fear the outside world and enemies, independent thinking, group punishment (humiliation, shunning, excommunication), and losing salvation (ibid). By systematically programming in irrational fears, the cult can indoctrinate phobias into their members. Examples of these are: there is no happiness outside of the group; the world together with all of the Satanic forces are out to persecute them; those who leave will have something disastrous happen to them (perhaps being punished by God, or attacked by demons), and there is no justifiable way out of the group (to leave the group is evidence of a negative personal attribute i.e., rebellious) (ibid).

To understand WatchTower Society obedience, it is essential to examine its use of emotional manipulation. The WatchTower Society manipulates both positive and negative emotions to maintain control. Its most effective control however, comes in its ability to condition and manipulate fear into its peoples minds. The Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to fear. The examples mentioned in the previous paragraph equally appear in Jehovah Witness psychology. Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to fear God, Armageddon, the Devil and his demons, apostates, the world, and divine retributions (most notably, being "disfellowshipped" from the WatchTower Society). (Watters,n.d.[f]). The WatchTower Society creates phobias in the people's minds by exaggerating small harmless activities or behaviors into major crimes. Those who celebrate Christmas and birthdays, or salute a national flag, are participating in an act of evil worship (Watters, n.d.[e]).[5]

Guilt is also used as a lever for manipulation. An example of this is shown in the May 15 edition of the 1990 WatchTower:

Some who were at one time progressing toward dedication later may seem to be holding back. If they do not have enough love for God in their heart to make an unreserved dedication to him, they ought to ask themselves whether they still have the wonderful privilege of prayer. Apparently not, because those approaching God must be earnestly seeking him and also righteousness and meekness. (Zephaniah 2:3)

Everyone who really fears Jehovah is a believer who makes a dedication to God and symbolizes it by getting baptized. (Acts 8:13; 18:8) And only baptized believers have an unrestricted privilege of approaching the King Eternal in prayer." (12 quoted in Watters, n.d.[f]) [6] Any problems that arise caused by the Organisation are promptly redirected to the members. A classic example of this happened in the wake of the failed 1975 prophecy of Armageddon. Although the WatchTower Society in many implicit and explicit articles had pointed the people to the expectation of 1975 heralding Armageddon, the WatchTower Society published an article putting the brunt of responsibility for the people's disappointment back on themselves:

"15 But it is not advisable for us to set our sights on a certain date, neglecting everyday things wewould ordinarily care for as Christians, such as things that we and our families really need. [7] We may be forgetting that, when the "day" comes, it will not change the principle that Christians must at all times take care of all their responsibilities. If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises." (WT 15/7/1976:441 - emphasis added) [8]

Footnotes:

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The BITE Model and Its Application to Jehovah's Witnesses

By Julia Gutgell

(edited)

I ... define high-control groups as any group, regardless of ideology, that purposefully utilizes social influence techniques to facilitate the recruitment and retainment of members, to further its own cause, disregarding its members benefits or well-being. ...

Researchers have developed various models and checklists to describe the characteristics of high-control groups. Most notable is Lifton's model "Eight Criteria of Thought Reform", which is based on interviews with American Prisoners of War in North Korea (Lifton, 1961). Lifton was one of the first researchers to develop a theoretical model to describe the characteristics of these groups and many subsequent models are based on this model. In fact, one of the most accessible models developed, the BITE model is based on Lifton's "Eight Criteria of Thought Reform".

The BITE model, developed by Steven Hassan (2013, p. 21 - 31) offers several advantages over other theoretical models: Firstly, the acronym BITE, readily describes the four key strategies (Behavior, Information, Thought and Emotions) used to control individuals in high-control groups and/or relationships. The acronym is furthermore easy to remember and is thus an excellent educational andpreventive tool due to its retainability. The BITE model is also much more concise than other models, which often list dozens of criteria for identifying controlling behavior, making them confusing and difficult to remember.

The following section describes Steven Hassan's BITE model in more detail and applies its key components - behavioral control, information control, thought control, and emotional control - to the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Behavioral control

Behavioral control in high-control groups is marked by control over people's environment: controlling with whom, where, when and how (friendships, romantic relationships, sexual partners) members live and associate, physical or psychological isolation from the outside world, the amount of sleep, work hours and type of occupation, dress code and food choices (Hassan, 2013).

In some groups, behavioral options may be limited due to finances available to individual members. Other groups, particularly human trafficking groups, restrict members free movement by taking away members passports and other ID documents. Many high-control groups will ask individual members to cut off contact with former friends and relatives, or if they are allowed to continue relationships, they may need to ask for permission to communicate with them. Many groups instill fear of outsiders by demonising them (Hassan, 2013).

High-control groups also operate with a system of rewards and punishments, where loyalty and strict adherence to internal rules are rewarded, and unwanted behavior is punished to reinforce norm conformity. (Parlementair onderzoek, 1997). Each high-control group also has its own set of "special rituals and traditions" to create a sense of unity and specialbond between members.

Barker (2004) postulates that the extent of isolation that takes place in the group can be a sign of a potentially dangerous high-control group. The more isolated the members become from mainstream society and the more they internalize a world-rejecting attitude in favor of the group's ideology the more dangerous a group becomes. ...

In the Jehovah's Witnesses, behavioral control takes the following forms: Members are dictated with whom they can associate, become friends and romantic partners. According to [WatchTower Society] doctrine, members are encouraged to be friendly to people outside of their own community. However, they are discouraged from forming friendships or entering romantic relationships with people who are not Jehovah's Witnesses. The reason behind this is that association with non-Jehovah's Witnesses is seen by the Jehovah's Witnesses as a danger to "Christian Integrity". Jehovah's Witnesses also are [forbidden] from associating with [former] members who have left the community either voluntarily, or who have been [disfellowshipped, or excommunicated] (Watchtower, 2015, p. 24).

Also, Jehovah's Witnesses clothing choices are limited by doctrine. Jehovah's Witnesses are required to wear clothes that allow for gender distinction. Women are discouraged from wearing clothing that make them look masculine (such as trousers), whereas men are discouraged from wearing feminine clothing. The reasoning behind the restriction of clothing choice is to "make it easier for others to remain chaste and to maintain God's standards of holiness". (Watchtower, 2016, n.p.).

Sexuality is another behavioral component that is doctrinally regulated. Members are discouraged from engaging in any premarital sexual activities. ... Masturbation is also discouraged, as it is seen as a "spiritually unhealthy habit, that instills attitudes that foster self-centeredness and corrupt the mind" Homosexuality is another area that Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to reject, as it does, according to doctrinal rules, not live up to Jehovah's standards and constitutes sexual misconduct (Awake!, 2016, p. 7). Members are encouraged to marry only within the Jehovah's Witness community and any romantic relationships with outsiders are forbidden (Watchtower, 2015, p.30).

Career ambitions and working hours are areas that are regulated by the [WatchTower Society], too. Jehovah's Witnesses are required to engage in proselytizing activities, and three levels of proselytising commitments exist: 1) Auxiliary pioneers, who are those that are unable to commit to full-time proselytising work. Auxiliary pioneers preach 30 to 50 hours a month. 2) Regular pioneers engage in 70 hours of preaching work each month. 3) Special pioneers engage in 130 or more hours of preaching work each month. Jehovah's Witnesses are encouraged from spending as much time as possible on preaching work, as they believe that this is important to save unbelievers. Jehovah's Witnesses are encouraged from rejecting "worldly" career ambitions and in fact, Jehovah's Witness are taught that career ambitions foster competitiveness and a desire to control others. (Watchtower, 2017, p. 20)

The amount of time members spend on preaching work, has a direct impact on the time available for other leisure activities. On top of time restrictions, due to preaching requirements, Jehovah"s Witnesses are discouraged from engaging in certain recreational activities, such as competitive sports, activities that involve excessive risks, anything involving "violence, sadism, demonism, homosexuality, pornography, or other immoral practices". Jehovah's Witnesses are required to put their preaching work and other congregational work first and pursue leisure activities secondary (Watchtower, 2011, p. 8-12).

Another restriction on members time is due to the ritualistic character of the community. Jehovah's Witnesses meet twice a week, at the Kingdom Hall, for [two-hour long] worship meetings. On top of these meetings, ... members are required to prepare for worship meetings in advance by reading relevant Bible passages and engaging in proselytizing activities, which take a social character, as members preach in groups or pairs.

Information control

Information control, for members who are recruited, as opposed to born into the group, starts during recruitment. During the recruitment process, group members (recruiters) withhold or distort information about the group. Recruiters are being trained by the group to gain strangers trust and quickly find out personal details to use in an attempt to connect with the person they are trying to recruit.

Information control over established members is achieved through limiting members' access to any media or material that is not controlled or produced by the group itself. Depending on the level of isolation of the group, this media may simply not reach the group environment or group members may be discouraged from reading any other material that the group has labeled as satanic, having a bad influence or being apostate literature. Peer-to-peer surveillance in high-control groups is encouraged, and members are required toreport any rule violations to the leaders or other members higher up in the ranks.

Some high-control groups have different information materials available depending on which rank or level is the member. Newer members may only have access to material where doctrines are presented as relatively harmless. When members share doubts or problems with leaders, they are informed that they have not yet advanced far enough to understand this particular problem (Hassan, 2013, p. 28). Members thereby are gradually indoctrinated to the group's belief. High-control groups reinforce an image of the world that is "black and white", "good versus evil", and produce simplistic answers to difficult and complex life questions. The use of insider terms or "loaded language" creates a barrier between insiders and outsiders. Groups will also anticipate questions by explaining and disproving existing critical arguments.

To prevent members from engaging with former members and thereby running the risk of current members accessing negative information about the group from a former member, high-control groups utilize shunning to avoid contact between current members and ex-members.

The Jehovah's Witnesses make extensive use of insider material via the distribution of magazines, books, videos, newsletters, apps and their website. Jehovah"s Witnesses are advised against reading material that is not approved by them. The [WatchTower Society] creates a divide between members and non-members, declaring that members are not part of the world, and should not be engaging in "worldly" matters (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Societyof Pennsylvania, 2008, p. 51). This strict division of insiders and outsiders limits the amount of information to which members have access.

The Jehovah's Witnesses also make use of peer to peer surveillance and members are encouraged to report other members' wrongdoings. Reporting on other members' wrongdoings is seen as being loyal to Jehovah, and to the member, as this will, according to doctrine standards, allow them to access help for the committed sins (Awake!, 2008, p.19-21). Peer to peer surveillance also means that any type of relationship is conditional and subordinate to the group and its leaders.

Thought control

High-control groups promote their group as possessing the ultimate truth. These groups have simple answers for difficult questions. Group members are made to believe that the group leader is always correct and members doubts are caused by their own weaknesses. Techniques, such as thought-stopping, meditation and chanting mantras are taught to members to stop any critical thoughts from arising (Hassan, 2013, p. 29).

The Jehovah's Witnesses teach their members that they hold the ultimate truth, based on their [own "New World Translation" version] of the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses use the [New World Translation Bible] as a definitive guide (Watchtower, 2007, p. 32). Doubts about the Bible or doctrinal rules are seen as "spiritual weakness, spiritual unsteadiness or spiritual fatigue", and members who admit to having doubts receive "counsel" from congregation Elders to prevent spiritual weakness from developing into serious sins.

However, if members raise doubts openly in the congregation, or spread information that is contrary to [WatchTower Society] teachings they may face disciplinary actions, such as being disfellowshipped. Disciplinary action in regard to spreading information contrary to [WatchTower Society] teaching is both a way of controlling individual members behavior, as well as limiting the kind of information members have access to (information control).

Emotional control

Emotional control is another central strategy of high-control groups. This level of control attempts to limit the members' range of emotions and proactively induce feelings, such as shame and guilt, to influence members' behavior. Emotions and feelings are also being re-evaluated as good and bad feelings. For example, many groups use a variety of "confession" rituals, where members are forced to confess embarrassing and shameful events in their life. These forced confessions may be used later to control members' behavior or make them afraid of leaving the group because their secrets could be exposed (Hassan, 2013, 29 - 30).

Fear is another central emotion which is created via the introduction of an enemy. Enemies, in these groups, are people who are not part of the group or people who teach or spread information that is contrary to the group. The introduction of an outside enemy serves to instill mistrust in the outside world, and by doing so, the group prevents members from leaving the group. Fear within the group is created using peer-to-peer surveillance that evokes fear of getting caught by other members. Emotional control is additionally achieved through the control of relationships. As mentioned earlier some groups ask their membersto cut ties with people in their former lives, others determine who their new friends canbe, whom they can marry or have sexual relationships with (Hassan, 2013, p. 29-30).

Given that second and subsequent generation members have been born into these groups, it may be easier for the group to exert power and emotional control over them, as previous ties to mainstream society do not exist for these individuals, and thus less effort needs to be spent on breaking ties and on reforming their identity to match the group's ideology, as the individual is socialized directly by the group. Furthermore, second and subsequent generation members only know the life inside the group and take it for granted. It may also be harder for second generation and following generation members to leave the group, as they have very limited if any, knowledge of mainstream society and how to behave in it, often accompanied by the group's instilled fear(s). Converts to the group, on the otherhand, have a pre-group identity and in some cases pre-group ties that, depending on their situation, they may be able to return to, if they decide to leave (Barker, 2014, p. 247).

In the Jehovah's Witnesses, emotional control is achieved through separating behaviors into acceptable and unacceptable/sinful behaviors. Members, who are acting in an unacceptable manner are encouraged to consider how Jehovah would feel about their behavior and are advised that sinful behavior is upsetting Jehovah. Members are also taught that Jehovah's "beaming eyes" see everything and that no sin goes unnoticed, inducing a feeling of constantly being watched (Watchtower, 2008, p. 3-7). As mentioned above, Jehovah's Witnesses also make use of peer-to-peer surveillance which can invoke a fear of being caught by others and mistrust toward other members. Furthermore, the prohibition of friendships and relationships with non-Jehovah's Witnesses, as discussed earlier, is part of the Jehovah's Witnesses use of emotional control.

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Jehovah's Witnesses A Threat To The Social Family Fabric

By Victor Escalante

(edited)

The Induction Process

Untold thousands of individuals have suffered from emotional, and psychological pain inflicted by Jehovah's Witnesses due to the break up of families. Most people are only familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses to the extent of being awakened on a weekend by zealous proselytizing recruits. But there is a great deal more to know; the Watchtower Society is a twentieth century American religious movement that has adversely affected families worldwide, eroding family cohesiveness and unity once a family member starts the indoctrination phase of the recruitment process.

The recruitment phase is a systematic study of the WatchTower Society's subjective theological truths that in time becomes the only acceptable truth. In the early stages of this indoctrination phase, the new recruit is told to expect family opposition. A number of scriptures are used to support their argument. What the unsuspecting person doesn't realize is that the family ties have started to be severed. This subtle programming is done through the creation of beliefs that act as mental filters, which leads to myopic (nearsighted) perception. This is done through the use of hypnotic language wherein only a skilled linguist could detect the subtle programming done through nominalizations (developing names or cliches for certain things) and overgeneralizations that are fed to the unsuspecting individual. This "word diet" leads to fuzzy extremist thinking that is very generalized and often out of context. Once the filters are in place, the indoctrinated person looks at himself, the family, and others through an extremist point of view. By this stage everything is viewed as black or white, right or wrong, "us versus them", God or Satan. At this point any family disapproval of the Watchtower Society is viewed as a satanic ploy to undermine their faith.

Isolation and Alienation

Eventually the new recruit loses his ability to be objective. No longer can he look at his actions and comments in the larger context of the family's social structure and fabric. He becomes fully invested in the agenda of the organization. What happens now is the non-JW family is labeled as "worldly relatives". With this label the family is dehumanized into people "fit for destruction" unless they accept the JW doctrine and way of life. The new Jehovah's Witness is lead to believe that he is now part of a worldwide family that will be the only ones to survive a cataclysmic destruction of humanity. The new Jehovah's Witness is now kept in a regimented way of life that leaves neither time nor motivation for family visits or gatherings, and when they do visit they are taught to use this for proselytizing purposes. Of course, this often is irritating and offensive to non-JW relatives, and this serves to validate to the Jehovah's Witness that Satan blinds their family. Many former Jehovah's Witnesses have suffered the emotional pain and remorse from the guilt of realizing they cut off all family ties to the point of not even attending funerals or family events that they would have participated in prior to becoming a Jehovah's Witness.

The Loneliness of Exiting

The real problem begins when something happens, causing the Jehovah's Witness to want to leave the movement, or he is expelled. It is then the person finds himself cut off from former friends and biological Jehovah's Witnesses family members. This is due to extremist shunning practices common in the Jehovah's Witnesses church. There is no honorable way of leaving the movement. In the indoctrination phase the new recruit is not told this is a one-way ticket to a regimented way of life. Many former Jehovah's Witnesses report a difficulty in reintegrating with former family, friends, and the community. It is like they have been in a time warp held hostage by this high control religious group. In recent years, many have started to intuitively sense that what they have been told by their governing body is skewed and false, and that they have been following the unrealistic authoritarian commands of a nebulous leadership often referred to as "the Society".

Many baby boomers are faced with a technical world that has passed them up. Jehovah's Witnesses have had their lives regulated to the point that they often have to read about the proper printed procedure for handling family conflicts. I know firsthand of one elder that called WatchTower HQ to ask if his parental responsibility was absolved if his rebellious adolescent daughter was not submissive to his decisions. One former friend who is now a Circuit Overseer told me that his life is regulated to the point of being told by the Watchtower Society that he must floss his teeth after every meal. This shows a serious problem of total dependence on a distant authority structure that rules individuals' lives.

Due to recent doctrinal changes within the Watchtower Society, some have started to have doubts about the legalistic regimented way of life, yet there is a fear of openly discussing this as it can lead to investigation and then expulsion as an "apostate". Some have chosen to quietly leave by moving and never giving their forwarding address. Recently I spoke with a former Jehovah's Witness Elder, who estimates that in the 12 years he was a Presiding Overseer, some 40% of the congregation members just disappeared with no forwarding address to be traced. After being in the movement for decades, individuals may find themselves in a no win situation: They have been cut off for many years from their former family and friends who never accepted their often-extremist WatchTower Society perception of things. They may have the desire to reestablish family ties but they may lack the ability to do so. They may want to pursue different work or career goals than when they were Jehovah's Witnesses, but they find that they now are in a highly technological world that has passed them by. The dichotomy is that the non-JW family never cut them off in quite the same way the Jehovah's Witnesses cut themselves off from family and friends (thinking this was going to be in their best spiritual interests). Many develop high profile social lives within this subculture and they become heavily invested in their status in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Some climb the authority ladder leading to special status in the Jehovah's Witnesses community that many would rather hold on to rather than disagree with any dictum of the Watchtower Society. Many have adult children and grandchildren who they would lose contact with if they left the movement.

If a person is expelled or decides to leave due to a conflict of conscience, they will suddenly lose everything to which they once committed their whole life. They lose friends, their Jehovah's Witnesses family, their reputation and financial dealings or employment with Jehovah's Witnesses. I was in the movement for some twenty years and in less than five minutes my whole record of faithfulness and dedication was decided as being of no consequence by a group of individuals that were following the orders of organizational men in the upper echelons. My only infraction was to disagree on a secular matter related to my choice of a career in the field psycholinguistics. The Watchtower Society follows a systematic purging of individuals who are free thinkers and intellectuals even though they are some of the most devout and dedicated individuals, many of them having spent the majority of their lives in behalf of the Watchtower Society.

The story of the expulsion Ray Franz, a former Governing Body Member, is the norm rather than the exception illustrating the arrogance, intolerance, and belligerence from the organizational men who are paranoid of any questioning or criticism of the teachings of the Watchtower Society. This atmosphere that currently exists in the Jehovah's Witnesses is similar to the McCarthy era in the U.S., where fear of communism was used to control the thinking and behavior of the population. Many will remember how professional lives were wrongfully and negligently ruined and destroyed by the abuse of governmental authority. In like fashion this type of inquisition is carried out against anyone disagreeing with any teaching coming down from the Watchtower Society (i.e., the governing body). In this high control environment no one is immune from prosecution for disagreeing with any teaching coming down from the Watchtower Society. Some individuals have disagreed on doctrinal matters (even leading to expulsion), which the Watchtower Society later adopted as current truth! A case in point is the end-times 1914 doctrine of the "separation of sheep and goats" through door-to-door preaching. Many will also remember all the marriages that suffered and were destroyed when the Society decided to regulate the intimate sexual lives of their members. The shunning practiced by the Jehovah's Witnesses once a member of the congregation leaves, is no less than cruel. Some have been lead to commit suicide, others have tried to sue, but the courts in America have decided to stay out of this controversial church/state issue. The Jehovah's Witnesses have fought hard to establish their rights in the American Judicial System for the freedom to worship. The irony is that many of theses same freedoms are denied to their own members within this Jehovah's Witnesses closed society.

Destruction of the Marital Bond

When an expulsion happens to a married couple, the likelihood of the marriage surviving is little to none. In my own experience, my wife was strongly advised by the Body of Elders to divorce me. This extreme intolerant perception is justified by Jehovah's Witnesses by branding the former Jehovah's Witness mate as a threat to the spiritual life of the Jehovah's Witness mate, which could ultimately lead to the Jehovah's Witnesses member leaving the movement also. While this may be the case in some marriages, most people want to keep peace and retain the family unit. Yet this becomes impossible, since the Jehovah's Witness is taught to view the former Jehovah's Witness as a serious threat. It is like being married to your "spiritual enemy". The average rank and file Jehovah's Witness is not skilled enough to sort out issues that lead to conflicts and then effectively deal with them in a spirit of understanding and love. Former Jehovah's Witnesses find that the Watchtower Society's version of love is something that evaporates instantly when they are expelled. Where is this headed and where will it end?

The Watchtower Society, through their primary journal "The Watchtower", has recently softened their stance to excommunicated members for sins other than "apostasy". In reality, however, the deep structure of the psyche of the Jehovah's Witnesses mindset is one of intolerance. It is like rearranging the furniture in the house, the structure still being the same. All of the thousands of untold persons that have been painfully affected by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and their representatives are left with no one to hold responsible for the damage done to them. If this was an organization that was other than religious, I am certain many lawsuits of wrongful negligence would be awarded to the victims. The caveat for those thinking of joining is you are signing away your rights when you dedicate yourself to the Watchtower Society. I have herein made some generalizations and naturally there will always be exceptions. Yet, I ask you to evaluate my comments and give them the right context for yourself.