Cults, Culture & Coercion with Dr. Steve Hassan

Did you know most people need 7-9 hours of quality sleep to function optimally? Sleep deprivation is one of the most common and powerful techniques for weakening psychological defenses. It is one of the most significant policies in the Behavior Control criteria of the BITE Model of Authoritarian Control. I recently had the opportunity to interview sleep expert Dr. Lauren Broch to gain a deeper insight into prevalent sleep issues that individuals face and to explore effective sleep hygiene habits that can help to overcome these obstacles. Dr. Lauren Broch is a clinical psychologist, nutritionist, and sleep disorders specialist who takes a holistic approach to address various sleep, mood, and health issues.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

International corporate attorney and strategic business advisor Faith Jones is a phenomenon. She authored two books: Sex Cult Nun and I Own Me. She explains her model for utilizing the law regarding undue influence in a great TEDx talk: I Own Me: Understanding Our Property Rights to Our Own Bodies. Faith Jones is an inspiration to all women and especially to those born and raised in authoritarian cults. Join us for a fascinating discussion.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

Shepherding/discipling Bible cults like the International Churches of Christ have an authoritarian structure with the “apostle” or “prophet” being the person closest to God and everyone else having a human to disciple over them all the way down. It is patently abusive by its nature as it is based on submission of one’s own conscience and following directions of a person who is in the “role of Jesus” over them. Lawsuits are being filed on behalf of those victimized in the cult, some of whom were sexually assaulted in the group and no responsible action was taken. Over one million people have been involved with this group, most of whom have exited. Most have never spoken out about the abuses they experienced- including breaking sessions, excessive pressure to donate money, or the loss of their personal autonomy and sense of self. If you are interested in legal issues or have been in a controlling Christian group of any kind, you will want to listen to this fascinating episode.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

The Jehovah's Witnesses have millions of members and are well-known for their door-to-door solicitation and distribution of materials, such as their Watchtower and Awake! magazines. However, most people do not realize the authoritarian BITE Model policies that affect their believers. Former elder Isaac Carmignani, a friend and colleague, shares the critically important facts about the Jehovah's Witnesses. Did you know they have prophesied at least 4 times that Armageddon would occur in a particular year? Or that Bible scholars say their version is wrong? Or that they practice corporal punishment? Prohibit blood transfusions? Shun former members? Or that they have had a huge pedophile problem for many decades? They are very nice, hard-working people, but involvement in this group has caused much suffering and harm worldwide.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

On the ethical side of the Influence Continuum, we invite an expert to discuss preparing how to do ethical parenting. Julie Hartman is a Certified Birth Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, and New Parent Educator. She supports families in the perinatal period through support groups and teaching classes on living with a newborn. Most importantly, she is the mom of three adult children and can connect with the people she works with through shared experiences. We discuss what a doula and lactation counselor is, as many people are unaware. Julie tells us a birth doula is often confused with a midwife, but they are different. Whereas the role of a midwife requires formal medical training, birth doulas support the family before, during, and after birth. They assist the family in empowering and speaking up for themselves so that they can advocate for their needs in the birthing process. Birth Doulas also help educate families on the decisions that could need to be made during a hospital birth so there are no surprises and families can think those options through before they are in the heat of the moment. Julie shares her expertise in ethical, positive parenting techniques.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

Working with people in cults or who have escaped them requires much empathy, compassion, and knowledge. Rachel Bernstein has all those and more, which she’s used for the last 30 years in her work in cult intervention and re-acclimation. I have known and worked with Rachel for many decades now. Bernstein is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) from Los Angeles, California. She is the host of IndoctriNATION: A weekly podcast covering cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself from systems of control, where she has interviewed hundreds of cult survivors, journalists, and experts. 

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

Rachel Maddow’s podcast, Ultra, is about Nazism in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s. She based her podcast on the scholarly work of a Jesuit historian Professor Charles R. Gallagher, and his award-winning book. I was fascinated to learn more and discovered that he teaches at nearby Boston College. So we met for lunch, and he kindly consented to this fascinating interview. I learned that the Nazis sent agents such as Charles Scholtz to Boston to recruit and radicalize Americans. These agents wanted to prevent the United States from coming to the defense of the United Kingdom and other European countries. The Nazis did not want America to help Jews who were persecuted and exterminated. Father Charles Coughlin was a Roman Catholic priest and radio personality with a listenership of 30 million people. He was a vocal supporter of the Christian Front. He praised Hitler’s efforts to combat communism and advocated for a similar approach in the United States. Coughlin also used his radio broadcasts to spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and to attack Jewish people and Jewish-owned businesses. Coughlin also supported fascist regimes in Europe. In the 1940s, Coughlin and some of his followers began to plot a violent coup to overthrow the US government. The Nazis are still actively promoting violent fascism.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

An international researcher and author, Chloe Combi, is a leading authority on Generation Z (those born between 1999 and 2009). Having interviewed over 10,000 members of Gen Z, she provides invaluable insights into what the next decade and beyond will bring. The digital age has brought about a massive change in the way we think, feel, communicate, and behave. For young people born and raised in a digital world, being online for an average of eleven hours a day affects not only their brain development, such as shortened attention span, ability to concentrate, social skills, and mental well-being. As well as this, young people’s need for connection and belonging is being exploited by unhealthy ‘influencers’ online, who are using the internet to indoctrinate and radicalize them.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

Want to know more about the Moonies? This week, we talk with Elgen Strait, who was not only born into the Moonies but participated in an arranged mass marriage ceremony (the so-called “blessing”). His parents were active members when I was in the cult in the 1970s. He’s a fellow survivor. Strait hosts Falling Out with Elgen Strait, a podcast focused on the experiences of second-generation survivors of the Moonies. This episode goes into not only the abuse of children but also the trafficking of people. There are many “second generation” cult members now exiting and speaking up. This is a valuable episode.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

Wish to learn more about the psychology of Elon Musk and Aspergers Syndrome? In this episode, I am honored to interview Dr. Tony Attwood, one of the world’s foremost experts on Autism Spectrum Disorder. His first book, Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, is widely considered the foundational book on the subject. In past decades, I have had many clients who were on the spectrum and I long ago realized they are particularly vulnerable to authoritarian cults, as well as being radicalized online to do acts of terrorism. Years ago I taught an online webinar to warm folks and their families about their vulnerability to undue influence. Folks on the spectrum can be absolute geniuses and over the centuries have made major contributions. That said, these gifts can be manipulated and abused to harm or help others. Join me in this incredible learning experience.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com