Vulnerable mental state, easy to be deceived, cult brainwashing trilogy

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(Hong Kong News) The “brainwashing” method of cults targets the weaknesses of human nature, which makes people fall into the trap without knowing it. Regardless of whether the victim’s education is high or low, they may fall into the trap step by step and systematically.

Step 1: False promises to confuse believers

Although there are endless tricks of scammers, the methods used by cults or groups that systematically “brainwash” are basically similar.

Clinical psychologist Zhang Chuanyi said that they first confuse believers with false images or false promises, such as religious miracles, salvation, finding the meaning of life, and getting rid of pain, etc. When people are being hit, they are most likely to be taken advantage of.

Clinical psychologist Liang Chongmen also pointed out that people with particularly vulnerable mental states are more likely to be deceived, such as those with low self-confidence, unhealthy social networks, lack of social identity, and people who feel that their lives lack direction and control.

“Even highly educated or professional people may fall into the trap. If these sects just meet their psychological needs, they may join.”

According to the documentary, Hong Kong victim Ye Xuan (Maple Yip) was troubled by family problems and school bullying at the time, and felt hopeless in life, so she was confused by the sweet illusion of Lijiao.

After joining the church, she was quickly recognized and became a performer, anchor, and pastor, with a high status.

Zhang Chuanyi pointed out that these sects usually mix the truth with lies to make people “deceived”. In the initial stage when believers are wary, what the sect says is usually the truth, which seems normal, “When you slowly enter the group and find that they treat you very well, and their defenses gradually decrease, they will show their fox tails , but at this time you are used to it, so you won’t feel any problem.”

Step 2: Sowing Discord and Isolating Believers

Immediately enter the second stage of “brainwashing”: differentiation and isolation, narrowing the social circle of believers. In the documentary, Park Soon-ja founded the “Five Oceans” sect and company, arranged believers to work, squeezed their labor, and coaxed new employees to become believers, and concentrated the residences of employees and their families near the company, restricting going out, so as to better control them; Zheng Mingxi, the leader of the Providence Church, also does not allow believers to communicate with outsiders.

Zhang Chuanyi pointed out that cults are good at sowing dissension, allowing believers to only contact with “their own people” to isolate believers. Remind them that things are abnormal.”

Liang Chongran said that believers form an ingroup (ingroup) and exclude people with different values ​​from their own (outgroup). Over time, the group becomes more and more closed, forming a stratosphere.

“Research has found that in some relatively closed groups, the phenomenon of group polarization will occur. The decisions made by members of a group of closed groups are often much more extreme than those made by a single person.”

Therefore, why do some outsiders seem to have strange or even extreme behaviors, but members of the inner group do not realize that there is a problem.

Step 3: Pushing ahead to create group pressure

These groups will use the “foot in the door technique” in psychology (also known as the “foot in the door technique”) to make believers cooperate with excessive demands.

Zhang Chuanyi explained that it usually starts with a small request, which is easy to agree to, and then gradually raises more and more excessive demands. For example, when I first joined the church, I prayed at a specific time and participated in voluntary work, etc., and then began to require unreasonable dogmas such as dedicating property and restricting contacts with the opposite sex.

“After the previous requirements have been complied with, you will not feel that those relatively excessive requirements are abnormal, and it is easy to agree. Moreover, under the herd mentality, isolated believers are more likely to be manipulated.”

Zhang Chuanyi said that creating group pressure in the inner group makes you feel more “should do this”. If you don’t do it, all previous efforts will be in vain, and all your efforts will be fruitless. You even find that if you don’t continue to follow, even the only friends, social media, etc. Connections will be lost; in addition, time pressure will be created, requiring believers to make decisions in a short period of time, unable to think carefully, let alone talk to others, and enter the process of self-persuasion.

Therefore, whether voluntary, semi-voluntary or involuntary, believers will continue to follow.

Leave the sect or leave the trauma

The dogmas of cults are paradoxical and unreasonable. Some people may question some dogmas at the beginning of joining, which are different from the previously recognized values, resulting in cognitive dissonance.

Liang Chongpan explained that cognitive dissonance means that if a person has two opposing beliefs, he will feel uncomfortable psychologically. In order to solve this uncomfortable feeling, he will find a way to change one of them to achieve psychological consistency.

How to adjust? It depends on which side is more attractive.

“If the denomination meets his needs, the in-group is very attractive and will attract him. On the contrary, if the external social support is good and many people love and accept him, the in-group is not so attractive; but if This is the case, and the person concerned may not join these sects.”

In the documentary, Ye Xuan mentioned that she was shocked when she was sexually assaulted by the leader for the first time. She believed that his words and deeds completely violated the teachings she had learned in the past, and she had cognitive dissonance; Appointed by the leader’), and the believers around her “congratulate her” and “envy her”, even though she felt very scared and disgusted, she still did not expose what the leader did, but kept praying, hoping that she would “fall in love with the leader” “; even turned from a victim to a perpetrator, and after witnessing another believer being sexually assaulted, he comforted the other believer and said, “It doesn’t matter, it’s okay.”

When believers can get what they want from the sect, such as recognition, status, and trust, it is easy to step on it deeper and deeper. Even if they find that there is a problem with the sect, it is not easy to decide to leave.

Liang Chongpan said that believers have invested a lot of expectations, trust, money, time, etc. in the sect. They have to admit that everything they believe is false, and because of this sect, they have cut off contact with people around them, and even do many things that violate their conscience. It was actually very difficult for them (to leave).

After leaving the sect, they may leave large and small psychological trauma, because after experiencing a major crisis of trust, it may be difficult for them to trust others, and they may be wary of establishing in-depth relationships with others in the future; “some need to be accepted, or self-esteem Lower people, after this experience, may be more eager to commit to new social relationships, and that sense of insecurity makes them demand so much that it destabilizes (new) relationships.”

If you experience emotional and psychological distress after joining or leaving these sects, she recommends seeking assistance from a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.

Becoming a cult has 4 signs that people around you need more care

The documentary has made the public aware of the horror of cults. Some netizens shared that they or those around them have fallen into the trap of cults.

How can you tell if you or someone close to you has strayed into these groups?

Clinical psychologist Zhang Chuanyi said that legitimate religion is to teach people to be good, “it will not encourage you to cut off contact with your family and friends, but encourage you to be a good person and improve your relationship with your family. It will not destroy your interpersonal relationship, family, career, self-confidence, etc.”

Righteous Religion Promotes Patience

In addition, legitimate religions will advocate patience, endurance, enlightenment, and growth, and will not make excessive promises, but cults often do the opposite.

“They may over-promise that some things that cannot be done will be done quickly, or easily get people out of the sea of ​​suffering, etc., as if they are giving a shortcut, using the name of religion to trick believers into satisfying their personal interests, such as money, power, lust, etc. “

Clinical psychologist Liang Chongmen listed some signs that may fall into the trap of a cult. If the people around you experience the following abnormalities, you should pay more attention to them:

After joining the religious sect, the client’s behavior and personality suddenly undergone drastic and negative changes

The sect requires the parties to cut off contact with former friends and even relatives

The person’s speech and attitude become extreme, and he has great hostility towards those who oppose his belief

The behavior of the party concerned is contrary to the generally accepted by society

Blindly oppose and generate hostility

If you suspect that someone around you has joined a cult, you should not just object to him participating in cult activities. “Opposition will only make him more hostile, and he will feel that only people in the church understand him, which may drive the other party away.”

It is recommended to express to the person concerned that he understands and respects his religious choice, establish communication and trust with him, try to understand the sect together, and get more information, “Frankly speaking, helping people around you leave the church is not an easy task, and mutual trust is needed , Respect and understanding, only with trust can we communicate and find a way for the other party to leave.”

Article Chen Zhenji, Zhang Shumei “Ming Pao”

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