poliscigrad:
Thanks for the link.
The point of Lifton, Offshe and Cialdini and my work in the book "Cults Inside Out" is to explain how critical thinking can be subverted by destructive cults.
Specifically both Lifton and Offshe explain how thought reform and/or coercive persuasion can be used by a leader or con man to subvert critical thinking, engender submission and ultimately gain undue influence over people.
Cialdini explains in his book "Influence" how the six basic principles of influence work in society for good or bad. They can be used by a destructive cult leader for bad purposes.
See [
www.culteducation.com]
In the book "Cults Inside Out" this research and more is put together and footnoted to explain how people can potentially be manipulated by destructive cults despite their education, history of critical thinking, etc.
The best prevention regarding recruitment by destructive cults is a very focused and specific education about how they work and use these techniques. This knowledge along with critical thinking prepares a person to completely understand how destructive cults operate to can potentially shut down critical thinking.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2015 10:39PM by rrmoderator.