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Biderman's Chart of CoercionBiderman's Chart of Coercion"Mostpeople who brainwash...use methods similar to those of prison guards whorecognize that physical control is never easily accomplished without thecooperation of the prisoner. The most effective way to gain that cooperationis through subversive manipulation of the mind and feelings of the victim,who then becomes a psychological, as well as a physical, prisoner." from an Amnesty International publication, "Report on Torture",which depicts the brainwashing of prisoners of war.  IsolationDeprives individual of social support, effectively rendering him unable toresistMakes individual dependent upon interrogatorDevelops an intense concern with self.Once a person is away from longstanding emotional support and thus realitychecks, it is fairly easy to set a stage for brainwashing. Spirituallyabusive groups work to isolate individuals from friends and family, whetherdirectly, by requiring the individuals to forsake friends and family for thesake of the "Kingdom" (group membership), or indirectly, by preaching thenecessity to demonstrate one's love for God by "hating" one's father, mother,family, friends. Abusive groups are not outward-looking, but inward-looking,insisting that members find all comfort and support and a replacement familywithin the group. Cut off from friends, relatives, previous relationships,abusive groups surround the recruits and hammer rigid ideologies into theirconsciousnesses, saturating their senses with specific doctrines andrequirements of the group. Isolated from everyone but those within thegroup, recruits become dependent upon group members and leaders and find itdifficult if not impossible to offer resistance to group teachings. Theybecome self-interested and hyper-vigilant, very fearful should they incur thedisapproval of the group, which now offers the only support available to themwhich has group approval.Warning signsThe seed of extremism exists wherever a group demands all the free time of amember, insisting he be in church every time the doors are open and callinghim to account if he isn't, is critical or disapproving of involvements withfriends and family outside the group, encourages secrecy by asking thatmembers not share what they have seen or heard in meetings or about churchaffairs with outsiders, is openly, publicly, and repeatedly critical ofother churches or groups (especially if the group claims to be the only onewhich speaks for God), is critical when members attend conferences, workshopsor services at other churches, checks up on members in any way, i.e., todetermine that the reason they gave for missing a meeting was valid, or makesattendance at all church functions mandatory for participating in churchministry or enjoying other benefits of church fellowship.Once a member stops interacting openly with others, the group's influence isall that matters. He is bombarded with group values and information andthere is no one outside the group with whom to share thoughts or who willoffer reinforcement or affirmation if the member disagrees with or doubts thevalues of the group. The process of isolation and the self-doubt it createsallow the group and its leaders to gain power over the members. Leaders maycriticize major and minor flaws of members, sometimes publically, or remindthem of present or past sins. They may call members names, insult them orignore them, or practice a combination of ignoring members at some times andreceiving them warmly at others, thus maintaining a position of power (i.e.,the leaders call the shots.) The sense of humiliation makes members feel they deserve the poor treatmentthey are receiving and may cause them to allow themselves to be subjected toany and all indignities out of gratefulness that one as unworthy as they feelis allowed to participate in the group at all. When leaders treat the memberwell occasionally, they accept any and all crumbs gratefully. Eventually,awareness of how dependent they are on the group and gratitude for thesmallest attention contributes to an increasing sense of shame anddegradation on the part of the members, who begin to abuse themselves with"litanies of self-blame," i.e., "No matter what they do to me, I deserve it,as sinful and wretched as I am. I deserve no better. I have no rights butto go to hell. I should be grateful for everything I receive, evenpunishment." Monopolization of PerceptionFixes attention upon immediate predicament; fosters introspectionEliminates stimuli competing with those controlled by captorFrustrates all actions not consistent with complianceAbusive groups insist on compliance with trival demands related to all facetsof life: food, clothing, money, household arrangements, children,conversation. They monitor members' appearances, criticize language andchildcare practices. They insist on precise schedules and routines, whichmay change and be contradictory from day to day or moment to moment,depending on the whims of group leaders. At first, new members may think these expectations are unreasonable and maydispute them, but later, either because they want to be at peace or becausethey are afraid, or because everyone else is complying, they attempt tocomply. After all, what real difference does it make if a member is notallowed to wear a certain color, or to wear his hair in a certain way, to eatcertain foods, or say certain words, to go certain places, watch certainthings, or associate with certain individuals. In the overall scheme ofthings, does it really matter? In fact, in the long run, the member beginsto reason, it is probably good to learn these disciplines, and after all, asthey have frequently been reminded, they are to submit to spiritual authorityas unto the Lord.. Soon it becomes apparent that the demands will beunending, and increasing time and energy are focused on avoiding groupdisapproval by doing something "wrong." There is a feeling of walking oneggs. Everything becomes important in terms of how the group or its leaderswill respond, and members' desires, feelings and ideas become insignificant.Eventually, members may no longer even know what they want, feel or think.The group has so monopolized all of the members' perceptions with trivialdemands that members lose their perspective as to the enormity of thesituation they are in. The leaders may also persuade the members that they have the inside trackwith God and therefore know how everything should be done. When theirbehavior results in disastrous consequences, as it often does, the membersare blamed. Sometimes the leaders may have moments, especially after abusiveepisodes, when they appear to humble themselves and confess their faults, andthe contrast of these moments of vulnerability with their usual pose of beingall-powerful endears them to members and gives hope for some opencommunication. Threats sometimes accompany all of these methods. Members are told they willbe under God's judgment, under a curse, punished, chastised, chastened ifthey leave the group or disobey group leaders. Sometimes the leaders,themselves, punish the members, and so members can never be sure when leaderswill make good on the threats which they say are God's idea. The membersbegin to focus on what they can do to meet any and all group demands and howto preserve peace in the short run. Abusive groups may remove children fromtheir parents, control all the money in the group, arrange marriages, destroypersonal items of members or hide personal items.Warning signs:Preoccupation with trivial demands of daily life, demanding strict compliancewith standards of appearance, dress codes, what foods are or are not to beeaten and when, schedules, threats of God's wrath if group rules are notobeyed, a feeling of being monitored, watched constantly by those in thegroup or by leaders. In other words, what the church wants, believes andthinks its members should do becomes everything, and you feel preoccupiedwith making sure you are meeting the standards. It no longer matters whetheryou agree that the standards are correct, only that you follow them and thuskeep the peace and in the good graces of leaders. Induced Debility and ExhaustionPeople subjected to this type of spiritual abuse become worn out by tension,fear and continual rushing about in an effort to meet group standards. Theymust often avoid displays of fear, sorrow or rage, since these may result inridicule or punishment. Rigid ministry demands and requirements that membersattend unreasonable numbers of meetings and events makes the exhaustion andability to resist group pressure even worse. Warning Signs:Feelings of being overwhelmed by demands, close to tears, guilty if one saysno to a request or goes against a church standards. Being intimidated orpressured into volunteering for church duties and subjected to scorn orridicule when one does not "volunteer." Being rebuked or reproved whenfamily or work responsibilities intrude on church responsibilities. Occasional IndulgencesProvides motivation for complianceLeaders of abusive groups often sense when members are making plans to leaveand may suddenly offer some kind of indulgence, perhaps just love oraffection, attention where there was none before, a note or a gesture ofconcern. Hope that the situation in the church will change or self doubt("Maybe I'm just imagining it's this bad,") then replace fear or despair andthe members decide to stay a while longer. Other groups practice sporadicdemonstrations of compassion or affection right in the middle of desperateconflict or abusive episodes. This keeps members off guard and doubtingtheir own perceptions of what is happening.Some of the brainwashing techniques described are extreme, some groups mayuse them in a disciplined, regular manner while others use them moresporadically. But even mild, occasional use of these techniques is effectivein gaining power.Warning Signs:Be concerned if you have had an ongoing desire to leave a church or group youbelieve may be abusive, but find yourself repeatedly drawn back in just atthe moment you are ready to leave, by a call, a comment or moment ofcompassion. These moments, infrequent as they may be, are enough to keephope in change alive and thus you sacrifice years and years to an abusivegroup. Devaluing the IndividualCreates fear of freedom and dependence upon captorsCreates feelings of helplessnessDevelops lack of faith in individual capabilitiesAbusive leaders are frequently uncannily able to pick out traits churchmembers are proud of and to use those very traits against the members. Thosewith natural gifts in the areas of music may be told they are proud or puffedup or "anxious to be up front" if they want to use their talents and deniedthat opportunity. Those with discernment are called judgmental or critical,the merciful are lacking in holiness or good judgment, the peacemakers arereminded the Lord came to bring a sword, not peace. Sometimes efforts aremade to convince members that they really are not gifted teachers ormusically talented or prophetically inclined as they believed they were.When members begin to doubt the one or two special gifts they possess whichthey have always been sure were God-given, they begin to doubt everythingelse they have ever believed about themselves, to feel dependent upon churchleaders and afraid to leave the group. ("If I've been wrong about even*that*, how can I ever trust myself to make right decisions ever again?").Warning Signs:Unwillingness to allow members to use their gifts. Establishing rigid bootcamp-like requirements for the sake of proving commitment to the group beforegifts may be exercised. Repeatedly criticizing natural giftedness byreminding members they must die to their natural gifts, that Paul, after all,said, "When I'm weak, I'm strong," and that they should expect God to usethem in areas other than their areas of giftedness. Emphasizing helps orservice to the group as a prerequisite to church ministry. This might takethe form of requiring that anyone wanting to serve in any way first have theresponsibility of cleaning toilets or cleaning the church for a specifiedtime, that anyone wanting to sing in the worship band must first sing to thechildren in Sunday School, or that before exercising any gifts at all,members must demonstrate loyalty to the group by faithful attendance at allfunctions and such things as tithing. No consideration is given to thelength of time a new member has been a Christian or to his age or station inlife or his unique talents or abilities. The rules apply to everyone alike.This has the effect of reducing everyone to some kind of lowest commondenominator where no one's gifts or natural abilities are valued orappreciated, where the individual is not cherished for the unique blessing heor she is to the body of Christ, where what is most highly valued is service,obedience, submission to authority, and performance without regard to giftsor abilities or, for that matter, individual limitations. |
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