# 2 ## recruitment and seduction: the way to unhappiness "The saddest thing about any man, is that he be ignorant, and the most exciting thing is that he knows." ~ King Alfred the Great The process of coercive control follows a predictable series of steps. First comes _contact_. This will either happen in person or through advertising, which comes in many forms: flyers, posters, mailings, books, media ads and articles are all used by authoritarian groups to lure new recruits. Many groups use street recruiters, and most have their own publications; some, including Scientology, have hired professional advertising agencies to refine their approach.[4] Public relations experts speak of interruption as the first step. They make contact by distracting your attention. The Moonies and, more recently, militant Salafi Islamists, approach college freshmen. Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and LaRouchies knock on doors. The LaRouchies -- followers of the late trickster Lyndon LaRouche -- also use obituary columns to target grieving widows and widowers. Pseudo-Buddhist groups, such as the New Kadampa Tradition, have latched on to the craze for Mindfulness and use this in their pitch. Contrary to popular myth, authoritarian groups seek competent recruits. Anyone with significant physical or mental problems, including drug or alcohol addiction, will be weeded out at the outset. There may also be certain groups that are not targeted -- Scientology, for instance, avoids gay people, journalists, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, disabled people and communists. Authoritarian groups can and do recruit intelligent people. Many followers are idealists, convinced that they are working towards a better world. Studies show that authoritarian group members are often middle-class and fairly well-educated.[5] They have higher than average IQs and perfectly normal personality profiles. Authoritarian group members do not present with any more emotional or psychiatric problems than the normal population. The same is true of terrorists. Detailed surveys of several terrorist groups have shown that member show little difference from the general population for mental illness, except for their practice of the anti-social beliefs of the group.[6] Once contact is made, _rapport_ is developed. The recruiter looks for common ground, agreement on cultural, political or religious biases. In Scientology, this is called the "reality factor". The intention is to create a friendly atmosphere. An Al-Qaeda manual cautions the recruiter, "Don't criticize the candidate's behavior. Thank him for any help, even if it is just a little. Caution: don't disregard his opinion or his manner of thinking, but let him express his opinion even if it opposes yours ... Be close to him in order to get to know more about his character."[7] Krishnas handed out joss sticks and then asked for a donation, which follows the _principle of reciprocity_. One of my friends startled a Krishna recruiter by refusing either to make a donation or to return the recording of Temple songs he had just been given. Most people simply reached into their pockets and overpaid for the few pennies' worth of "Spiritual Sky" joss sticks. This approach is like a fishing lure -- a bright object to attract attention. Moonies sold candy and flowers on the street, at vastly exaggerated prices. Scientologists offer a "free" personality test. There is no such thing as a free lunch; there is also no such thing as a free personality test. By answering the 200-question test, you volunteer private information, and grant authority to the tester. The test was the work of Ray Kemp, a merchant seaman with no training in psychological testing. It is called the "Oxford Capacity Analysis" to give it a ring of authority (Kemp had no affiliation with Oxford University). Recruitment checklist - contact - reciprocity and rapport - flattery - test resistance to group - push fear of worsening - elicit confession to gain authority (recruit following directions from here down) - show understanding and sympathy - bring to a peak experience - demand testimonials to reinforce consistency - induce guilt, phobias, and disgust The prospective recruit will be _flattered_ -- called "love bombing" by the Moonies. Your appearance, beliefs or talents will be praised to the skies. Rapport is built and a false friendship is created. Recruiters see nothing wrong in this trickery, because it is believed to be for the greater good and it raises their own status in the group. Moonies speak of "heavenly deception". For the recruiter, it is another statistic, which will lead to praise from the group, just like a salesperson selling another car. Recruits, however, feel as if they have made a new friend, someone who resonates with their existing beliefs. By the time they realize that the recruiter was simply agreeing to be agreeable -- and make a sale -- it may be too late to retreat. ### the buy-in Any _resistance_ to the group is then tested, unless the group represents itself under a false name (the Moonies have dozens of front groups, and refrain from mentioning that they are a "religion" at first contact). Scientologists are taught to dismiss media reports by saying that the media is untrustworthy: "You can't believe anything you read in the papers". Not one person _ever_ disagreed with me when I used this line -- such is the level of public distrust of the media. _Once rapport has been established, the recruiter will seek out the most significant difficulty in the recruit's life._ In Scientology, this is called the "ruin": "What is ruining your life?" If the preceding steps have been followed closely, _most_ people will offer up even their most secret troubles. Unless they've been hurt before by exposing their secrets, most people welcome sympathy for their problems. It is surprising how willing people are to share their deepest longings with complete strangers, as if there is a need to confess; this confession deepens rapport. Scientology recruiters then push the target into _"fear of worsening"_. The recruit is exploited to feel discouraged about the "ruin". "I'm sure you've tried everything, but nothing has worked." __Confession_ of troubles usually shifts the recruiter into a position of superiority, of authority._ The recruit will be willing to follow directions from this point, almost like Pavlov's dogs, which salivated when a bell was rung, because they had learned to associate the sound with the offer of food. Next, the recruiter will use the information from this confession to demonstrate that the recruit desperately needs the group to achieve positive change; Scientology recruiters call this step _"bringing to understanding"_. Sales manuals suggest that a story be made up to show sympathy: "I know a guy who had exactly the same problem. He took a few of our courses and everything started to work out for him." The "understanding" is that the group can solve whatever problem is presented -- whether it is romantic, financial, work-related or spiritual -- anything and everything can be resolved by the offered course, counseling or study program, so the recruiter has no difficulty in inventing a supporting story: the ends justify the deceptive means. Various tricks can be used to convince a new recruit. Indeed, the process of recruitment can begin by creating a euphoric or peak experience. Simply focusing attention can bring about a euphoric or high state. This creates a state of awe, which is found in the love at first sight, or infatuation (also called limerence). Awe can bring about a belief in the authority of the person who introduces it. _There are five routes to awe: vastness, beauty, skill, celebrity, and inexplicable events._ The view from a mountain ridge or a vast night sky, the beauty of a painting or landscape, the skill of a craftsman, the allure of a film star, or an event that baffles us can all cause an elevated state, in which we find it more difficult to reason, so are more easily influenced. Tricksters often use inexplicable events to capture a recruit. The event is presented as a miracle or a transcendent state. The trickster then seems to have special knowledge and may be seen as an expert about everything.[8] They have achieved authority over the recruit which can extend to every aspect of their lives. The first course, seminar, or workshop will continue the love-bombing, while often using a hypnotic technique to bring about a peak experience. Given a long enough duration, any form of repetition, mimicry or fixation can lead to a euphoric altered state. Chanting, drumming, group singing, visual fixation -- as in meditation or mindfulness -- repetition of a word or phrase ("mantra meditation"), repeated movements, such as rocking or "davening", shaking, or walking meditations, all lead to an altered state. It is easy to mistake the feeling of euphoria for psychological or spiritual progress. But just because we feel high doesn't mean that we've actually achieved beneficial change -- as any cocaine addict can testify. Most people in western society are unfamiliar with the effects of eastern meditation, so they are delighted and surprised by the sense of wellbeing that floods them. Almost every former member of an authoritarian group that I've talked with had an initial peak experience and spent the remainder of their time in the group trying -- and failing -- to repeat it. It is likely that the peak experience is simply a release of dopamine or serotonin. These neurochemicals are the "reward" system of the brain, and are released during sex and by alcohol and drug use. In a group setting, surrounded by approving people, carefully designed techniques can lead to a powerful high in the new recruit. Yuval Laor has defined the fervent attachment brought about by manipulating awe.[9] Testimonials are demanded for _reinforcement_. In Scientology these are called "success stories" [stopped here and sent document. in the last book club for this book, the author came in to speak and answer questions. i recorded this in my poor quality manner to arweave. i haven't tested the download (or if i have forgot), but it looks like the data is supposed to be below $ cat zAXcl1NxJ3BunzDRAE-95EECu3PQq--8kt0tg5OUCGk {"ditem": ["jJ6CqX-8HShDuPx9N04qE70YDLvbyQfD8rTSqk774j4"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132045407} $ curl -L https://arweave.net/jJ6CqX-8HShDuPx9N04qE70YDLvbyQfD8rTSqk774j4 [[6561, {"ditem": ["377rcyj4P35wCcPNaytq0X8Hc8q7ygbDnjDTzguQIsk"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697131870689}, 0, 657821047], [81, {"ditem": ["5CjgPuf2OaQSTGgdpvS254dPsIgOH0skXR6IjNTl-gI"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697131935296}, 657821047, 4220597], [81, {"ditem": ["zY3avoT3ER9FOd5tdyaCSlHzgTzIgcJJSU041egFEl8"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697131995739}, 662041644, 3964274], [27, {"ditem": ["3TxR1vwMCxDxgVdRb-miQl9eDPYzbSsUtM0qPc43_uU"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132015654}, 666005918, 1308560], [27, {"ditem": ["QzcfpNE3tStnC0_KY32IliqmXt1DH9XrfbJPgttRmhw"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132036311}, 667314478, 1946232], [9, {"ditem": ["AP_3vQaTfOTsU_X3MHZPgqzwvUmfTKqzcm40UNOPo0U"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132043795}, 669260710, 868217], [1, {"ditem": ["CBsWMOB-nmrJDeR2Fh0qjEeJ16mUSWMLW1g09s0d8o0"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132044649}, 670128927, 107993], [-1, {"capture": {"ditem": ["wABtTCPMPUu73E0cD4D-E-m9dn50oDhtalw9NMODzZE", "at-YfEMWSv1DBrZCxguIDot4BOUjGCFclrkvgXK4lH4", "VkTyzRHu-OBXorSD-wMmD5QeQmiadgU3_6IlrN-YgX0", "GFk-TY8ug5GQrowTQ7LuNbq7rvo9JjcDOYYXxi_agJE"], "time": [1697132043.9408221, 1697132044.1202533, 1697132044.1204848, 1697132044.3197477]}, "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132045098, "dropped": null}, 670236920, 104825]] ] # references 4: The Hill and Knowlton agency and Jack Trout have been on the Scientology payroll. 5: Margaret Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich, _op._ _cit._ While "cult" groups in western society tend to consist of educated seekers, this is not true of popular movements, from football hooligans and gangs, to the grass roots support for Nazism. In the US, Identity Christians do not fit the profile of other more sophisticated groups, either. Groups such as the Watchtower Society -- or Jehovah's Witnesses -- restrict education for their members, and actively recruit from prison populations. 6: "the outstanding common characteristic of terrorists is their normality," Martha Crenshaw (1981 study of the Algerian FLN), "terrorists do not show any striking psychopathology," McCauley and Segal (1987) cited by Jerold M. Post, _Leaders and Their Followers in a Dangerous World_, New York, 2004, p.128; see also Marc Sageman, _Understanding Terror Networks_, Philadelphia, 2004; Anne Speckhard & Khapta Ahkmedova, _The Making of a Martyr: Chechen Suicide Terrorism_, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Volume 29, Issue 5, pgs. 1-65. 2006: See also Ariel Merari, _Driven to Death_ (OUP, 2010), and https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/201602_clat_policy_paper_1_v2.pdf which estimates mental illness at 27% in the normal population and 35% in terrorists 7: _A Course in the art of Recruiting_, Abu Amru Al Qa'idy 8: Yuval Laor, PhD thesis, _The Religious Ape_. 9: _ibid_. See also Yuval's work on our jon atack, family and friends YouTube channel