By Arnold Markowitz, LCSW
I will begin by describing similarities between cult groups and
terrorist groups in the way each uses sophisticated psychological
techniques to indoctrinate their devoted members. Last fall I took the
position that Osama Bin Ladin and Al Queda were not cult groups as
defined by the Interfaith Coalition of Concern About Cults. It is the
definition followed by the Cult Hotline and Clinic of the Jewish Board
of Family and Children’s services located in New York.
Destructive cult groups are said to use techniques of brainwashing so
I thought we could look at Robert J Lifton’s seminal work on
Brainwashing, thought reform and mind control in his book titled Thought Reform and The Psychology of Totalism.
Lifton makes some very useful points that can be applied to terrorist groups and destructive cults.
For one he points out that the combination of immoderate ideology
with equally immoderate individual character traits are an extremist
meeting ground between people and ideas. Lifton notes that any ideology —
i.e. emotionally charged convictions-may be carried by its adherents in
a totalist direction. But this is most likely to occur with ideologies
that are most sweeping in their content and most ambitious —or
messianic- in their claims. And where totalism exists any movement in Lifton’s words becomes little more than an exclusive cult.
Thomas Friedman recently described most of the present day Arab
governments as "autocratic, undemocratic, and anti-democratic". He goes
on further to say that many Islamic religious leaders, particularly
those exiled in Western Europe are anti modernist, and in their prayer
groups teach that the problems of the Islamic world are caused by the
United States, Christianity and Judaism that form a conspiracy to
undermine Islam. The alienated young men who attend their Mosques or
Madrassas
become radicalized under
the influence of these teachings. Indeed this can be what Lifton refers
to as the combination of immoderate ideology or emotionally charged
convictions- AND immoderate character traits, these now alienated
followers. Hence you have the makings of a totalistic environment.
Lifton developed a set of criteria consisting of eight Psychological themes which are predominant in the thought reform milieu.
While we often use Lifton’s criteria to define cults we often skip over some Interesting observations; such as:
That while each of the eight psychological themes have a totalistic
quality, each mobilizes certain individual tendencies, mostly of a
polarizing nature.
Hence, philosophical rationale (i.e. the belief system) and polarized
individual tendencies are Interdependent and require each other rather
than cause each other. Here, Lifton is saying that the combination of
the belief system and extremist individual tendencies feed off of each
other. Some of us may argue this point about causation but I think it
is most helpful in understanding the terrorist mindset. I think of John
Walker Lind, the so-called American Taliban in this context. He
apparently is a seeker who was drawn into extremist beliefs and action
while in a totalistic thought reform environment when he went to study
Islam in the Middle East but wound up as a warrior for Islam.
From Lifton’s milieu control we learn that cult members and
terrorists who Are deprived of external communication and information,
or not permitted inner reflection that we all need, are unable to test
the realities of their environment. This leads to blind obedience and
extremism.
Hence, doubts or different opinions do not emerge or are not
tolerated if they challenge the prevailing ideology. One is left with a
polarized and absolute acceptance of the group’s truth but is freed from
any struggle from doubt or questions of belief. This is the attraction
of an absolute or totalistic belief system. There is no ambivalence,
anxiety, or guilt-just blind obedience.
From Lifton’s ideas on mystical manipulation we can see how the
terrorist believes he serves a higher purpose and is chosen from above
to carry out the "mystical imperative" that supercedes all
considerations of decency or immediate human welfare. Any thought or
action that questions the higher purpose is deemed as backward, selfish,
and petty in the face of the great overriding mission. The same
mystical imperative produces extreme idealism and cynical acts to the
extreme in service of the higher purpose.
Keep these concepts in focus as I note the violent acts of destructive cults.
The development of cult groups in the 1960’s and ‘70’s has been followed by religious terrorism starting in the 1980’s.
- In Sept 1984 750 people became sick in Oregon from salmonella bacteria intentionally spread by followers of Sri Bagwan Rajneesh in an effort to influence local elections.
- In 1987 a number of White Supremacists of the Identity Movement were Indicted for plotting to poison municipal water supplies in two cities. The teachings of the identity movement probably influenced Timothy Mcveigh, the convicted bomber of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995.
- In March 1995 the Aum Shirikyo group killed 12 and injured more than 5000 in their Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. This was the worlds first mass chemical attack. The group had built an arsenal of biochemical and conventional weapons including mustard gas, anthrax, botulism, sarin nerve gas and TNT. Although the leaders were arrested and many are in prison, recent reports indicate the group is rebuilding itself and is increasing its membership in and outside of Japan.
Add to these terrorist attacks the Jonestown suicides and murders,
the mass suicide of the members of the Heaven’s Gate and People of the
solar temple Cult groups in the 1990’s as well as the death of 80 or
more members of the Branch Davidians in April 1993. All of these acts
are part of what Conway and Seigelman call the death spiral of cult
groups. These deaths and recent acts of terrorism are an example of how
the mystical imperative produces extreme idealism and cynical acts to
the extreme in service of the higher purpose.
It is my belief that in all these groups the aging or deteriorating
leaders have To face their narcissistic disappointment that the world
has not beaten a Path to their doorway and despite their grandiose
beliefs in being chosen by God they will face the fate of all mankind
and not live on forever.
In closing, I believe that our understanding of cult recruitment and
indoctrination techniques sheds light on the motivation and manipulation
of terrorists who are used by others to turn against their own instinct
for survival and all human decency to commit terrible acts of
brutality.
http://www.cultclinic.org/presentation-terrorist.html
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