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.
Source: http://www.cultclinic.org/presentation-terrorist.html
Comments