About this course

Learning Objectives

• Assess the components of healthy social influence.
• List situational vulnerabilities that facilitate cult involvement.
• Describe as well as diagram the structure of a cult.
• Compare and contrast Due Influence and Undue Influence.
• Identify several synonyms for Mind Control.
• Analyze the psychology of cults.
• Explain identity changes that cult members experience.
• List elements of Scheflin’s Model of Social Influence.
• Identify clinical tools and techniques for intervention.

Learning Levels

• All Levels

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Steven Hassan

  Steven Hassan, PhD is a mental health professional and expert in undue influence tactics used by authoritarian leaders and destructive cults. His expertise includes harmful influence in cases of destructive religious and political cults, human trafficking, extremist and terrorist groups, one-on-one relationships, families, parental alienation, mini-cults, therapy and self-improvement groups, professional and institutional abuse, corporate and multi-level marketing programs, and harmful belief systems.

  He developed the BITE Model of Authoritarian Control to identify control tactics and the Influence Continuum Model to discern ethical from unethical influence. He developed the Strategic Interactive Approach (SIA), as an effective and legal intervention alternative for families to help cult members. He is the author of four books including Combating Cult Mind Control, Freedom of Mind, and The Cult of Trump. His online video courses include Understanding Cults: A Foundational Course for Clinicians. He is the Founding Director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, which provides training, consulting and support to individuals who are struggling to leave or recover from a cult and to families and organizations that are concerned about cult behaviors. He is also the founder of Freedom From Undue Influence, a not-for-profit entity founded to help conduct and publish the research on undue influence needed to update legal and social policies.

  Dr. Hassan believes that access to the truth, freedom of thought, and freedom from undue influence are basic human rights. A complex systems approach, based in science and supported by the rule of law, is necessary to protect these rights. He is a member of the Program in Psychiatry and the Law at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. Dr. Hassan began helping people affected by undue influence after he was deprogrammed from the Moon cult in 1976 at age 22. His over 47 years of experience give him a unique perspective on the damaging effects of undue influence and exploitation by destructive cults. He is a frequently requested speaker and media interviewee. Dr. Hassan holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Cambridge College and a Doctorate in Organizational Development and Change from Fielding Graduate University School of Leadership Studies. Visit freedomofmind.com for additional information.

Disclosure

References

• Castaño, Á., Bélanger, J. J., & Moyano, M. (2022). Cult conversion from the perspective of families: Implications for prevention and psychological intervention. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 14(1), 148–160. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000410
• Eichel, S. K. (2022). The Theory That Won't Go Away: An Updated Review of the Role Hypnosis Plays in Mind Control. International Journal of Coercion Abuse & Manipulation, 3. https://doi.org/10.54208/1000/0003/001
• Hankir, A.Z., Hassan, S. (2019). Psychological Determinants and Social Influences of Violent Extremism. In: Moffic, H., Peteet, J., Hankir, A., Awaad, R. (eds) Islamophobia and Psychiatry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00512-2_32
• Hassan, S., Caven-Atack, J. (2020). Anti-Semitism in Cults and Hate Groups. In: Moffic, H., Peteet, J., Hankir, A., Seeman, M. (eds) Anti-Semitism and Psychiatry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37745-8_23
• Holzer, J. C., Dew, A. J., Recupero, P. R., & Gill, P. (Eds.). (2022). Lone-actor Terrorism: An Integrated Framework. Oxford University Press.
• Hassan, S. A. (2020). The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control: Undue Influence, Thought Reform, Brainwashing, Mind Control, Trafficking and the Law (Doctoral dissertation, Fielding Graduate University).
• Hung, H. T. (Bosco). (2022). Keep Your Eyes on China’s Metaverse: Another Tool for Maintaining its National Security. The Journal of Intelligence, Conflict, and Warfare, 5(2), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.21810/jicw.v5i2.4340
• Yousafzai, A. W. (2022). POLITICAL POLARIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH: WHERE DO WE STAND? Khyber Medical University Journal, 14(1), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.35845/kmuj.2022.22777