Consider this scenario: you slice into a tomato with a freshly sharpened knife. As you cut, you detect a measurable electrical fluctuation within the tomato. Does this mean the tomato is crying out in pain? This was the conclusion drawn by L. Ron Hubbard in 1968 when he used anE-meterto test a tomato in his greenhouse atSaint Hill. He called it “Science.” Hubbard also claimed to be a nuclear physicist.
Introduction
Scientology’s disconnection policy still requires members to shun friends or family members who are “antagonistic” to the organization.
Research suggests that a large majority of those who become involved with Scientology leave within a short timeframe, often due to unfulfilled expectations regarding personal improvement. This raises the question of why a small percentage remains devoted despite significant evidence contradicting the organization’s claims.
While cognitive dissonance theory can partially explain how individuals rationalize these contradictions, it doesn’t fully account for their continued commitment. To understand this phenomenon, we must delve deeper into the social dynamics and psychological tactics employed within Scientology, which can exert a powerful influence on individuals, turning them into steadfast adherents.
The Power of Social Conformity
Research on social conformity sheds light on why individuals might persist in their beliefs despite contradicting evidence. Within any group, there’s a strong pull to align with the group’s norms and ideologies. The desire for acceptance and belonging can significantly shape individual thoughts and actions.
Newcomers to Scientology often experience a warm and enthusiastic reception, fostering a sense of community and belonging that can be quite enticing. Initially, the discipline within the organization is relatively relaxed, allowing new members to feel comfortable without immediate pressure to fully embrace all of Scientology’s doctrines.
From the first encounters with Scientology and Scientologists there is a push to get the newcomer to explore basic Scientology concepts as tools for enhanced living, with the expectation that he/she will discover their practical value and consequently adopt the premise that “Scientology works.” Once the novice begins to perceive effects from Scientology technology, it is only natural to define further involvement with the group is in one’s own best interest. At the same time, it’s philosophical frame gains immediate plausibility – including the definition that Scientology is the only group able to “save the planet.”
The key to understanding the attraction of this world is its adeptness in creating a sense of change as evidence that Scientology works, that the technology is doing something for the person.
Over the years, the Church of Scientology has attracted a notable number of high-profile celebrities into its ranks.
… what exactly attracts members to the COS? Why would one want to become a Scientologist?
One of the easy answers to those questions could be linked to the projected member image that the COS’ PR teams have carefully crafted over the years: Scientology seems to be the place where the rich and famous get together to create better versions of themselves and the world. And since they also seem to act like they know something you do not, the possibility of gaining access to that kind of knowledge becomes the aspiring Scientologist’s intrinsically motivated goal.Point goes to the COS for exquisite marketing via psychological manipulation.
After reading all of these materials, my opinion regarding the Church of Scientology is definitely gloomier than the one I had after only watching their introductory videos – discussed in Part I.
Not only am I now certain that the Church of Scientology is a cult and not a religious organization, but I am also fully convinced of the fact that they are a highly manipulative and dangerous cult.
At this moment, thinking back on all the delusional claims I have read in the materials that the Church of Scientology presents publicly about its creeds and practices, I cannot think of any reasons why a person who would dedicate even the shortest amount of time to educate himself/herself about this group would ever decide to join the cult. The only member recruitment methods that would make any sense to me would be peer-pressure and opportunity driven.
Scientology and Dianetics are nothing but the fabrications of a deeply disturbed mind and the reason why they are still active today is because the financial benefits attached to their practices appeal to other highly manipulative individuals who are now leading the cult.
Gradual Escalation of Commitment
As individuals advance within the organization, Scientology strategically increases its expectations.This gradual approach is deliberate: by slowly escalating demands, the organization can strengthen the member’s commitment without triggering immediate resistance. This process of incremental commitment is a potent psychological tactic.
One step at a time, the new proselyte gradually finds ways to suspend disbelief and develops special criteria of evaluation to use when dealing with this group’s data — much as one might do with a pushy encyclopedia salesman. Midway through the sales pitch it becomes difficult and a failure of self to confront the displacement of one’s own standards which has occurred (“but I thought you cared about your children…”). So you buy a set of encyclopedias and thereby escape the awkward situation you were boxed into. The salesman leaves with a check and you soon recover from a small blow to your dignity.
In Scientology, however, the salesman does not leave (figuratively speaking). What is sold is not just a book or course or some hours of auditing, but a set of ideas and perceptions which lead to the one conclusion of total commitment to the group. This does not end with any one-time concession.The accommodation of writing a check to get rid of the salesman is merely prelude to the next round of demands.
Initially, new Scientologists may engage in relatively harmless practices, but as they climb the church’s ladder, they face intensified indoctrination and are expected to accept increasingly strange and unsupported beliefs. The social pressure to conform and the fear of being excluded become more pronounced at this point. The organization utilizes various techniques, such as rigorous auditing sessions and ethical reviews, to enforce compliance and suppress dissent.
Bob Penny continues…
Not surprisingly, it takes increased force to maintain such increased levels of delusion, to ignore the vacuousness of claimed results and the ordinariness of superbeing “OTs.” Status within the group becomes more and more the sole and exclusive basis of self-image.
As one becomes an insider, agreement is more and more presumed. Claimed respect for integrity and individuality gives way to an environment of undisguised peremptory orders and Hard Sell salesmanship: of participation, auditing, commitments, self-conceptions, ideas, ethics, or anything Church representatives want you to believe or do. Truth comes to exist in Hard Sell salesman terms, i.e., whatever it needs to be at the moment to invalidate your objections and obtain compliance.
Because Scientologists believe themselves to be fighting for the salvation of mankind, any acts — even if they are illegal — which will contribute to this purpose are sanctioned by reason of “the greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics.”
Scientology, to the Scientologist, is the only truth. This fact has caused enormous frustration for many family members trying to reason with the Scientologist in their family. The mind of the Scientologist is closed to any other possibility than Scientology. There is no other side to the argument.
In today’s world, the clarity of decision-making is often obscured by psychological traps and cognitive bias, phenomena that can significantly skew rational judgement.
Scientology represents itself publicly as a dedicated group of people trying to do something effective to improve the world. It may seem to be just another self-help or community action group, or perhaps just another bunch of nuts. None of these images is accurate.
Scientology is an unusual and dangerous kind of money-making machine. It represents L. Ron Hubbard’s best efforts to find a social niche where his machine’s uniquely predatory activities could be hidden from public view. That is why this money-making enterprise was set up as a “religion.” Scientology has also tried to elude governmental jurisdictions by operating at sea and more recently on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma. The operation is divided into compartments so that even loyal members will not know the nature of activities carried out elsewhere in the organization. Much that was revealed in the June, 1990 Los Angeles Times, for example, was a shock to many Scientologists who truly knew nothing about the deceptive, coercive and illegal activities which are and always have been an integral part of their “church.”
The same psychological mechanisms that create loyalty in a battered woman, deliberately instilled, can make a cult victim loyal to the cult. Psychological manipulation at that level has evolved in recent decades, based on postWar research in social psychology, communist experiments in coercive “re-education,” plus America’s good old “Elmer Gantry” tradition. Your typical college freshman hasn’t got a chance. With the victim thus made into a smiling captive, his exploitation can continue indefinitely.
The result of this transformation is a person psychologically unable to face basic facts of his or her own life. To evade unwanted truth, the person must seek refuge ever more deeply and exclusively in the exploitive group — the only place where the shared lies and actual degradation will go unquestioned.
To preserve this vampirish relationship, fortunes are squandered, careers destroyed, educations abandoned, families torn apart, medical or psychological help neglected — and the person deprived of the true rewards of life which are his or her just due.
There is no automatic or foolproof way out of this trap. The diverse life experience which ordinarily leads us from one situation to another is shut off or devalued in the one-dimensional cult environment.
“Psychological kidnapping” is not yet recognized as a crime by our legal system; it is instead the desperate parent who spirits away an adult child who may be judged guilty of a crime. The person imprisoned by “psychological kidnapping” — like the battered woman — may remain imprisoned for life.
Cognitive dissonance, the psychological discomfort arising from holding conflicting beliefs, plays a pivotal role in sustaining adherence to Scientology’s doctrine. As members invest increasing amounts of time, resources, and emotional energy into the organization, the difficulty of acknowledging they were mistaken grows. To mitigate this discomfort, individuals often reinforce their beliefs and rationalize any inconsistencies.
This rationalization process is amplified by the church’s tendency to isolate its members. Scientologists are frequently urged to distance themselves from non-believers, including friends and family who might question their faith. This isolation further reinforces the church’s teachings and limits exposure to alternative perspectives.
I’ve used the term “cognitive dissonance”before – defined as an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. George Orwell, in his novel 1984, called it “doublethink.” The guy who invented the term cognitive dissonance, Leon Festinger, broke it down into three factors: behavior, thought, and emotion. His theory was that if you could control or change any one of these factors, the person would tend to change the other factors to minimize the amount of dissonance they experience.
To give an example, the Church tells public that they cannot watch the Anderson Cooper 360 series on Scientology. This is behavior control. A Scientologist might experience some cognitive dissonance – after all, what is a church doing telling people what they can and cannot watch on TV? So the Scientologist rationalizes it (changes his thought) by saying “Well, they must have a reason for it,” or “It would probably ruin my case if I watched it.”They might also change their emotions to fit the behavior change – feeling hatred for Anderson Cooper as an “enemy” or feeling guilt if they considered watching the program.
If a group can control all of these factors, it can manipulate its members – for example, if they can prevent people from watching the TV program (control behavior), convince them it will ruin their case (control thought) and feel guilt if they contemplate watching it (control emotion), then they have established near-total control.
Transformation into “True Believers”
The convergence of social pressure, escalating demands, and internal conflict allows Scientology to mold individuals into fervent adherents. These members eventually embrace and advocate for beliefs that may seem utterly irrational to those outside the organization. The church’s insular nature and methodical reinforcement of its teachings suppress dissent and quell any doubts that may arise.
Like other former Scientologists with harrowing tales of abuse and escape, Melissa says that she’s constantly asked one question more than any other: how did she put up with that kind of treatment for so long?So she decided to give us an answer that she hopes will help non-Scientologists understand the mentality of Sea Org workers.
I’ve been asked so many times, why didn’t you walk away sooner? How could your father and brother disconnect from you? Isn’t family more important than a religion? Why do Sea Org members stay if it’s really that bad?
I was born into Scientology.Both of my parents were Scientologists, so I wasn’t given a choice about what my beliefs were going to be. I had Scientology beliefs drummed into me as soon as I was able to understand them.
As Cadets and Scientologists, we learned quickly that showing any emotion other then a happy face wasn’t in our best interests. So I learned to hide my emotions and I was damn good at it. I hated my life and I stored up a lot of anger towards my father and mother for putting me into this environment.
The only reason that I joined the Sea Org at the age of 14 is that I had nowhere else to go, no family member to live with. The Cadet Org and the Sea Org were all I’d ever known.
I want all non-Scientologists to understand that there’s no other life for the lost souls that we were in the Cadet Org. We knew that we weren’t important in the grand scheme of things. We got broken down to the point where we had no thoughts of our own. We were the future of Scientology. I remember seeing a protest outside the walls of Saint Hill and thinking to myself, “What’s wrong with these people, we’re trying to save the world here.”
All mass movements generate in their adherents a readiness to die and a proclivity for action; all of them, irrespective of the doctrine they preach and the program they project, breed fanaticism, enthusiasm, fervent hope, hatred and intolerance; all of them are capable of releasing a powerful flow of activity in certain departments of life; all of them demand blind faith and singlehearted allegiance.
— The True Believer, by Eric Hoffer
Reflecting on the Journey
Former Scientologists often find themselves reflecting on their time within the organization with a mix of disbelief and confusion. They grapple with how they could have accepted such extraordinary tenets. This sense of bewilderment stems from the potent blend of psychological tactics and social coercion utilized by Scientology.
Scientology is an alternative family structure, at least as it is lived by its most devoted followers who are members of a Scientology organization called Sea Organization. Scientology portrays the Sea Org as “a fraternal organization existing within the formalized structure of the Churches of Scientology. It consists of highly dedicated members of the Church [who] take vows of service” (Church of Scientology of California, 1978: 205). (The organization downplays the fact that these people sign billion year contracts.) Many indicators point to the fact that Scientology structures the Sea Org in a manner that damages parent-child relations if not the well-being of children in general. In essence, Sea Org becomes one’s new family, often at the expense of spouses and children.
Leaving the church is not without its difficulties. Former members must reconcile their past convictions with newfound perspectives, often experiencing emotions of shame, guilt, and betrayal. Support groups and therapy can be crucial in assisting ex-Scientologists as they navigate this challenging transition and reconstruct their lives.
I grew up in Scientology from the age of 2 (1975) till I left their highest fraternal order, the Sea Organization, after volunteering for 12 years (2000). It took another 10 years to fully rid myself of my indoctrinated beliefs and gain the courage to speak publicly about what is really going on in Scientology and the Sea Org. Leaving is a very long process.
Conclusion
The disturbing reality of how seemingly rational individuals become ensnared by the bizarre doctrines of Scientology demands a sobering examination. It requires a deep dive into the insidious social and psychological machinery used by the organization to manipulate and dominate its members. Only by dissecting these disturbing dynamics can we truly grasp the sinister workings of cults and high-control groups, revealing how they prey on human vulnerabilities and exploit the universal longing for belonging and meaning.
The Scientology phenomenon serves as a stark warning about the potent allure of belonging and purpose. In our desperate pursuit of these essential human needs, we can become alarmingly vulnerable to manipulation and coercion, even at the expense of our critical thinking and autonomy.The Scientology case stands as a chilling reminder of the crucial importance of maintaining skepticism, engaging in critical thinking, and fostering open dialogue, especially when encountering organizations that offer simplistic solutions or claim to possess exclusive truths. These are the very red flags that should trigger alarm bells and signal the need for extreme caution.
This disturbing phenomenon underscores the urgent need for robust support systems and resources for those who have been ensnared by such groups, like the invaluable work done by the Aftermath Foundation, who provide essential assistance to those leaving Scientology and the Sea Org. It emphasizes the critical importance of empathy and understanding in helping them heal and rebuild their lives after such traumatic experiences. Ultimately, this case study serves as a chilling cautionary tale, reminding us of the potential dangers of blindly following charismatic leaders or groups that isolate their members and discourage dissent. By fostering critical thinking, open communication, and organizations like the Aftermath Foundation, we can create a society that is less susceptible to manipulation and better equipped to protect its most vulnerable members from the clutches of such harmful groups.
One step at a time, the new proselyte gradually finds ways to suspend disbelief and develops special criteria of evaluation to use when dealing with this group’s data — much as one might do with a pushy encyclopedia salesman. Midway through the sales pitch it becomes difficult and a failure of self to confront the displacement of one’s own standards which has occurred (“but I thought you cared about your children…”). So you buy a set of encyclopedias and thereby escape the awkward situation you were boxed into. The salesman leaves with a check and you soon recover from a small blow to your dignity.
I’ve used the term “cognitive dissonance” before – defined as an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. George Orwell, in his novel 1984, called it “doublethink.” The guy who invented the term cognitive dissonance, Leon Festinger, broke it down into three factors: behavior, thought, and emotion. His theory was that if you could control or change any one of these factors, the person would tend to change the other factors to minimize the amount of dissonance they experience.
The disturbing reality of how seemingly rational individuals become ensnared by the bizarre doctrines of Scientology demands a sobering examination. It requires a deep dive into the insidious social and psychological machinery used by the organization to manipulate and dominate its members. Only by dissecting these disturbing dynamics can we truly grasp the sinister workings of cults and high-control groups, revealing how they prey on human vulnerabilities and exploit the universal longing for belonging and meaning.