400- BITE model 2 : Cult control over information

Steven Hassan's list is my current reference list for the BITE model used by cults to control their followers. 

BITE stands for the four control types, which are : Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotions. 

This series budded in my mind when I listened to Drew's video discussing MLM's and how they include many cultish aspects. I know that a lot of people don't really understand what that means, whilst others make jokes. As a survivor, I came to the conclusion that despite a few entries on the subject, I hadn't ever explained in full how cults function, hence this blog series, divided into 2 main parts :

•  general presentation of Steven Hassan's BITE model, using his original list and adding my comments. 
• mirror entries pertaining to the same BITE list, but applied to my own experiences. I call this second series Bitten Bitten, figuratively. 

I continue this blog series with the second type of control : manipulation of information.

These are : deceptions, limiting access to non-cult information, dividing the cult from the outside world, encouraging mutual policing and reporting to the hierarchy (already seen in beaviour control); prapaganda and indoctrination, and guilt-tripping.

Here's Steven's list, followed by my comments!

1. Deception: 

a. Deliberately withholding information 

b. Distorting information to make it more acceptable 

c. Systematically lying to cult members

2. Minimizing or discouraging access to non-cult sources of information, including: 

a. Internet, TV, radio, books, articles, newspapers, magazines, other media 

b.Critical information 

c. Former members 

d. Keeping members busy so they don’t have time to think and investigate 

e. Control through cell phone with texting, calls, internet tracking 

3. Compartmentalizing information into Outsider vs. Insider doctrines 

a. Ensuring that information is not freely accessible 

b.Controling information at different levels and missions within group 

c. Allowing only leadership to decide who needs to know what and when 

4. Encouraging spying on other members 

a. Imposing a buddy system to monitor and control members 

b.Reporting deviant thoughts, feelings and actions to leadership 

c. Ensuring that individual behavior is monitored by group 

5. Extensive use of cult-generated information and propaganda, including: 

a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audiotapes, videotapes, YouTube, movies and other media b.Misquoting statements or using them out of context from non-cult sources 

6. Unethical use of confession 

a. Information about sins used to disrupt and/or dissolve identity boundaries 

b. Withholding forgiveness or absolution

c. Manipulation of memory, possible false memories

 Deception (1) and misinformation are very valuable tools to maintain control and manipulate members to blindly follow orders ; to keep them ignorant of the outside world. 

The cult won't release vital infirmation - be it about its organization, it's promissed pain in case of infractions, or the fact that it's far easier to enter than to leave it. It withholds anything deemed contrary to its dogma, distorting all information by re-wording its content, the result of which doesn't share much in common with the original information. In this fashion, it appears acceptable, be it in content, wording, or by ommiting the essential points. 

The first lie any cult makes is the promiss of improving a person's life, which is never fulfiled. All information is controlled, minimized, devilized, and yet, leadership keeps an open eye, to better "know the devil's tempetation", but you, the followers, are too weak, as you haven't been chosen and you need to prove yourselves and your spiritual integrity. 

In the meantime, you won't have much or any access to the medias (2), you'll be monitored if you do, and anything you view shall be reported within the chain of command. 

Former members are shunned and everyone will speak ill of them, how they lost their faith and shouldn't be approached - off course, to avoid contamination from their doubts... 

Attempts to prevent any defecting, vital information is withheld, and the members (often called disciples, or brothers, or, in the most 'inclusive' brothers and sisters, and so on) are kept busy in chores, religious prayers and studies (indoctrination) ; some are called to proseletize and go door to door. All these activities, to keep them in the cult's steps, and too busy to start investigating. Sometimes, despite this, cults still lose few lucky members, who remain fragile and have to rebuild their lifes posts-cult, a topic I'll discuss separately. 

Compartmentalization is expaned by telling you that you are chosen as an elite, member of the few who will survive the end of the world, armageddon and the like, and that therefore, you must be an instrument of god, of the side of light, the goods (and any other such self-boasting titles) VS the side of the devil, satan, the fall of earth, the fall of humankind, the end of the world, the death of all the sinners, those who don't believe in the same person or group of persons as the sole savior/s of humanity... It insitll fear that if you stray, you'll fall out of their graces and lose your soul in eternal damnation in the end. That you won't be part of this elite. 

Compartmentalization is that technique that creates a scission within the brain, as if in compartments or drawers, but with the added sense that one cell doesn't know what the other does. This is why people who would be good in their nature, can be manipulated to do harm and be unlawful- they are disconnected from their actions, or told that these aren't technically legal, but they are moral and accepted by god/ the leader.

Compartmentalization also helps cult leaders to propagate the idea that the cult is fighting forces of evil, who must be vanquished and exterminated, either by bringing others to the same light ; awaiting the end of world's final war between good and evil ; or, trying to precipitate this very end, in hope for the next world to occur sooner, rather than later. 

This creates enduring fear for members, who have to rebuilt especially from this kind of distrust of others, which makes it really tough to recover, unlearn it and learn to trust others. 

Passwords may be created on computers, if the cult even has them. Only high ranking members may access, unless its sole recipient is the leader.  The cult will choose a location farthest possible from newsstands and other sources of information - and doubt to its members. If one doesn't have an easy access, there are fewer risks for the hierarchy to lose its grip- but, as I said above, some members do leave. 

Leaders and their trusted high rankting members control access to any and all information. 

No matter what rank a member is, all are encouraged to spy on one another, and to report anything they deem suspicious of the others : a word, an act, going to a place they aren't supposed to be going, and so on. This creates paranoia, and may also lead to abuse of power and false reports, to gain benefits at the detriment of another. 

All this creates unethical use of confessions and mutual reports. This constant guilt tripping of people and their sings distrupts a person's identity. At worse, it can completely dissolve it, and the person is no longer anything else than a sinner who must atone and make amends in order to save their soul, in prayer, physical punishements, fasting and self-torturing over their frail spiritual constitution. They don't even have a guarentee that their piety will automatically yield forgiveness, and yet, they do it, in the hope that they meet enough  of the requirements. 

Once their funds allow it, most cults will generate their own proapaganda tools, from pamphlets to whole magazines, newsletters and so on, that all memebrs will be bound to read, watch, listen, and be further immersed in the teachings, and further brain-washed, they'll have even less liberties and even understanding of their situation, to a point that they'll be robotized. 

Outside sources are misquotted and used out of context, in attempts to discredit them and bolster the cult's own information... 

Manipulation of memory, possible false memories : this means that members are told things about their past in repeated and constant ways, that they eventually doubt their own memories, and start to embrace the fake ones they have been given, until the latter superceeds reality and the robotized cult follower no longer holds any shread of their older self, which becomes a very distant, untangible and fuzzy memory, fading away in time. This effect last even years after a member has left a cult, we doubt ourselves and our own memories, remaining unsure about details and dates of many events and decisions. 

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