Analysis of a life decision: a test for manipulation and mind control

How did you contact the people around whom you made your decision:

• They came up to you on the street, invited you to a meeting, a meeting, etc., then it turned out that there was a movement behind this that did not immediately reveal its name, its leader and its goals.
• They came to your home, offered to study the Bible, to talk about topics that were interesting for you.
• Someone from acquaintances, relatives, colleagues insistently invited you to this group, constantly convincing you of how good this would be for you (tremendously valuable, incredibly useful, etc.).
• You yourself have found them in search of something unusual, new.
• You have read some book that is amazingly simple and accessible to answer important questions for you and invited to join the group that embodies these brilliant decisions in life.

In what situation was the decision made:

• In Group.
• Individually.
• Emotionally.
• After a long reflection and analysis.
• Was there someone — one person or group — who pushed for this decision?
• In an environment of strong psychological stress, stress, mental trauma, a difficult life situation.
• In the context of a multi-day training workshop, with a very large amount of new and unusual information.

What and how many sources of information were used when making the decision:

• Many different sources, including critical information about the decision being made.
• Only sources of one group, one author, excluding critical evaluation and comparison.

What information about the consequences of the decision was at your disposal at the time of its adoption

• No.
• Very common and vague.
• Advertising “bright future” without specifying the circumstances of the real path to it.
• You knew well and accurately the conditions of life and the results obtained by several people known to you thanks to a similar decision.

How much time is spent on rejecting previous decisions and making a new decision:

• Several days.
• Few weeks.
• Several months.
• Some years.

Do you know people who made such a decision and then refused it:

• You do not consider it necessary to communicate with them.
• You do not know these.
• You have not thought about it.
• The people around you in the group consider them “traitors”, “fallen”, “immature”, “unworthy”, etc.

Questions for in-depth analysis:

• Do you know reliable scientific data on the mechanisms of psychological influence, manipulation, psychological violence? Have you read the works of professionals and scientists on the psychology of manipulative influence? Do you know the characteristics of your psyche, vulnerable to manipulation? Have you read about specific cases, situations that are vivid examples of manipulation and psychological violence?

P. 128 :

• Do you have the skills of logic and scientific principles of criticism to confidently analyze the proposed texts, lectures, doctrines?
• Do you consider yourself a student, and confidently and smoothly speaking people - teachers?
• Are you able to seek a full and clear answer to your doubts and questions?
• Do you admit that your decision could or may be wrong, did you check in any way the validity of your decision?
• Have you considered the maximum number of options for the possible consequences of your decision?
• How do people, relatives, friends relate to your decision?
• What in your experience, sensations is yours, and what is common, group?
• What have you gained in this experience and what can you do and get results regardless of the group? Can acquired values ​​be your own property outside of your participation in this group?
• Does your decision to join this group, the leader of a “patronizing and rescue” attitude towards all other people who do not share your new beliefs?
• Does not the following of this teaching (leader, group) create almost as many problems as it seems to solve?