Sorry for the sidetrack, (again), John Hunter, PhD
Back to what you're saying, "Landmark, like LGATs before it, does not explicitly state, “Do not think, and do not challenge what is being said, because it is difficult to manipulate you when you do this”,"
We no, they don't explicitly state that, but you learn very quickly that if you challenge anything, you will spend the next 20 minutes or so being verbally beaten over the head by the Forum leader, which is very aversive. I think they make it more or less a conditioned reflex to just keep one's mouth shut and go along. Yes, I experienced almost all of those things at Landmark.
On to the video: yes, I found the Landmark lawyer laughable, as well, as I recall reading the list of thought-reform tactics, and thought that Landmark fit all of them, though they do try to disguise it.
About the psychologists who said they'd interviewed participants, I would assume that they only bothered with the ones who were enthusiastic. I don't know how they would determine anything from those interviews, though, as to whether or not certain tactics were being used. I recall trying to ask my recruiter about what goes on in the course, and it's just about impossible to get any straight answers, especially in regards to a description of the tactics, (oh, it's experiential"
," etc).
Back to what you're saying, "Landmark, like LGATs before it, does not explicitly state, “Do not think, and do not challenge what is being said, because it is difficult to manipulate you when you do this”,"
We no, they don't explicitly state that, but you learn very quickly that if you challenge anything, you will spend the next 20 minutes or so being verbally beaten over the head by the Forum leader, which is very aversive. I think they make it more or less a conditioned reflex to just keep one's mouth shut and go along. Yes, I experienced almost all of those things at Landmark.
On to the video: yes, I found the Landmark lawyer laughable, as well, as I recall reading the list of thought-reform tactics, and thought that Landmark fit all of them, though they do try to disguise it.
About the psychologists who said they'd interviewed participants, I would assume that they only bothered with the ones who were enthusiastic. I don't know how they would determine anything from those interviews, though, as to whether or not certain tactics were being used. I recall trying to ask my recruiter about what goes on in the course, and it's just about impossible to get any straight answers, especially in regards to a description of the tactics, (oh, it's experiential"
," etc).