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Steven Hassan's BITE Model of Authoritarian Control - Freedom of Mind Resource Center .wpb_animate_when_almost_visible { opacity: 1; } Skip to content 1 (617) 396-4638 Contact Us Request a Consult Subscribe to our Newsletter ×search  Home About Us Menu Toggle About Us Steven Hassan, PhD Menu Toggle Press Kit My Life in the Unification Church Pictures Opportunities Strategic Interactive Approach Menu Toggle Cult Deprogramming vs. Strategic Interactive Approach Strategic Interaction Approach (SIA) – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Recent Media Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Endorsements Services Menu Toggle Services Intervention & Recovery Menu Toggle Intervention Services Recovery Services Education Menu Toggle Workshops Training Testifying & Consulting Expert Menu Toggle Litigation Consulting, Expert Witness, and Other Professional Case Consultation Estate Planning Advice Podcast Books Menu Toggle All Books Which Book Should I Read? 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Combating Cult Mind Control – Book Releasing the Bonds – Book Freedom of Mind – Book The Cult of Trump – Book Menu Toggle Media Page Book Signing Cult of Trump: Digital Images Handout Infographic Courses Menu Toggle All Courses Understanding Cults: A Foundational Course for Clinicians Understanding Cults: The Basics Learn About Undue Influence Menu Toggle Learn More Undue Influence Influence Continuum BITE Model Malignant Narcissism Negative Issues Experienced Violent Extremism Human Trafficking Controlling Relationships Parental Alienation Resources Menu Toggle Dissertation Videos Group Information Resource Links Blog Contact Us Menu Toggle Contact Us Media Inquiries and Press Kit Steven Hassan’s BITE Model of Authoritarian Control Dissertation published January 2021: “The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control: Undue Influence, Thought Reform, Brainwashing, Mind Control, Trafficking and the Law” https://www.proquest.com/docview/2476570146/ Many people think of mind control as an ambiguous, mystical process that cannot be defined in concrete terms.  In reality, mind control refers to a specific set of methods and techniques, such as hypnosis or thought-stopping, that influence how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Based on research and theory by Robert Jay Lifton, Margaret Singer, Edgar Schein, Louis Jolyon West, and others who studied brainwashing in Maoist China as well as cognitive dissonance theory by Leon Festinger, Steven Hassan developed the BITE Model to describe the specific methods that cults use to recruit and maintain control over people.  “BITE” stands for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control. Behavior Control Regulate individual’s physical reality Dictate where, how, and with whom the member lives and associates or isolates When, how and with whom the member has sex Control types of clothing and hairstyles Regulate diet – food and drink, hunger and/or fasting Manipulation and deprivation of sleep Financial exploitation, manipulation or dependence Restrict leisure, entertainment, vacation time Major time spent with group indoctrination and rituals and/or self indoctrination including the Internet Permission required for major decisions Rewards and punishments used to modify behaviors, both positive and negative Discourage individualism, encourage group-think Impose rigid rules and regulations Punish disobedience by beating, torture, burning, cutting, rape, or tattooing/branding Threaten harm to family and friends Force individual to rape or be raped Encourage and engage in corporal punishment Instill dependency and obedience Kidnapping Beating Torture Rape Separation of Families Imprisonment Murder Information Control Deception:a. Deliberately withhold informationb. Distort information to make it more acceptablec. Systematically lie to the cult member Minimize or discourage access to non-cult sources of information, including:a. Internet, TV, radio, books, articles, newspapers, magazines, mediab. Critical informationc. Former membersd. Keep members busy so they don’t have time to think and investigatee. Control through cell phone with texting, calls, internet tracking Compartmentalize information into Outsider vs. Insider doctrinesa. Ensure that information is not freely accessibleb. Control information at different levels and missions within groupc. Allow only leadership to decide who needs to know what and when Encourage spying on other membersa. Impose a buddy system to monitor and control memberb. Report deviant thoughts, feelings and actions to leadershipc. Ensure that individual behavior is monitored by group Extensive use of cult-generated information and propaganda, including:a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audiotapes, videotapes, YouTube, movies and other mediab. Misquoting statements or using them out of context from non-cult sources Unethical use of confessiona. Information about sins used to disrupt and/or dissolve identity boundariesb. Withholding forgiveness or absolutionc. Manipulation of memory, possible false memories Thought Control Require members to internalize the group’s doctrine as trutha. Adopting the group’s ‘map of reality’ as realityb. Instill black and white thinkingc. Decide between good vs. evild. Organize people into us vs. them (insiders vs. outsiders) Change person’s name and identity Use of loaded language and clichés which constrict knowledge, stop critical thoughts and reduce complexities into platitudinous buzz words Encourage only ‘good and proper’ thoughts Hypnotic techniques are used to alter mental states, undermine critical thinking and even to age regress the member Memories are manipulated and false memories are created Teaching thought-stopping techniques which shut down reality testing by stopping negative thoughts and allowing only positive thoughts, including:a. Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinkingb. Chantingc. Meditatingd. Prayinge. Speaking in tonguesf. Singing or humming Rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism Forbid critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy allowed Labeling alternative belief systems as illegitimate, evil, or not useful Instill new “map of reality” Emotional Control Manipulate and narrow the range of feelings – some emotions and/or needs are deemed as evil, wrong or selfish Teach emotion-stopping techniques to block feelings of homesickness, anger, doubt Make the person feel that problems are always their own fault, never the leader’s or the group’s fault Promote feelings of guilt or unworthiness, such as:a. Identity guiltb. You are not living up to your potentialc. Your family is deficientd. Your past is suspecte. Your affiliations are unwisef. Your thoughts, feelings, actions are irrelevant or selfishg. Social guiltf. Historical guilt Instill fear, such as fear of:a. Thinking independentlyb. The outside worldc. Enemiesd. Losing one’s salvatione. Leaving or being shunned by the groupf. Other’s disapprovalf. Historical guilt Extremes of emotional highs and lows – love bombing and praise one moment and then declaring you are horrible sinner Ritualistic and sometimes public confession of sins Phobia indoctrination: inculcating irrational fears about leaving the group or questioning the leader’s authoritya. No happiness or fulfillment possible outside of the groupb. Terrible consequences if you leave: hell, demon possession, incurable diseases, accidents, suicide, insanity, 10,000 reincarnations, etc.c. Shunning of those who leave; fear of being rejected by friends and familyd. Never a legitimate reason to leave; those who leave are weak, undisciplined, unspiritual, worldly, brainwashed by family or counselor, or seduced by money, sex, or rock and rolle. Threats of harm to ex-member and family Destructive mind control can be determined when the overall effect of these four components promotes dependency and obedience to some leader or cause; it is not necessary for every single item on the list to be present. Like many techniques, it is not inherently good or evil.  If mind control techniques are used to empower an individual to have more choice, and authority for their life remains within themselves, the effects can be beneficial. For example, benevolent mind control can be used to help people quit smoking without affecting any other behavior.  Mind control becomes destructive when it undermines a person’s ability to think and act independently. For more, please download this detailed handout on The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control. Watch What is a Cult? Whiteboard Animation Using the BITE Model To learn more read Combating Cult Mind Control  which explores cult psychology, curing the mind control virus, how to protect people you care about and strategies for recovery. The BITE Model is designed to be used along with the Influence Continuum model. Contact us to inquire about setting up a training workshop for your organization. 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