The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control
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One of America’s leading experts in cults and mind-control provides an eye-opening analysis of Trump and the indoctrination tactics he uses to build a fanatical devotion in his supporters. Over the past two years, Trump’s behavior has become both more disturbing and yet increasingly familiar. He relies on phrases like, “fake news,” “build the wall,” and continues to spread the divisive mentality of us-vs.-them. He lies constantly, has no conscience, never admits when he is wrong, and projects all of his shortcomings on to others. He has become more authoritarian, more outrageous, and yet many of his followers remain blindly devoted. Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert and a major Trump supporter, calls him one of the most persuasive people living. His need to squash alternate information and his insistence of constant ego stroking are all characteristics of other famous leaders— cult leaders. In The Cult of Trump, mind-control and licensed mental health expert Steven Hassan draws parallels between our current president and people like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Ron Hubbard and Sun Myung Moon, arguing that this presidency is in many ways like a destructive cult. He specifically details the ways in which people are influenced through an array of social psychology methods and how they become fiercely loyal and obedient. Hassan was a former “Moonie” himself, and he draws on his forty years of personal and professional experience studying hypnosis and destructive cults, working as a deprogrammer, and a strategic communications interventionist. He emphasizes why it’s crucial that we recognize ways to identify and protect ourselves and our loved ones. The Cult of Trump is an accessible and in-depth analysis of the president, showing that under the right circumstances, even sane, rational, well-adjusted people can be persuaded to believe the most outrageous ideas. Hassan’s book is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the Trump phenomenon and looking for a way forward.
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Steven Hassan
Reddit Posts and Comments
0 posts • 32 mentions • top 28 shown below
3 points • fansometwoer
Someone should write a book about this.... Oh hang on wait:
https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333
7 points • TistDaniel
This is a tricky subject. For some people, it's enough to simply explain the science behind masks. For other people, this is essentially cult deprogramming.
I don't know where you're from, but here in the United States, we have a political cult feeding people a fictional narrative that science is evil. These people are literally killing themselves for this narrative. They overdose on drugs that they've been told will make them immune to Covid, and they refuse to run to safety as their houses burn down around them because they confuse BLM--the Bureau of Land Management--for Black Lives Matter--the organization their cult tells them is trying to kill them.
Steven Hassan is one of America's leaning experts in cults and brainwashing. He wrote a book The Cult of Trump on this subject, and has done a number of interviews you can watch on youtube. He gives a few tips on cult deprogramming.
For me personally, I wear three to five layers of masks plus safety glasses at work, and I stay away from people who aren't wearing masks. I'm hoping this next election and natural selection will take care of this problem. I'm afraid of escalating things, since there are reports in the news of cultists assaulting and attempting to murder people who say they should be wearing masks.
3 points • ancientastronaut2
There’s literally a book about it
https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333
2 points • AggressiveExcitement
Great summary. There is a book on exactly this subject, The Cult of Trump, written by a cult expert/de-programmer who was previously a member of the Unification Church (the Moonies). I'm less than a quarter of the way in, but he's mentioned NXIVM and drawn parallels several times already. He also draws convincing parallels with Jim Jones and others.
2 points • B-Chaos
You may find this book useful.
2 points • 115MRD
It's not Vox calling Trump supporters a cult, it's former cult members and cult experts. They wrote a book.
1 points • intentsman
The surviving widow from the couple who drank aquarium cleaner said :
"We saw Trump on TV and all of his buddies and that this was safe. Trump kept saying it was basically pretty much a cure."
When did we quit holding cult leaders accountable for guiding cult members to suicide? https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333
3 points • Your_Runaway_Cat
Here you go: https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333
I've not yet read it myself, but he's an expert.
Oh, Jon Ronson also has a book about it, and he's a journalist who has spent a lot of time with various cults and movements: https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Room-Journey-Campaign-Alt-Right-ebook/dp/B01LXOO7UQ
1 points • fivehundredpoundpeep
You think some of them would have waken up by now but it's like a cult, read the book "The Cult of Trump", rational thinking is shut down in them.
https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333
1 points • Wotaworldtochange
What? I did read his comment what point are you failing to make here?
Here’s the amazon link since it’s obvious you need people to hold your hand. Get some fresh air man I get it trying to defend trump is a full time job but get a hobby. It’s sad I keep having to tell you this
Edit: I should have glanced at your history. You’re just a magat. Get help man
1 points • jumpy_monkey
Y'all right. We all get there some days, it's a natural reaction to the circumstances.
To your question though about "why do you follow this fucking creature?!" I've found this to be very illuminating.
1 points • 951753951753
I wouldn't say all Republicans are in a cult. I do see how those that choose to unquestioningly support Trump despite all the available evidence of his poor judgement, leadership, and fake Christianity are showing the same blind faith that JWs are told to cultivate. The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control by Steven Hassan does an good job explaining the methods he uses to control the narrative in his followers minds. It's really sad when you think about it.
1 points • Pixelated_
Trump supporters & Fox News display many of the key characteristics that define a cult.
A popular method of identifying cults is the B.I.T.E. model which has to do with control:
Behavior control
Information control
Thought control
Emotional control
A leading expert on cults named Steven Hassan just wrote a book called "The Cult Of Trump."
1 points • CurlsintheClouds
Here's what I said on another forum:
Watched the entire interview. It's clear what Trump's motive was - his followers will not see what we see. We see a jibbering, jabbering, lying, whining baby. I swear I could see his insecurities just shining through. I think he may be a bit nervous, TBH. We see a smart interviewer and a terrible interviewee with a slight shine of panic just visible beneath his orange exterior.
His followers see Leslie Stahl not answering questions about Biden (we see that it's because this isn't an interview with Biden!). They hear Trump whine that Stahl isn't treating him right, and rather than using their brains to decide the truth of the claim for themselves, they just believe him.
I recently read The Cult of Trump by Steven Hassan, a cult survivor. Trump is clearly the leader of something resembling a cult. The repetition he uses, the key words that stick in your head. The spread of misinformation and lies. Discrediting journalism and news sources. Gaslighting. Noise. Shouting in so many different directions, your head spins. Division, us vs. them, only I can save you....on and on. A good third of our country are blindly following him, so they will see this interview as unfair. And they will say that the fact that 60 Minutes wanted to edit the interview is because they wanted to frame it their own way. While that is true, it's also true that it must be edited for time, for relevance (like the minutes spent complaining about Biden and Hillary), and for the truth in his claims.
His followers won't care. They won't even believe that that's true if you try to convince them. It's just unbelievable, and I am not optimistic.
1 points • Guy954
So you can’t point out where I was mad. Glad we can agree.
By your use of “m8” I’m guessing you’re not American and don’t actually know any of his supporters. I do. They are extremely cult like and this administration is far beyond the blatant corruption and contempt for the common people than we’ve ever had before. I’m not demonizing them, I’m describing them. They reject science, experts and reality in favor of anything he says even when it changes from day to day. Obama was extremely popular but his supporters didn’t go to such drastic extremes.
1 points • Spiralyst
Yes, this is my thought.
You just don't read. Not reading is the reason Trump got elected. Because the general American population is dramatically undereducated.
https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333
1 points • MasterMillwood
>In his upcoming book The Cult of Trump, noted mind control expert Steven Hassan
What's a mind control expert?
2 points • ziddina
Yes he does. That's why Steve Hassan wrote this book about TRump:
https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333
1 points • AhvHalasta
Trump's class status can be described as super-rich (if he or not is another matter lol). Interests of super-rich and working and middle class are different. What benefits the rich, often doesn't benefit lower socioeconomic classes (tax cuts for rich, gutting healthcare for poor). Trump is a businessman, right? Making that sweet doe is the most important thing, right? So who's interest do you think he has in mind?
I guess now we would have to look what makes a cult and what are its definitions. I found on this article which focuses on religious cultism, but it has a few fair points. From the article, lets see how many boxes Trump ticks:
Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton, who once taught at Harvard Medical School, wrote a paper titled Cult Formation in the early 1980s. He delineated three primary characteristics, which are the most common features shared by destructive cults.
1. A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose power. That is a living leader, who has no meaningful accountability and becomes the single most defining element of the group and its source of power and authority.
Check!
No matter what he does or says, he doesn't lose his credibility. In your words: "so we don’t care if he acts like an idiot sometimes". If Republicans would follow the facts and make rational judgements then why rally behind a compulsive liar who says and does mean things day after day, scandal after scandal?
Oh right, he is the chosen one, by God mind you. The only one who can "drain the swamp".
2. A process [of indoctrination or education is in use that can be seen as] coercive persuasion or thought reform [commonly called "brainwashing"]. The culmination of this process can be seen by members of the group often doing things that are not in their own best interest, but consistently in the best interest of the group and its leader.
Check!
I would argue, middle and working class workers voting for a politician that cuts taxes for rich and cuts healthcare for poor is going against their best interests. He has pushed policies that hurt people (immigration) and endanger the world (rollbacks on environmental policies). Again benefiting the rich and hitting hardest on the poor.
3. Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.
Okay, lets say this doesn't apply to him. Still two out of three, not bad. "Grab'em by the pussy!"
I'm not saying you're crazy or all Trump followers are in cult. I pointed out Trumpism is cultish, which to me seems to be the case.
I get it though, USA is so polarized and if you can't stand liberals and the left what choice do you have?
1 points • ThuptenSonamTashi
What does your fiancée think of all of this? You should set some boundaries, and it will be significantly easier if your fiancée has your back. Say something like you enjoy spending time with them, but you won't talk to them about QAnon and conspiracy theories, and then change the subject. QAnon followers tend to be very evangelical about their beliefs (I've heard followers say that they feel it in their hearts that it is their mission to spread news of "the plan"), so it will probably be difficult at first, and it will probably be impossible if your fiancée doesn't have your back. If your in-laws insist on talking about QAnon and start getting combative, then leave. They'll probably get angry and call you a libtard or sheep or something, but you need to firmly set your boundaries and show that you aren't messing around. If your fiancée has your back, and if they want a relationship with you two, then eventually they'll quit discussing it around you.
If that doesn't work, or if your fiancee doesn't have your back (or worst of all, believes it all too), then you could try something similar to the Grey Rock Method. Basically, when Q comes up in conversation, be as boring as possible, refuse to be drawn into arguments, and give short, vague or non-committal replies, and most importantly, remain emotionally detached. If you have to use this method, and especially if your fiancee is or becomes a believer as well, then you really have to question whether the relationship is worth it. Of course, you have a while to figure this all out, and I'm not saying you need to ditch your fiancee or anything like that. But this would basically be a worst case scenario.
QAnon is a full-fledged cult at this point. Steven Hassan, an exit counselor with personal experience in escaping a cult, has discussed this (along with the general cult of personality around Trump) in his book Cult of Trump. People who join the QAnon cult often are drawn in by a sense of helplessness, a desire to "fix the world" or at least a desire for purpose, and they often are mentally unwell. QAnon gives them something that fills that need for purpose without requiring the follower to actually do anything. QAnon also employs a number of thought terminating cliches--more than most cults do, really--and they seem to be quite effective. It is normally next to impossible to reason a cult member out of their beliefs (appeals to emotion don't seem to work well either), but QAnon poses even bigger problems. Thought terminating cliches such as "disinformation is necessary," "no coincidences" and "future proves past" respectively allow followers to ignore conflicting evidence, seek meaning in meaningless things, and reinterpret old Q drops post hoc and ad infinitum (it is very much like the book of Revelation in the bible and apocalyptic Christianity in general). When QAnon's "good guys" do bad things, the phrase "think mirror" allows them to believe that the dEmOcRaTs and LiBeRaLs are actually the ones who are guilty (they really don't understand how mirrors work).
Basically, these people are brainwashed. Cult members do not leave cults unless they form doubts on their own, or in other words, they don't leave cults unless they want to leave their cult. So trying to get through to them or convert them is probably a futile exercise.
1 points • Glengarry_Leads
https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333 fascinating audible but could have been a chapter ahaha so true
1 points • Tangentman123
Been meaning to read this.
https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333
1 points • ahitright
I can recommend 2 resources:
- YouTube series: The Alt Right Playbook
- Book: The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control
The "The Alt Right Playbook" (link) gives you an idea of the kinds of tactics fascists and right-wing extremists (alt-right is an all-encompassing term) taint the public discourse with logically and factually flawed strategies that appeal to more base (lizard brain) instincts. The series gives you an idea of how the alt-right (and Fox News, OAN, Breitbart, Info Wars, etc) operate when it comes to arguments and it is never in good faith.
Also another recommendation is reading "The Cult of Trump" (link) by Steven Hassan, a leading expert in cult mentality. The author actually got recruited and joined the Moonies cult back in the 1970s or 60s I believe and eventually was deprogrammed, going on to study the phenomena of cult mentality. He makes a point to always remain calm, try to point our their flawed thinking by relating it to something else (like how China uses doublethink instead of how Trump does), remain empathetic and never be hostile. Another interesting thing he points out is that literally anyone, no matter how intelligent they are, can become a victim of a cult.
1 points • RusAD
ok, although you made your claim first, so you should present your evidence first
1) an idol. Obviously, Trump. He is viewed as great, doing only the right things and beakon of light in this grim world
2) faith. Things about the idol are believed without evidence or in spite of evidence to the contrary (good businessman despite his businesses going bankrupt, honest man despite having stolen from the charity, etc. bankruptcies and charity sources)
3) devotion. Many make Trump the center of their personality. That's kind of subjective but it's very cult-like.
4) us vs them mentality. Kinda follows from 1. "Trump is good, we are with him, we are good. They are against him, they are bad"
5) fear mongering. "Leftists are Satan worshipping baby-eaters!!!" is not literally what they are fed, but something along those lines
And I'm by no means a cult expert, so I probably missed something. But I've heard this book is good AND written by an expert, but can't guarantee that
1 points • who-me-no
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult
>In modern English, a cult is a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or by its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal.
Yes i know what it means and it is exactly what trump followers are. Mass of brainwashed people following a person who uses lies and deceit to pursue personal benefit at the expence of his followers, who despite seeing that with their own eyes and being told about it still blindly believe in leaders every word. On top of that most devout trump supporters call him reincarnation of Jesus Christ. So which part is not exactly a cult?
EDIT: https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Trump-Leading-Explains-President/dp/1982127333 here buy it and read it.