Advocacy, brainwashing theories, and new religious movements

Introvigne, Massimo

doi:10.1080/0048721x.2014.888021

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…In 1983, the American Psychological Association created The Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control to investigate whether “brainwashing” or coercive practices played a role in recruitment by new religious movements. The task force report was ultimately rejected because it “lacked scientific rigor” and the association decided that it did not have sufficient information available to take a position on this issue [ 26 ]. Perhaps the definition of extreme overvalued belief better operationalizes this concept of “brainwashing” seen in religious cult movements.…”

Section: Extreme Overvalued Belief: Possible Etiologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme Overvalued Beliefs: How Violent Extremist Beliefs Become “Normalized”

Rahman

2018

Behavioral Sciences

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Extreme overvalued beliefs (EOB) are rigidly held, non-deusional beliefs that are the motive behind most acts of terrorism and mass shootings. EOBs are differentiated from delusions and obsessions. The concept of an overvalued idea was first described by Wernicke and later applied to terrorism by McHugh. Our group of forensic psychiatrists (Rahman, Resnick, Harry) refined the definition as an aid in the differential diagnosis seen in acts of violence. The form and content of EOBs is discussed as well as group effects, conformity, and obedience to authority. Religious cults such as The People’s Temple, Heaven’s Gate, Aum Shinrikyo, and Islamic State (ISIS) and conspiracy beliefs such as assassinations, moon-hoax, and vaccine-induced autism beliefs are discussed using this construct. Finally, some concluding thoughts on countering violent extremism, including its online presence is discussed utilizing information learned from online eating disorders and consumer experience.

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Section: Extreme Overvalued Belief: Possible Etiologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme Overvalued Beliefs: How Violent Extremist Beliefs Become “Normalized”

Rahman

2018

Behavioral Sciences

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“…In 1983, the American Psychological Association created The Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control to investigate whether "brainwashing" or coercive practices played a role in recruitment by new religious movements. The task force report was ultimately rejected because it "lacked scientific rigor" and the association decided that it did not have sufficient information available to take a position on this issue (26).…”

Section: Mass Suicides Cults and Obedience To Authoritymentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme Overvalued Beliefs

Rahman¹,

Mukherji²

2017

Preprint

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13Psychiatry needs operational definitions to appreciate differences seen in idiosyncratic, psychotic 14 thinking, and shared subcultural beliefs or ideologies. Carl Wernicke first described overvalued idea in 151906. The concept has been applied to describe it as a motive in mass shootings and terrorism. We review 16 the concept of overvalued idea and extreme overvalued belief as a basis for making the distinction 17 between delusions and non-delusions. 18Keywords: psychosis; delusion; over valued idea; terrorism; mass shootings; violence; forensic psychiatry 19 20 Psychiatry lacks operational definitions to differentiate idiosyncratic, psychotic thinking from 21 shared subcultural beliefs or ideologies. Rigidly-held non-delusional beliefs are an important 22 aspect behind the motive for many global and homegrown violent and terrorist attacks (1). The 23 fact that no particular sociodemographic information has been found to be associated with this 24 often aberrant behavior requires new strategies to be developed. Terrorism is a behavior that 25 Peer-reviewed version available at Behav. Sci. 2018, 8, 10; doi:10.3390/bs8010010 comes with enormous direct and indirect costs-lost lives, expensive counter-terrorism 26 programs, political division, loss of civil liberties, and psychological disorders (2). A literature 27 search on the topic of primary prevention of terrorism and mass shootings reveals strikingly little 28 scholarly academic work by psychiatrists. Media often erroneously report a terrorist attack as 29 based on delusional thinking, obsessional thinking or psychosis. This article reviews the concept 30 of over-valued idea, first defined by Carl Wernicke and later applied to terrorism as an important 31 area of psychopathology with important implications for both forensic evaluations and primary 32 prevention of terrorism and mass shootings. 33 Extreme Overvalued Beliefs 34There has previously been a lack of agreement as to what precisely constitutes an over-35 valued idea (3). Consensus regarding definitions is helpful to facilitate research and the 36 development of innovative strategies. In 2016, our group of forensic psychiatrists (Rahman, 37 Peer-reviewed version available at Behav. Sci. 2018, 8, 10; doi:10.3390/bs8010010 This definition expands on what was first described as Ueberwerthige Idee (overvalued 50 idea) by Carl Wernicke in Gundriss der Psychiatrie (1906) and later invoked by then 51 psychiatrist-in-chief Paul McHugh at Johns Hopkins in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks (4). 52 FBI trained forensic behavioral specialist Matt Logan also discusses this concept in Lone Wolf 53 Killers: A Perspective on Overvalued Ideas (5). 54Wernicke is honored by having his name describe a type of aphasia, but his psychiatric 55 contributions have largely been neglected. Gundriss der Psychiatrie was recently translated 56 from German into English. In his classical description of overvalued idea, Wernicke stated that 57 "special conditions must prevail before such overemphasis takes o...

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“…Anthony and other scholars (including this author) helped develop several statements and amicus curiae briefs criticizing proffered brainwashing testimony for professional organizations in several significant cases. See Ginsburg and Richardson (1998) and see Introvigne (2014) and Richardson (2014a) for recent statements assessing the efficacy of brainwashing claims. 24 This TM decision was even more telling than the Fishman decision because the burden of proof is much lower in civil cases ("preponderance of the evidence" vs. "beyond a reasonable doubt" in criminal cases).…”

Section: Religious Freedom In America: Legislation and Jurisprudencementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing Religion and the Judicialization of Religious Freedom

Richardson

2015

Scientific Study of Religion

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Religious freedom is a highly valued goal for many citizens and political leaders around the world, especially in Western‐oriented nations. Much ink has been spilled in defense of religious freedom and many have waxed eloquent about the virtues of promoting religious freedom. Most constitutions and other international documents around the world guarantee religious freedom even if those guarantees are sometimes honored in the breach. Why this focus on religious freedom is occurring and how it is being addressed are the focus of this article.

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Advocacy, brainwashing theories, and new religious movements

Cited by 11 publications

References 6 publications

Extreme Overvalued Beliefs: How Violent Extremist Beliefs Become “Normalized”

Extreme Overvalued Beliefs: How Violent Extremist Beliefs Become “Normalized”

Extreme Overvalued Beliefs

Managing Religion and the Judicialization of Religious Freedom

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