Such an important message! This is why Marjorie Taylor Geeene’s awakening or whatever it was needs to be embraced not ridiculed. Converts need to be welcomed and those detoxing from the KoolAid need compassion and care not denigration. Thank you, Mary!
I practiced motivational interviewing for years while working with homeless individuals and people experiencing mental illness. It can be hard when you believe differently. If you can get past yourself you’re more likely to see positive results.
Social isolation through Fox News, Newsmaxx, and internet rabbit holes help to reinforce the Trump cult credos and alternative reality beliefs. However, the greater reality of Epstein files cover-up, crises in affordability, and all the other betrayal of promises must be eroding their tenets of faith.
Trump exudes escalating fear and anger as his grandiose edicts unravel. He will self destruct if we do not provide distracting "cause celebs" for Trump to attack.
We must defend our rights and liberties, remaining non-violent and peaceful, offering positive reflections on our shared American values and bonds of community.
Thanks for giving a clearer understanding of how cults develop. Having lived in Clearwater, Fl, where the Scientologists rein, watching their devotees marching the streets. I was amazed that even a friend whom I considered extremely intelligent join them while shelling out big bucks to take their “classes.” As you point out, it’s the environment they surround themselves in. Here in northern Georgia, their environment began in their close knit churches where “sin” and other twisted, negative beliefs are driven into the minds of the congregants. Now, their children have caught on, while having faux news broadcasts replay the same narrative. You’re correct that a safe place to help give people a place to reflect safely and try out their own thoughts, including the rejection of those concepts they’ve been provided all these years.
Contempt & ridicule drive people apart. Persuasion is the tool that works in interrogations. We humans are actually very insecure creatures. Coercion is demeaning.
"Political scientists have a name for this, affective polarization, the growing gap between how warmly people feel toward their own party and how coldly they feel toward the other party"
Just because Affective Polarization cuts both ways doesn't mean one side isn't evil, or self-serving, or just plain delusional. That side would be the Congressional Republicans:
THANK YOU for this. I have been trying since the back of beyond to tell my fellow-liberal friends to stop with the "all Republicans are....X" (Stupid, evil, delusional, whatever). The group you talk about as "family always voted" I call Legacy Republicans.
I have two cousins, brothers, who illustrate the difference in response to trump. Genetics and upbringing in a well to do but not wealthy family clearly similar. Similar education, both master's degrees. Both were simply typical Republicans till trump came on the scene. C. dove into the cult and as far as I know is still there; the D. went "whoa back" very soon after the golden escalator. C had always had "liberals are stupid" attitude; D simply supported the mainstream GOP line on foreign policy, government spending, etc.
D actually watched Drump and turned Democrat, though keeping his Catholic faith. (not all Christians are Christianist, needless to say) I do think many legacy Republicans have turned on Drump, and though they may not be able to bring themselves to vote for a Democrat, will NOT vote for Drump or those he endorses.
I also like your advice to avoid trying to persuade with facts and ask questions instead. The suggestion "“What would it cost you not to?”" is a good approach: "what would happen to you personally if X" For example: if Somalis were not deported how would you PERSONALLY be effective. If they go on about fraud, ask if THEY have ever been actually defrauded by an immigrant and if they have (it does happen) listen and then ask if that means all immigrants are fraudsters. Try reductio ad absurdum: so if Mafia members are murderers, does that mean all Italians are murderers? Don't PUSH any of this beyond raising the question: the idea is to hope it finds a crack and cult belief begins to fester.
The main hope, of course, is to pry the non-cult Legacy Republicans away from what their party has become and that has been working (mostly due to Drump excesses rather than us persuasive liberals). Whenever a poll says "68% of Republicans support X just as they did in 2018" I ask "but is that the same number of PEOPLE." 68% of 60 is less than 68% of 100, obviously. A Legacy Republican may never be able to bring themself to register as Dem, but under the Independent label they might be able to choose a Dem candidate.
Interesting. For the numbers of years I have been in the study of The Human /Americanization-Dream the buzz words or phrases change , they capture ‘the times’. Have not read Lipton.
I try some on for size when they appeal, using in sentences, researching the premise, feeling it’s fit.
Seldom does anything but a good foundation -love, structure,responsibility/chores, support, patience …find better words..nor came magically at 18. Appreciating the comfort I grew up in prepared me for the world’s complexity. The time to thank my Mom , stepfather, grandparents, wasn’t granted but it sure enhanced my curiosity , my quest to understand why and how ..it’s a living legacy . People try on things ,see how they fit or wear or feel..and some are attracted to their own weaknesses not out of desire but curiosity. When some one says something that causes my flight or fight reaction…I’m searching for the why, checking my foundation, belief…self. I dont like missing or want to miss…a valuable lesson.
I've lost many a friend to the "cult". This gives me food for thought. Practicing this is going to be very very hard. But I can see what I would be considering as "delicate verbal surgery" as a better possibility than taking a board to someone's head. Tough road ahead.
Check out Daniella Mestyanek Young. She was raised in the cult of children of God and escaped at age 15. She has written two books on cults. after she escaped and went to college she was in the military, which she also shows its cultishness. She knows cults inside and out. Highly recommend.
Such an important message! This is why Marjorie Taylor Geeene’s awakening or whatever it was needs to be embraced not ridiculed. Converts need to be welcomed and those detoxing from the KoolAid need compassion and care not denigration. Thank you, Mary!
Thank you so much for this.
I practiced motivational interviewing for years while working with homeless individuals and people experiencing mental illness. It can be hard when you believe differently. If you can get past yourself you’re more likely to see positive results.
Social isolation through Fox News, Newsmaxx, and internet rabbit holes help to reinforce the Trump cult credos and alternative reality beliefs. However, the greater reality of Epstein files cover-up, crises in affordability, and all the other betrayal of promises must be eroding their tenets of faith.
Trump exudes escalating fear and anger as his grandiose edicts unravel. He will self destruct if we do not provide distracting "cause celebs" for Trump to attack.
We must defend our rights and liberties, remaining non-violent and peaceful, offering positive reflections on our shared American values and bonds of community.
Thanks for giving a clearer understanding of how cults develop. Having lived in Clearwater, Fl, where the Scientologists rein, watching their devotees marching the streets. I was amazed that even a friend whom I considered extremely intelligent join them while shelling out big bucks to take their “classes.” As you point out, it’s the environment they surround themselves in. Here in northern Georgia, their environment began in their close knit churches where “sin” and other twisted, negative beliefs are driven into the minds of the congregants. Now, their children have caught on, while having faux news broadcasts replay the same narrative. You’re correct that a safe place to help give people a place to reflect safely and try out their own thoughts, including the rejection of those concepts they’ve been provided all these years.
Contempt & ridicule drive people apart. Persuasion is the tool that works in interrogations. We humans are actually very insecure creatures. Coercion is demeaning.
"Political scientists have a name for this, affective polarization, the growing gap between how warmly people feel toward their own party and how coldly they feel toward the other party"
Just because Affective Polarization cuts both ways doesn't mean one side isn't evil, or self-serving, or just plain delusional. That side would be the Congressional Republicans:
https://jaywilson1.substack.com/p/profiles-in-cowardice-aeb?r=10sd39
Excellent and informative column, Shanley. Thank you.
THANK YOU for this. I have been trying since the back of beyond to tell my fellow-liberal friends to stop with the "all Republicans are....X" (Stupid, evil, delusional, whatever). The group you talk about as "family always voted" I call Legacy Republicans.
I have two cousins, brothers, who illustrate the difference in response to trump. Genetics and upbringing in a well to do but not wealthy family clearly similar. Similar education, both master's degrees. Both were simply typical Republicans till trump came on the scene. C. dove into the cult and as far as I know is still there; the D. went "whoa back" very soon after the golden escalator. C had always had "liberals are stupid" attitude; D simply supported the mainstream GOP line on foreign policy, government spending, etc.
D actually watched Drump and turned Democrat, though keeping his Catholic faith. (not all Christians are Christianist, needless to say) I do think many legacy Republicans have turned on Drump, and though they may not be able to bring themselves to vote for a Democrat, will NOT vote for Drump or those he endorses.
I also like your advice to avoid trying to persuade with facts and ask questions instead. The suggestion "“What would it cost you not to?”" is a good approach: "what would happen to you personally if X" For example: if Somalis were not deported how would you PERSONALLY be effective. If they go on about fraud, ask if THEY have ever been actually defrauded by an immigrant and if they have (it does happen) listen and then ask if that means all immigrants are fraudsters. Try reductio ad absurdum: so if Mafia members are murderers, does that mean all Italians are murderers? Don't PUSH any of this beyond raising the question: the idea is to hope it finds a crack and cult belief begins to fester.
The main hope, of course, is to pry the non-cult Legacy Republicans away from what their party has become and that has been working (mostly due to Drump excesses rather than us persuasive liberals). Whenever a poll says "68% of Republicans support X just as they did in 2018" I ask "but is that the same number of PEOPLE." 68% of 60 is less than 68% of 100, obviously. A Legacy Republican may never be able to bring themself to register as Dem, but under the Independent label they might be able to choose a Dem candidate.
Interesting. For the numbers of years I have been in the study of The Human /Americanization-Dream the buzz words or phrases change , they capture ‘the times’. Have not read Lipton.
I try some on for size when they appeal, using in sentences, researching the premise, feeling it’s fit.
Seldom does anything but a good foundation -love, structure,responsibility/chores, support, patience …find better words..nor came magically at 18. Appreciating the comfort I grew up in prepared me for the world’s complexity. The time to thank my Mom , stepfather, grandparents, wasn’t granted but it sure enhanced my curiosity , my quest to understand why and how ..it’s a living legacy . People try on things ,see how they fit or wear or feel..and some are attracted to their own weaknesses not out of desire but curiosity. When some one says something that causes my flight or fight reaction…I’m searching for the why, checking my foundation, belief…self. I dont like missing or want to miss…a valuable lesson.
Still.
It’s Monday , I wish you all well 🫶
I've lost many a friend to the "cult". This gives me food for thought. Practicing this is going to be very very hard. But I can see what I would be considering as "delicate verbal surgery" as a better possibility than taking a board to someone's head. Tough road ahead.
Wow! This brilliant essay ranks right up there with Marilynne Robinson's "Tyranny of Petty Coercion."(https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/the-tyranny-of-petty-coercion/) Thank you.
Check out Daniella Mestyanek Young. She was raised in the cult of children of God and escaped at age 15. She has written two books on cults. after she escaped and went to college she was in the military, which she also shows its cultishness. She knows cults inside and out. Highly recommend.