Newsletter: Healing from Undue Influence
And debunking mind control denial
This week’s episode of Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum, “Terror, Love and Brainwashing: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems,” features an interview with Alexandra Stein, PhD, on her book. Alexandra is a former member of a left-wing political cult and an expert specializing in the social psychology of ideological extremism and other dangerous social relationships. We discussed the attachment style of cults and how this relates to the authoritarian cultic following of Trump. It’s a fascinating discussion, and you can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Next week’s episode, “From Supermodel to Cult Survivor: A Story of Purpose and Healing,” will feature an interview with my longtime friend and colleague, Hoyt Richards. We will discuss his journey from football star and supermodel to cult member and, finally, cult survivor and filmmaker.
Last Wednesday, I conducted a free one-hour follow-up Zoom for all clinicians who have completed my online course. We had a Q&A and discussed case studies and the problems of coping with the stresses of current-day events. If you are a clinician who took my online course, you can email the office at center@freedomofmind.com for the link.
We are now offering extra blog posts exclusively to our paid Substack subscribers. In this week’s post, “Errant Beliefs #1: There’s No Such Thing as Mind Control,” is an updated blog post with fresh material and relevance to today’s news. If you aren’t already a paid subscriber, now is an excellent time to become one!
This week’s livestream will be tomorrow, Wednesday, April 16th, at 1-2 p.m. EDT. I welcome everyone to tune in with questions and comments! Last week’s livestream was a great success; you can see the recording here if you missed it.
I was interviewed last Friday on Ukrainian TV to discuss Trump and Putin and their authoritarian tactics. We are waiting for the link to the interview.
Have you ever been part of a group—helpful or harmful? Whether your experience brought healing, harm, or a mix of both, I invite you to take a few minutes to complete my BITE Model of Authoritarian Control™ survey. We’re continuing to collect insights from all types of groups, from high-control environments to healthy, ethical communities. Your story matters. Every submission helps expand our evidence-based understanding of how influence works—for better or worse. And if you’ve been in more than one group, you’re welcome to fill it out multiple times. Thank you for being part of this growing and important effort.
“I do feel we have an obligation to speak up,” Alexandra Stein, PhD said on this episode of Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum, “and it’s tough for people to resist these systems when there is total silence, and that’s what these systems kind of rely on.” Alexandra is a writer and educator specializing in the social psychology of ideological extremism and other dangerous social relationships. She has served in academic posts at the University of Birkbeck, London, the University of Westminster, the University of Minnesota, and was an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Sussex.
Read the blog post or listen to the podcast below:
To effectively help a loved one who any form of mind control has destructively influenced, you must be able to address any existing misconceptions. Many people don’t understand the concept of undue influence or how intelligent, educated individuals can be deceived and recruited into authoritarian groups.
How can you tell if that group your family member has joined is safe? Is your relationship hitting a “rough patch,” or is there actual cause for concern? With this anonymous, easy-to-use diagnostic tool, you can answer simple questions and determine if any group or relationship is beneficial or destructive, ethical or unethical, healthy or unhealthy. And now, you can share your results on your social media if you wish!
As always, please let us know what you think about these pieces or what you’d like to see us discuss in the future. Thanks so much!
