Deconstructing Cults and Undue Influence with Steven Hassan

Steven Hassan, PhD, is a licensed mental health professional, a recognized expert on cults and undue influence, and possesses professional experience both in the US and abroad. Over the course of his 47-year career, Dr. Hassan has assisted numerous individuals and families in their recovery from undue influence. He is highly sought after as one of the foremost authorities on the subject of undue influence by both controlling groups and individuals. Steve possesses a unique perspective, having experienced life as a former cult member who was successfully deprogrammed in 1976, and as a clinical professional who has dedicated his life to aiding others in similar situations. To reach him about an issue you might be concerned about contact him at: freedomofmind.com.
Steven Hassan shares his personal experience of being in a cult and how he escaped. He discusses the concept of undo influence and the importance of psychoeducation to combat it. He emphasizes the need for nuanced thinking when it comes to cults and the influence continuum.
00:46 Introduction and personal experience in a cult
05:20 Escaping from the Moonie cult
10:00 Continued learning and the concept of undue influence
14:55 Is there a true self or are we only social constructions?
16:49 Raising heathy children without a screen
23:46 Ethical influence and the influence continuum
38:40 Focusing on planetary survival
41:50 Creating ground rules for talking to “the other”
45:00 Building relationships based on respect and understanding
50:45 The Twin Flame cult & forced gender changes
55:36 Conclusion
Guest host, Debra Lynne Katz, PhD, is author of You Are Psychic: The Art of Clairvoyant Reading and Healing, Extraordinary Psychic: Proven Techniques to Master Your Natural Psychic Abilities, and Freeing the Genie Within: Manifesting Abundance, Creativity, and Success in Your Life. She is co-author, with Jon Knowles, of Associative Remote Viewing: The Art and Science of Predicting Outcomes for Sports, Politics, Finances, and the Lottery. Debra currently serves as President of the International Remote Viewing Association. She founded the International School of Clairvoyance in 2005 and offers a variety of online courses in intuitive development. Her website is www.debrakatz.....
(Recorded on June 18, 2024)
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[@ron_amok369]

Outstanding. Pertinent and timely. Especially appreciate the mention of the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ - that is rare. So much packed in this conversation. Thank you, Debra and Steven - and the NTA team.

[@helenebuntman6082]

What I came away with is how Critical thinking skills are not wholly embraced or taught in much of our culture. From a metaphysical perspective, I would love to know why we are in this thought crisis of manipulation. It's somewhat frightening to learn of the mass manipulation of our minds and beliefs. To me this would be a fabulous exploration for remote viewers to look at why this is happening and what the outcome might be. Good interview, Debra. Thanks for bringing him on to NTA. I was recruited twice by cult members in my youth, but a strong sense of sense and intuition made me run as fast as I could. Others aren't as lucky because the techniques are too powerful.

[@nonMuggle]

I’ve used Dr. Hassan’s BITE Model in my psychotherapy practice for years. Extraordinarily helpful. Thanks for this interview!

[@PAT1000-yu4xr]

this is one of the best talks I have seen on NTA. Many thanks!

[@mortalclown3812]

One of the most important conversations on NTA. Thanks.

[@pg9896]

Agree 100% !

[@MissionMan69]

A great conversation. On a topic which still lacks critical information nowadays. Thank you so much 👍.

[@lois659]

The reason I enjoy Psychology is the comfort that is experienced from “Know Thyself”. Keeping present to critical thinking can also help to sort out our suggestibility foibles. Thanks!

[@SweetSunrising]

Always look for double standards and a fixation on a specific narrative. That’s the only way for me to determine I’ve taken bait. The ‘climate denialism’ narrative is the best example for looking at double standards such as from green industry leaders in this case, to determine whether or not you’ve bought into propaganda. For example, China’s at the forefront of green industry manufacturing, on the board of global climate initiatives, while fully empowering its economy with our fossil fuels we banned for ourselves, and makes profit from manufacturing our green energy sector. Is green energy bad in general? No not at all. But its energy producing products & EV batteries have the same amount of environmental issues. There’s more push by lawmakers to adapt a communist-style surveillance policy on people’s lives instead of incentives to improve design, performance and environmental health of both green energy manufacturing and methods of producing and using fossil fuels. Why not both. There’s also a LOT of issues around “humans bad” fixation in climatology topics. And firearms. I’ve seen too many lawmakers a few years ago have zero problem with marxist militias hold sections of cities hostage and patrolling with machine guns.

[@VelmaDrape]

Great questions! Great answers! Thank you so much for this very interesting interview!!

[@rosieoneill3498]

This could use a trigger warning, I don't expect to find such controversial politcal content on this channel, very upset

[@SweetSunrising]

I thought the same thing!

[@RC-dx6vu]

Might I ask you on which particular theme pls?

[@joob40]

It's about cult ideology and you didn't think it might discuss politics?? 😱😱 I was HOPING they would include the political cults!

[@justbeachee]

Really? If we can't hear outside our tribal ideology... we really needed to hear this!

[@Silvertestrun]

Thank you!

[@celt456]

Interesting topic and very informative. Also, though, I found it interesting that this interviewee posed a few of his political views as facts - perhaps in a similar way that cult leaders espouse their own 'truths' so confidently to those who listen.

[@carolbonfield8622]

Did you do Teshuvah after leaving thr cult?

[@RichHandsome]

Isn’t Hassan an Arabic last name?

[@kamalkaze]

It is, but his name is actually pronounced hass-an, not ha-san, so it may just be spelled similarly but have different roots.

[@RichHandsome]

@@kamalkaze I learned something new today!