Newsletter: Moving Forward into 2025 with Hope and Determination
It’s essential to keep working for the freedom of mind of all!
Happy New Year, everybody!
Although many people like to use the last post of a year to look back, I prefer to look forward to the future and the challenges ahead. There are dangers on the horizon, but there is also hope, and it is imperative to keep an optimistic mindset as we move forward - if we work together and lift each other up, we can ensure a better future. Part of the way to ensure a better future is to keep ourselves educated; if you haven’t already seen my recent post, “My Top 2024 Books,” you’ll definitely want to check it out. An intellectually challenging and diverse reading list is one of the best ways to stay informed, educated, and mentally active.
This week’s Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum podcast features Eli Somer, Ph.D., professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Haifa School of Social Work, who is an. Somer is an expert on dissociation and hypnosis. We discussed his research on maladaptive daydreaming, a dissociative disorder characterized by excessive, immersive daydreaming that disrupts daily functioning. If you’ve ever felt yourself stuck in your own thoughts and unable to move forward, you will find this talk enlightening and informative.
Next week’s podcast will feature an interview with attorney Carol Merchasin, who specializes in representing survivors of sexual misconduct in cults and spiritual communities. She is an amazing woman who has done a great deal of good in the cult survivor community and has some fascinating insights to share. The talk will be available on my podcast, and the blog post will be here on Substack on January 6th, with the video interview embedded.
My colleague David Troy recently published an article in the journal America 2.0 entitled “Thought Reform and the Remaking of Trumpism.” It’s a thorough analysis of the changes taking place in the MAGA movement, viewed through the lens of Lifton’s Eight Criteria of Thought Reform and how Elon Musk is using manipulative thought reform techniques to gain control of the movement. Troy also cites my book, Cult of Trump.
Have you tried to fill out bitemodel.com yet? Please consider doing so for healthy relationships and groups, too! And give the name of the healthy group. If you have been involved in multiple groups, you can do multiple entries. We wish to collect a database- especially of authoritarian groups, of course.
Due to the holiday season and work commitments, we will skip a few weeks and return to our regularly scheduled livestream on January 15th, 2025. Between now and the 15th, we might do some live streaming on other days and times. Stay tuned.
For folks who live in western Massachusetts, I agreed to do a talk at the Forbes Library in Northampton at 6 pm on January 15th. I will do a short talk as I wish to answer people’s questions. I really like interacting with folks.
May you all have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and a prosperous and joyous 2025!
As we approach the end of 2024, it's an opportune moment to reflect on literature that has profoundly influenced my own understanding of society, power, and individual agency. The five books I’ve chosen to recommend have not only provided deep insights into pressing issues, but also resonate with the principles of ethical influence and personal freedom that I advocate through the Freedom of Mind Resource Center.
Trauma causes many issues for survivors, whether the trauma was sustained in one event or many events over many years. Cult survivors exhibit symptoms of trauma ranging from PTSD and trust issues to guilt and shame. Some trauma symptoms develop because of the defense mechanisms our minds employ to save us from the trauma. The DSM-V-TR lists brainwashing and cult coercive persuasion as a dissociative disorder. As an expert on dissociation and hypnosis, I wanted to learn from Eli Somer, Ph.D., professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Haifa School of Social Work.
Read the blog post or listen to the podcast below:
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 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!
Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued dedication and service to our community and country. During Dr Heather Cox Richardson’s live fee today she talked about agency ~ we have agency going forward into 2025. We have freedom of mind going forward into 2025! Because of Dave Troy’s article you mentioned I am reading Margaret Wheatley’s book. Seems to be a common theme ~ we have agency, freedom of mind and John Trudell emphasized We are power.