What is happening when level-headed, skeptical urbanites are coming out of Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) programs babbling strange phrases, relentless recruiting their friends and family, and doing hours and hours of volunteer work for a profit organization? I had the opportunity to attend one day of a 3 day workshop and piece together some thoughts on how this conversion takes place.

IF JESUS WERE THE DEVIL
If I were to ever meet the Devil, he would look good, smell good, and be quoting the Bible impeccably. The best way to disguise manipulation and control is to teach integrity and freedom.

Along with everyone else in the room on this cold New York winter morning, I had signed up for this LGAT program on the insistence of a close friend. She had not only taken the beginner's course I was enrolled in, but had gone on to spend thousands of dollars on the advanced course, supplementary courses, volunteer her time working the phones at the center, and paying completely or partially for her friends and family to take the coursework as well. Initially I was impressed with the impact the course had on her communication skills, but grew concerned when she started doing the volunteer work. I pointed out volunteer work is something you do for non-profits, not for companies that are turning a profit off of your volunteer work. My second red flag before the course was the schedule. 9am to midnight for 3 days, Friday through Sunday. From my college days, I knew what sleep deprivation caused: heightened emotions, vulnerability, and potentially psychosis. I had insisted to my friend a few days before, as she called me from the center during her phone shift to give me the introductory information, that I wouldn't be staying the all day each day. She is usually someone who always encourages me to do whatever it takes to take care of my health, so it surprised me when she wanted me to make an exception for this 3 day class, saying it was important that I not miss any of the information. I insisted that I get the sleep I need, particularly when being exposed to massive amounts of new information. Not only sleep, but also time for reflection, to think about the new material being taught. She accused me of being disagreeable on the matter, and the conversation ended.

There was a group of 100 plus new people, a dozen volunteers who had already taken the coursework, and a group leader who I later discovered was the only person in the room being paid for his work. The man was on a stage and amplified by a wireless microphone. He was manic at times, shouting out parts of jokes or phrases, asking questions, and encouraging comments. He was attractive, had glasses which made him look intelligent, well-spoken, and somewhat ageless. He could have been in his late 20's or his early 50's. He had an attendant, a lead volunteer who was taking care of the legistical matters such as finding seats for latecomers and addressing individuals needs. I have a blood sugar imbalance, so I was instructed to tell this lead attendant that I'd be taking more breaks than the usual ones, to which she gave me a cold affirmative. These people were chosen for their positions because of the their personalities, appearance and demeanor, similar to a "Good Cop, Bad Cop" scenario. He was charismatic, she ran the boring legistics.

The first part of the day was spent addressing skepticism and open-mindedness. "Are we open to what is going on here?" was asked over and over, seemingly rhetorical at times. The leader started learning peoples names and encouraging people to come up to microphones placed on either side of the stage to share their thoughts, questions, or skepticism. In sociology this is called "cooling off the vent", a process of inviting skepticism and dissent in the beginning, so people get it out of their systems and feel like they've been heard. Obviously not allowing any talk of skepticism to a 3-day "transformation" program would be seen as authoritarian and censorship. "It's OK", they say, "let it out."

A vibe of acceptance and welcoming began to enter the room, intermingling with the skepticism and in some cases persuading it away. People start to share personal stories with a candor you wouldn't hear at the workplace or even at home. The format keeps changing, from a question and answer time on the microphones, to the leader advancing the discussion of the program, usually reading from a script in a way that allows him to have funny and interesting asides. He's confident, loud, and knows everything about the program we know nothing about.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM
The created environment does it's best to induce this transformation. One thing is sleep deprivation, which increases emotional volume and suggestibility, weakening of old belief systems. That's why most people's "transformations" happen on day 3. Least amount of sleep, living off of snacks, and an air of mania. Also important is the strength of the group. Seeing other people believe and experience a transformation, some of whom have taken the course before. The more people who do it, the easier it is for you to do it. It creates a safe place to really express honestly what a person thinks about their life, what their real motives have been. It's encouraging to find out the most people have the same insecurities and failabilities.

As for the format, there is a system and a structure. The system is the method of teaching and what is taught. The content is different each session/weekend because the people are different. Each time brings new stories and dramas. The prodding, the suggestions, the guidance are similar each week, helping people come to similar conclusions. There is no note taking, so the focus is very experiential. There is nothing physical that comes back with you, except some vague handouts which have little meaning outside of the context. The forum is an experience, set up as something that cannot be defined or contained, so as it's not easily repeatable outside of that structure. People walk away with the idea of "Oh, it just works." It's "magical" without really being able to explain why. That was one of the challenges I faced when sitting down to write this article. Fortunately I have been exposed to ideas about psychology and sociology all my life because of my parents' occupations. I was able to have an insight into what was happened to us that my fellow attendee may not have had. Here are my findings on this LGAT and the methods they use to lure in, manipulate, and control people:

THE EROSION OF CRITICAL THINKING
Method 1: Massive amounts of information at a rapid pace
During one of the times the leader is discussing the program, he mentions that some people have accused this LGAT of being a cult, and that it brainwashes people. "Brainwashing, what's that?" he jokes, and goes on to a clear, assertive statement that type of thing doesn't happen here. Before I could think, "what sort of proof did he give?" he's gone on to the next topic. The pace gets set. Tremendous amounts of information, an overload of program details, introductions to program talk, then microphone time and more stories or questions. This constant pace made it very difficult to take any time to digest, reflect, or scrutinize the material I was hearing. And this was day one, when I was fully slept and alert.

Method 2: No writing
I thought to start taking notes on concepts or practices that didn't seem right to me, but soon that was discouraged. The leader spotted someone in the front row taking notes and saying there was no need. There would be a handout later (which later proved to be vague and unhelpful), and it's more important to sit back, relax, and be present. This was like learning to ride a bike, experiential. He made a joke "Who here took notes when learning to ride a bike? (Laughter) and what good now are those old geometry notes from high school? (More laughter)" So I found myself laughing at his jokes and sitting back like I was watching television. Great, this isn't like class. He had brilliantly and charmingly gotten 100 plus people to not use on the most important tools for critical thinking and reflection: writing. The lack of writing leads to that feeling of magic, that we were transformed but couldn't later convey to someone else outside of that room how it worked.

Method 3: No time for reflection
The first break came around noon. I thought that would be a good time to think about all the information I had heard in the morning, time to think about what was valid and what wasn't. As we prepared to leave, an assignment was given to meet 3 new people from the course. I wasn't that interested in doing that, nor the homework I knew they'd be handing out at midnight, due the next morning. I was more interested in taking care of myself by eating a good meal. I went to get lunch with my friend's mother, who was taking the course with me, also paid for by my friend. I found her and we went next door to a diner. Before we could really discuss what we thought about what was going on in the course, 2 other people from the program came up to us to complete their assignment, introducing themselves to us and joining us for lunch. Next thing I knew, the half hour break was coming to a close, and I hadn't a moment to reflect because one of the new women I met had taken the course before and was going on and on about how much the program had transformed her life. Here I was getting the sales pitch from an attendee, not a staff member.

Earlier, I had heard some participants give some replies to the leader that seemed too canned. I even made a joke to the person next to me that some participants were planted. Initially a joke, I was later surprised to learn that a number of people I met that day had already taken this supposedly "one-time" beginner's course. I later found out they are given a discount, and they can help coach the real beginner's.

When we returned, we were encouraged to sit somewhere new in order to get to know new people. A good idea, I thought, because it helps everyone break out of their shell and work on their social skills. But it is also used to reduce reflection and critical thinking. On each break I met someone new and shared with them something I thought was askew with what was going on. If I kept sitting next to the same person, that type of critical thinking could continue as a dialog of two minds, despite the information overload. Since each time I'd be sitting next to someone new, the critical thinking is considered briefly, then its progress lost in the next new introduction.

Method 4: Merging Critical Thinking with Self-Defeating Thinking
Later in the day, a part of the coursework discussed the ongoing dialog we have in our heads. It accurately described how humans viewed the world and always think, label, and judge what we see. The leader kept saying that this isn't good or bad, but this is just what we do. An accurate description of the human thought process well. Then he indicated that we weren't born that way, that we picked up this method of thinking "hook, line, and sinker." First he said this wasn't a good or a bad thing, but now described it as a way of thinking we got scammed into doing as a child. A clearly negative association. The leader went on to talk about this way of thinking as judgmental and self-defeating. Certainly I could relate. After making a mistake, I would sometimes judge myself with words like "I'm such an jerk." Who need's that type of thinking?, I agreed.

A man came up to the microphone and pointed out that we need this type of internal dialog to distinguish and decide right from wrong. Instead of addressing this very valid point, the leader shifting the discussion away from the content of the question to the method of thinking behind the question. "See how this question fits into our thinking that everything has to be right or wrong, should or shouldn't, good or bad!" the leader shouted, drowning out the presence of the man and his question. Everyone agreed. We really do think like that.

The question was sidestepped effectively and without much thought. The voice in our head became a single phenomenon. No longer was there a distinction between the self-defeating thoughts which any healthy person would like to give up, and critical thinking which allows each person to decide whether this program is right or wrong for them.

Also, as the leader is consistently right about how we think and act, everyone starts to see the leader as being smart and right. So as the process continues, it's not a far jump from being right about the way human's communicate, to being right in general. He later then becomes a source of guidance and advice, and his advice of course includes spending more money on the advanced classes and bringing your friend's and family to the introduction.

Method 5: The Shifts Between Content and Structure
In looking back, this shift from content to structure, content being the personal stories, questions and comments, and the structure being the leader's discussion of the program and lessons, is a key part of preventing critical thinking. Not only is there massive amounts of information, but just as I was about to get clarity on this brand new material, we shifted to a personal story and I was wrapped up in the person's candor. And if the content ever began to criticize or question the program, like the man pointing out the need for critical thinking, the leader shifted the focus back to the structure. The content was sidestepped by pointing out how the content fits into the structure rather than addressing the content directly.

Method 6: A New Language
We were being introduced to all sorts of new definitions for existing words. I kept thinking, "Why don't they just use existing English definitions?" Several factors play into why the new language is used.

They justify this by saying a new language is necessary to break into a new way of thinking and living free. However, using different definitions for existing words, at it's core, is divisive. When I'm now back at home, or work, or in my community, I have a different language which my family, co-workers, and neighbors don't understand. I get a feeling of uniqueness, as well as specialness. I then have a bond with those I took the class with, because they know what I'm talking about, vs. "those who don't get it."

I had dinner with a woman who unintentionally gave me further insight into the matter. She said, "It's really best if all of your friends and family take the class so you have a common language." The recruitment aspect of it became clear to me.

Finally, by introducing a new language, it makes the crowd speechless. The leader, who is very knowledgeable about language, can always trump and correct an attendee. This is power, the power of commanding language. So as we are sitting there, busily trying to translate our next thought into the new speak, it doesn't give us time to have critical thinking.

Method 7: Sleep Deprivation
As someone who used to stay up a lot during my college years, I know the effects of sleep deprivation well. With a schedule of 15 hours of class time, a late night commute (the trains are infrequent that late at night), and homework, including calling loved ones to share your transformation, the LGAT consumes most of the hours in the day. Any sane human starts getting wacked out after a few days of poor sleep. Just take a look at grad students. Now add that to 15 hours days of sitting, being told messages over and over, amplified by microphone. Now add a 100 people around you, crying and reliving moments from their past, talking about their transformations. It's an insane environment and awfully easy to cry, get emotional, and feel like a dramatic shift is happening in your psyche.

Talking to participants who took the class years ago, they said they felt different for a few weeks, then returned to reality. Some people who stay close to the LGAT persist in a place where they think their world has changed, but not much has actaully changed except they now spend their free time volunteering for this profit organization and recruiting family, friends and co-workers to the program.

Sleep deprivation is a powerful method and has been used for centuries in human manipulation. It accesses a part of our psyche that is vulnerable, susceptible, emotional, defenseless and not logical. This is the key to the 3 day hazing. Crack people open and instill some valuable tools that are barbed with a hook that perpetuates money spent on the course, donation of free time to make the organization more money, and recruitment of new attendees.

A torrent of methods were hitting us. We were being overloaded with fast, new talk, and lots of it. We were cleverly discouraged from taking notes. Between the rigorous 15 hour schedule, short breaks, assignments, and nightly homework, there's no time for reflection either during or after the day's coursework. And meanwhile the pressure to commit is slowly increased throughout the course.

THE INCREASE OF COMMITMENT AND CONTROL
It began as a discussion of being open minded. No one wants to seem entirely close-minded and stubborn, and if they do, why are they trying this new class? A few hours in, most people are reasonably comfortable with saying they are open minded. However the language begins to change by day's end. We began to be addressed as if we were now committed to having this mysterious "transformation" that we nothing about that morning. And by the end of the whole experience, we're invited to share this transformation with our friends and family by inviting them to the graduation and signing them up.

Method 1: Passive Consent
Coming back from the first break, the topic of the next lesson is being on time. A fitting subject as people are ambling in late. How are you supposed to have integrity if you don't follow your word? Good point, but I never gave my word to anyone that I was going to be back on time. The commitment to come back on time, as well as numerous other items, is established by passive consent. Commitment is done by not dissenting. if you don't voice dissent, commitment is implied. Dissent is proven to be very difficult in groups, even if the majority of the group is dissident, as long as the leader is louder. If I just sit there and don't speak up against something, I'm then treated as if I whole heartedly agree with it.

Method 2: Merging Integrity with Rule Following
Then integrity is talked about, honoring your word. There is an implied commitment (by not saying no), which leads to an implied word given (being treated as if I actively said yes). Now integrity is put into the equation. In order to have integrity, I'm told, I must follow the rules I didn't vocally disagree to in front of 100+ people. The leader claimed the basis of integrity is "following the rules." Wait a minute? Ghandi didn't follow the rules. Christ didn't follow the rules. But they mentioned those guys earlier, so we must be on the same page. After the foundation of integrity is formed (by following the rules), next comes "being true to one's self," and he quoted Shakespeare. As far as I remember, integrity was just the latter, being true to yourself. But they lumped "following the rules" in with "being true to yourself" with no time to reflect, decide, or disagree. I brought that up to a woman during the break. After giving it some thought, she agreed with me. Integrity is more about being true to yourself than following their rules. But she hadn't much time to come to that conclusion on her own.

Method 3: Being Labeled as Close Minded
So what were these rules? Most of them were incredibly reasonable, like "Don't interrupt other when they're speaking." Real basic decency stuff that everyone can agree with. So there was an air of "OK, these rules are fine." Then came the recommendations. "We recommend you don't leave except during the breaks." I felt an objection to that, as I needed and wanted to leave more frequently to get air and snacks in this 15 hour sitting. But by presenting the very reasonable, decent ideas first, the tendency was to agree with the items that followed. It established a momentum of agreeance. Also, there's isn't much time to consider whether you like the "recommendations" or not. As the days go on, these recommendations slowly becomes rules, enforced by group behavior and finally by accusations of being close-minded or unteachable, and you are "invited" to leave the forum. So it becomes easier in group think to go along than to create a confrontation with the leader in front of 100+ people.

This message that any dissent is just a person's refusal to look at themselves gets ingrained into the members. After the LGAT, I shared with a co-worker about my experience. She had a friend who was an active participant in the organization a few years ago (meaning she worked for free for them). My co-worker mentioned my experience of attending the forum, then leaving after one day to her friend. Without knowing anything about me, this woman who worked for the LGAT assumed I stopped my attendance simply because I didn't want to face something about myself. It couldn't be the reality of the situation, which was that I refused to submit myself to sleep deprivation.

ABUSE
There's the Buddhist statement "attachment leads to pain." I would argue the reverse is similar, that pain leads to attachment. Look at how difficult it is for people to break out of abusive relationships, work situations, home lives. There is a chemical component in anger, drama, and fighting that creates a hook. Also there's an incredible bond between people who have gone through a disaster together (for example, the camaraderie of New Yorker's during and after the September 11th attacks.) People who experience pain together feel like they've had an experience that only the others in the group understand. So what does pain have to do with the LGAT?

Method 1: Physical
Strangely enough, they ask you not to take any anti-inflammatories or aspirin. Surely any normal human would get a headache after being in a buzzing office conference hall for 15 hours, as well as body aches and pains from all the sitting. Near the end of the first day, the LGAT offers a small mediation technique to clear up headaches and pain. Granted, meditation techniques can relieve the severity of pain, but the pain is still there. After the meditation, some people seem to be relieved completely of their pain, which adds to the magic of the program. Others don't want to look like they aren't "getting it" so they don't talk about their pain. This slow, subtle pain, combined with poor diet and sleep deprivation create an emotional bond and dysfunctional loyalty to the room, the people, and the experience. In my own experience, my body ached for days afterward from just sitting one day. I can only imagine 3 days of sitting.

Method 2: Mental
Next is the mental and emotional abuse. The best way to hurt someone is to treat them well most of the time. People are encouraged to speak, rewarded by thoughtless applause. The group leader will encourage the person, but occasionally snap, yelling out things like "When are you going to grow up!" amplified by a microphone. The experience of being shouted at, by a leader who has the power of language and knowledge surely plays into any sane human's fear of authority. There is a dissonance in that experience. You are rewarded by the applause and encouraged to share as part of the program, but you also might get badgered and abused in front of the whole group. It's a thrill and a risk in getting up to the mic. It's a hot spot, and all forms of judgment, authority, and punishment come to mind when you're up there.

DEPARTURE
I only attended one day because I was unwilling to submit myself to the sleep deprivation. Knowing the sleep deprivation was something that makes people overly emotional and susceptible to influence, I planned to get full amounts of sleep each night.

As I was leaving dinner with my classmates, I gave my goodbyes and told them I'd see them tomorrow. One girl exclaimed, "You can leave?" Last I knew, I hadn't signed up for anything mandatory, but by this point, she felt it was mandatory. I said "watch me" and took the train home at a reasonable time.

At home, I was writing my reflections, since class hadn't afforded that opportunity. I felt pretty positive about the things they taught today, but amazed that they took 10 hours to teach 3 concepts. Did they really need 3 days of 15 hours a piece? As I was writing my thoughts, the phone rang. I answered and it was the lead assistant, asking me why I wasn't in back in class. She knew I was gone because I handed in my name tag before dinner and wasn't there to pick it back up after dinner. A strategy for keeping attendance.

I was very surprised to be called at home. Earlier in the day we all had written our contact number on a form "in case of an emergency." I didn't realize this was an emergency. She said she was concerned and wanted to see if everything was OK with me. I thanked her for the concern and said everything was fine, that I left early to get a full night's sleep. She said it was very important that I not miss any of the class, otherwise I may not experience a transformation. I found that odd, since at no point during that day did I express a commitment, or even desire, to have this mysterious transformation. I was there just to check things out. Because I didn't object vocally in front of 100+ people, it was assumed by passive consent that I was committed to the transformation. She was talking to me as if I did commit.

I informed her that I was fine if I didn't have a "transformation", that I enjoyed just learning the things I could during the day. I emphasized that it is very important I get a full night's sleep for health reasons. She asked me how much sleep I needed each night. I answered 8-9 hours. She responded incredulously, as if I had said 23 hours. In retrospect I remember that this woman was getting wacked out each weekend by this class and sleep deprivation, so she must be used to 3-4 hours of sleep each night. I again insisted that I need my sleep for health reasons and I begin to wonder if she really meant it when she said she was concerned about me. She didn't seem too concerned about me taking care of myself, like getting proper sleep. Having this transformation was clearly more important.

Next she asked if I informed anyone that I was going to be skipping the evenings or wrote that down on a schedule card that was handed out earlier in the day. That card was the same as the emergency contact card, where we wrote on the back any day we would be missing. Knowing I was going to attend during the days of Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, I forgot to write I was going to gone at night (I did write I would be missing the follow up "graduation"/recruitment night on Tuesday). I said I forgot to write that I was going to be gone in the evenings, it slipped my mind. The subtext here was the talk about giving your word and integrity. Because I forgot to write down my planned absences on the card, I was being treated as if I had walked up to this woman and said "I promise I will be here each day, all 15 hours." So she persisted in trying to get me to attend the full class time.

So I then explained to her that with my low blood sugar (which she knew about from earlier in the day), not getting proper sleep can make it very unstable, particularly if I'm up for a few days with poor sleep. A worse case scenario with unstable blood sugar is an attack that can cause seizures or coma. This health information didn't seem to faze her as she asked if I could stay at least until 10pm, rather than leave at the 8pm dinner. I said with my commute, I wouldn't be able to get the sleep I needed. Next she offered I take naps at the center during the breaks. Quite surprised at her insistence, it took me a minute to say thanks for the idea, but I can't see myself being comfortable enough to fall asleep in an office chair or under a desk at the center. Also, how would I then eat, if I were sleeping through my 3 short meal breaks?

Finally she said she was going to take this issue to the program leader, the smart, witty, loud, powerful leader, and call me back. I told her to call me in the morning. Exasperated by the conversation, I was shocked at how insistent she was that I submit myself to sleep deprivation. Of course she would never phrase it in those terms. Her terms are "transformation" and the other program jargon. After a rough night of sleep, anticipating some argument with the group leader, I called the center in the morning and cancelled my participation in the course and asked they not call me back.

A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
The LGAT claims they are working for entirely new precepts, but take leverage from existing sociological / group behavior in order to deliver their message. They take no accountability for using these leverages, but then talk bounds about personal responsibility. It teaches valid techniques that have therapeutic value, and in the application of those techniques, they avoid accountability themselves as a program. One focus is personal responsibility. So any discourse or complaint about what is going on there can be focused back on the person: "Well you're the one who signed up, you're the one who stayed here the whole time. Take responsibility for your decisions" when in fact it was a passive consent decision, or a group decision, and putting the weight on the individual. But not saying no, you're saying yes, and acting like the integral thing is to own that "yes".

VOLUNTEER WORK
Afterwards I read a bit about the organization and it's volunteers. I read that last year $13 million was paid out on salaries and bonuses for 450 employees, $4 million for travel and made $2.5 million in profit. A case study by Harvard Business School showed that nationwide, 7,500 volunteers lend their time and services to this company. So you have 450 people making millions off of 7,500 volunteers. My co-workers friend who used to volunteer for this organization says that now she has stopped, she feels like she's slacking off on her commitment. The program drills into attendees, particularly in the advanced coursework, that they are obligated to do volunteer work for this profit organization and tie that into what they teach about personal integrity and commitment.

PROTECTING YOURSELF
The majority of people who read this article will say to themselves, "I'm smarter (more clever, more street smart, more aware, etc... fill in the blank) than that. I wouldn't be susceptible to their manipulation." That is called the self-serving bias. This bias leads us to believe that we are immune to the influences that affect the rest of humanity. And the single most important defense against these types of manipulation and control is the realization that you are human and vulnerable to human-targeted manipulation. The program is brilliant. It's 2005 and there's been centuries of refinement for manipulation and control that it relies on.

It relies on it in a way that makes them totally unaccountable because they say it's your decision. It relies on it in a way that it's your best friend or family member giving you the message, who you'd be more open to, than some creep knocking on your door handing out pamphlets. It relies on it in a way that erodes critical thinking so you don't even have the perspective to see that you're part of a brilliant system of control. And this especially applies to all the staff I encountered. At first I thought they were all-knowing, therefore malicious in their manipulation. However upon reflection I realized they are just as wacked out on sleep deprivation and brainwashing, that they were just playing their part in the system dutifully, unaware of the fact that they were perpetuating a system that was manipulative and unethical.

CONCLUSION
I was trying to just get the therapeutic methods from the class that I saw help my friend. By the end of the first day I realize I couldn't get that information without going through the brainwashing, sleep deprivation, and manipulation. The valuable information and the manipulative structure were too intertwined. After just one day, I felt so overwhelmed. I couldn't talk that well, and just wanted someone to ask me questions rather than try to formulate my own ideas. I was in the thick of the forum, acting like a brainless sheep baaing out answers rather than thinking critically and asking critical questions. For days I heard the forum leader's voice shouting things in my head. Just 10 hours of exposure and he was in my psyche. I talked to someone who attended the LGAT 6 months ago. He said he can hear his forum leader's voice clearer in his head than he can hear his own mother or father's voice. And this is someone who didn't like the class. The forum impact is powerful and it's design is brilliant.

I thought back to when I was in high school when I used to watch television news every night. I enjoyed it, felt informed, and was connected to a world larger than my hometown. Later in life when I discovered that news has it's own slant, and their are many ways to tell a story, I felt enraged and manipulated when I watched the news. I know too much to enjoy it. I think this LGAT is similar. I can see how someone could go thorough the forum and get a great experience out of it, as long as they were oblivious enough. However for me, knowing what I know about groups and sociology, it was far too difficult to sit by and enjoy the process. The Devil's not so bad, as long as you stay focused on his good looks and charm.