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Biderman's Chart of Coercion
脅迫憲章
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說起來，英文中的「洗腦(brainwashing)」這個單字，也是在南北韓戰爭中，為了描述被俘的美軍所遭遇到的不人道狀況而發明的。
大部分洗腦的手法跟監獄警衛的手段相似，他們知道除非獲得囚犯的合作，要控制囚犯的身體是困難的。獲得合作最有效的方法莫過於破壞性的操控受害者的心智及情感，使他同時也成為心理上的囚犯。
來自國際特赦組織的《拷問報告》描述了戰爭時俘虜所遭遇到的洗腦手法。
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Isolation
孤立
* Deprives individual of social support, effectively rendering him unable to resist
使個人脫離社會支持網路，讓他不易抵抗。
* Makes individual dependent upon interrogator
讓個體依賴拷問者。
* Develops an intense concern with self.
發展強烈的自我關注。
一個人一旦遠離長期的情感支持並且脫離現實感，就容易被洗腦了。殘害心靈的團體直接地要求成員放棄朋友和家人來換取該團體的認同，或者間接地鼓吹成員藉由表現憎恨自己的父母、家人及朋友，才能顯現對神的忠誠，來達到他們孤立個人的目的。
此類團體具封閉性質，堅持成員能在內獲得所有滿足、支持和家的感覺。將加入者的親友、人際關係隔離，灌輸僵硬的意識型態，讓加入者滿腦子只有團體的教條和要求。
由於與其他人隔離，加入者變得依賴團體成員和領導者，而越來越難抗拒團體教義。他們變得自私和高度警覺，害怕現在僅有的認同在此團體中失去。
Warning signs
警訊：
當一個團體要求成員付出所有空閒時間，堅持他要每次聚會出現，如不能出席需解釋原因；批評或不贊成成員與團體外的親友互動，鼓勵保密，不許把聚會內容透露；公開批評其他團體（特別是藉此強調其唯一的正統性）；對參加其他團體的會議、工作坊或服務責難，並對成員進行調查，以確定缺席理由真假，或者強制參加團體所有集會才能成為幹部或者獲得團體情誼；這樣的團體存在偏激性質。
一旦成員不再公開地與他人互動，該團體就有了最大的影響力。團體的價值觀及資訊持續轟炸，而不虞成員不同意或懷疑，因為沒有團體外的人可以分享或堅定他的想法。孤立的過程和缺乏自信，使團體及其領導者得以掌控成員。領導者可能會對成員的大小缺點責難，有時甚至當眾如此，或者提醒他們現在或過去的罪惡。他們可能叫喊成員，予以侮辱或忽視，或者一會兒不理不睬，一會兒熱心對待，好藉此來彰顯現在是誰在當家作主。
羞恥感讓成員覺得他們活該如此，並覺得沒用的自己能加入這團體是值得感激的。當領導者偶爾略施小惠，他們便感激涕零。
最後，對團體依賴的體認和微小注意的感激，導致羞恥感的增加和團體內地位的降低，成員開始念「我活該咒」自虐，「不論他們如何對我，像我這樣有罪及惡劣的人，我活該。我不值得人家對我更好。我只夠格下地獄。不管我受到怎樣對待，即使是被懲罰，都要心存感激。」
Monopolization of Perception
觀念想法的排他性控制
* Fixes attention upon immediate predicament; fosters introspection
使注意力專注在當前困境；促使自我反省
* Eliminates stimuli competing with those controlled by captor
消除影響控制者掌控的刺激
* Frustrates all actions not consistent with compliance
讓不表順從的行動受挫
脅迫團體對生活各方面細節，包括衣、食、住、錢、小孩教養、談話，堅持對其要求順從。他們監控成員的外表，批評說話和小孩教養方式。他們強烈要求準確遵行隨領導者高興編排而無規則可言的行程表和程序。
新成員一開始可能會想這些期待不合理而有所爭論，但之後，為了和睦相處或因為害怕，或是看到其他人都順從了，也就跟著順從了。然而，一位成員不被允許穿某 色衣物、留有某種髮型、吃某些東西、說某些字、到某個地方、看某些東西，或與某些人交往，這真有什麼差別嗎？對整個計策來說，這重要嗎？事實上，最後將使 成員開始思考，「或許學這些戒律是有益的」，然而，就如他們持續被灌輸的，承認並屈服於統治者在精神上的權威。很快地他將發現要求無窮無盡，要專注更多時間和精力來避免做「錯」事而造成失去團體支持。這感覺如履薄冰。團體及領導者的反應變得重要，成員本身的需求、感覺和意見則變得無足輕重。事實上，成員可能不久後連自己要什麼都不知道。團體就這樣透過瑣碎的要求控制了成員們的感知能力，使他們失去自己的看法。
統治者也可能使成員相信他們較接近上帝，所以知道該如何做好每件事。當成員們的行為造成災難，這種事常常發生，就挨罵。有時候，特別是在統治者發飆完，他們可能會短暫地顯現謙卑姿態並自承過失，跟平時不可一世的姿態對照，這樣的低姿態讓成員喜愛並對公開溝通抱持希望。
有時威脅也會派上用場。成員被告知，如果離開團體或不服從領導者，將會受到神明的懲罰。有時領導者會親自懲罰成員，如此成員便無法得知領導者何時會藉口神 明意旨進行威脅。成員於是開始專注在如何符合所有團體需求及保有短暫的平靜。此類團體可能將小孩帶離父母身邊，控管所有金錢，安排婚姻，將個人物品破壞或藏起來。
Warning signs:
警訊：
只能專注於生活細節，被嚴格要求遵守諸如外貌、服飾、食物禁忌、作息表之類的標準，並被威脅不遵守將遭神怒，一種被團體其他成員或頭頭持續監視的感覺。換句話說，該團體的要求變成生活的一切，你感到必須隨時注意是否符合要求。你不再思考這些準則是否恰當，只曉得服從才能融入團體並獲頭頭喜愛。
Induced Debility and Exhaustion
引起身體衰弱和疲憊
緊張、恐懼及持續匆忙地去努力符合團體要求，受到這般精神虐待，人逐漸虛弱。他們常避免顯現恐懼、悲傷或憤怒的情緒，以免遭奚落或處罰。嚴格的要求成員參加一大堆會議和活動，使的他們疲憊，更無法抵抗團體的壓力。
Warning Signs:
警訊：
感覺被要求包圍到接近折磨的地步，對說「不」感到罪惡。被脅迫或施壓去「自願」服務，不「自願」表現的人會受到冷嘲熱諷。當家庭或工作上的責任干擾到團體時會受到責難。
Occasional Indulgences
偶施小惠
* Provides motivation for compliance
提供順從的動機
當成員計畫脫離時，這些團體的頭頭常能敏銳地感覺到，而可能突然給予某些恩惠（或許只是愛或情感、以前未曾有的關注、作勢關心）。希望情況有所改變或自我 懷疑（「或許只是我把它想成這麼壞」）取代了恐懼或絕望，使得成員再度留下。一些團體則會在令人絕望的衝突或虐待時，不定時的給予同情或情感。這使得成員失去戒心，並且對自己對現況的理解產生懷疑。
一些極端的洗腦技巧，已被一些團體有系統的使用，有些團體則偶爾為之。但即使是偶爾稍微的使用這些技巧，也能有效地獲得權力。
Warning Signs:
警訊：
要留心於一個你認為傷害你，而持續想離開，但發現自己總在緊要關頭因為團體的召喚、意見或同情而退縮留下的團體。這些關懷的時刻不多，但足夠讓你抱持希望，而為這團體年復一年的持續犧牲。
Devaluing the Individual
貶低個人
* Creates fear of freedom and dependence upon captors
讓個人對自由恐懼並依賴控制者
* Creates feelings of helplessness
建立無助感
* Develops lack of faith in individual capabilities
使個人對能力缺乏自信
頭頭常能敏銳地瞧出成員自傲的才能，並利用這些才能來對付成員。有音樂天賦的人如果要有所表現可能被講說太自傲了、或愛露鋒芒，而遭拒絕。有見識的人被說成吹毛求疵，仁慈的人則是缺乏聖潔或良好判斷力，和事佬則被提醒神帶來戰爭，而非和平。有時也會做一些動作讓成員相信他們並非好老師、或具有音樂天分、或其他自認有的才幹。當成員開始懷疑天賦的一兩項特質，他們也開始對過去所有的自我觀照存疑，而對團體頭頭感到依賴，並害怕離開團體。（「如果我連這種事都錯了，我怎能相信自己有能力做對抉擇呢？」）
Warning Signs:
警訊：
團體不喜歡成員施展才幹。在成員才能發揮前，建立類似新兵訓練中心的嚴格要求，以求先獲得成員對團體的承諾。藉由提醒成員必須拋棄天賦，持續地批評其天資。要成員記住使徒保羅曾說：「當我軟弱，我反而堅強」，而他們被期待的是平凡的那一面。強調對團體的幫助或服務是晉升幹部的先決條件。這可能變成類似這 樣的形式：想服務的人先去打掃廁所或清潔環境再說；想在合唱團唱歌的人先試著在小朋友面前唱；不管什麼十八般武藝，都要先藉由確實參與各項集會和活動（例 如捐獻十分之一所得）來顯現忠誠，才可獲准獻醜。根本不屌你信了幾年教、年紀多大、多德高望重、或才幹有多特別。這規定一視同仁，有效地貶低每個人至一文 不值，沒有人的才能被稱許，唯有服務、順從、服從權威、不展現才幹，才是最受讚許的行為。
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http://readforjoy.blogspot.com/2008/07/chart-of-coercion.html
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Biderman's Chart of Coercion
脅迫憲章
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"Most people who brainwash...use methods similar to those of prison guards who recognize that physical control is never easily accomplished without the cooperation of the prisoner. The most effective way to gain that cooperation is through subversive manipulation of the mind and feelings of the victim, who then becomes a psychological, as well as a physical, prisoner."
from an Amnesty International publication, "Report on Torture", which depicts the brainwashing of prisoners of war.
Isolation
* Deprives individual of social support, effectively rendering him unable to resist
* Makes individual dependent upon interrogator
* Develops an intense concern with self.
Once a person is away from longstanding emotional support and thus reality checks, it is fairly easy to set a stage for brainwashing. Spiritually abusive groups work to isolate individuals from friends and family, whether directly, by requiring the individuals to forsake friends and family for the sake of the "Kingdom" (group membership), or indirectly, by preaching the necessity to demonstrate one's love for God by "hating" one's father, mother, family, friends.
Abusive groups are not outward-looking, but inward-looking, insisting that members find all comfort and support and a replacement family within the group. Cut off from friends, relatives, previous relationships, abusive groups surround the recruits and hammer rigid ideologies into their consciousnesses, saturating their senses with specific doctrines and requirements of the group.
Isolated from everyone but those within the group, recruits become dependent upon group members and leaders and find it difficult if not impossible to offer resistance to group teachings. They become self-interested and hyper-vigilant, very fearful should they incur the disapproval of the group, which now offers the only support available to them which has group approval.
Warning signs
The seed of extremism exists wherever a group demands all the free time of a member, insisting he be in church every time the doors are open and calling him to account if he isn't, is critical or disapproving of involvements with friends and family outside the group, encourages secrecy by asking that members not share what they have seen or heard in meetings or about church affairs with outsiders, is openly, publicly, and repeatedly critical of other churches or groups (especially if the group claims to be the only one which speaks for God), is critical when members attend conferences, workshops or services at other churches, checks up on members in any way, i.e., to determine that the reason they gave for missing a meeting was valid, or makes attendance at all church functions mandatory for participating in church ministry or enjoying other benefits of church fellowship.
Once a member stops interacting openly with others, the group's influence is all that matters. He is bombarded with group values and information and there is no one outside the group with whom to share thoughts or who will offer reinforcement or affirmation if the member disagrees with or doubts the values of the group. The process of isolation and the self-doubt it creates allow the group and its leaders to gain power over the members. Leaders may criticize major and minor flaws of members, sometimes publically, or remind them of present or past sins. They may call members names, insult them or ignore them, or practice a combination of ignoring members at some times and receiving them warmly at others, thus maintaining a position of power (i.e., the leaders call the shots.)
The sense of humiliation makes members feel they deserve the poor treatment they are receiving and may cause them to allow themselves to be subjected to any and all indignities out of gratefulness that one as unworthy as they feel is allowed to participate in the group at all. When leaders treat the member well occasionally, they accept any and all crumbs gratefully.
Eventually, awareness of how dependent they are on the group and gratitude for the smallest attention contributes to an increasing sense of shame and degradation on the part of the members, who begin to abuse themselves with "litanies of self-blame," i.e., "No matter what they do to me, I deserve it, as sinful and wretched as I am. I deserve no better. I have no rights but to go to hell. I should be grateful for everything I receive, even punishment."
Monopolization of Perception
* Fixes attention upon immediate predicament; fosters introspection
* Eliminates stimuli competing with those controlled by captor
* Frustrates all actions not consistent with compliance
Abusive groups insist on compliance with trival demands related to all facets of life: food, clothing, money, household arrangements, children, conversation. They monitor members' appearances, criticize language and childcare practices. They insist on precise schedules and routines, which may change and be contradictory from day to day or moment to moment, depending on the whims of group leaders.
At first, new members may think these expectations are unreasonable and may dispute them, but later, either because they want to be at peace or because they are afraid, or because everyone else is complying, they attempt to comply. After all, what real difference does it make if a member is not allowed to wear a certain color, or to wear his hair in a certain way, to eat certain foods, or say certain words, to go certain places, watch certain things, or associate with certain individuals. In the overall scheme of things, does it really matter? In fact, in the long run, the member begins to reason, it is probably good to learn these disciplines, and after all, as they have frequently been reminded, they are to submit to spiritual authority as unto the Lord.. Soon it becomes apparent that the demands will be unending, and increasing time and energy are focused on avoiding group disapproval by doing something "wrong." There is a feeling of walking on eggs. Everything becomes important in terms of how the group or its leaders will respond, and members' desires, feelings and ideas become insignificant. Eventually, members may no longer even know what they want, feel or think. The group has so monopolized all of the members' perceptions with trivial demands that members lose their perspective as to the enormity of the situation they are in.
The leaders may also persuade the members that they have the inside track with God and therefore know how everything should be done. When their behavior results in disastrous consequences, as it often does, the members are blamed. Sometimes the leaders may have moments, especially after abusive episodes, when they appear to humble themselves and confess their faults, and the contrast of these moments of vulnerability with their usual pose of being all-powerful endears them to members and gives hope for some open communication.
Threats sometimes accompany all of these methods. Members are told they will be under God's judgment, under a curse, punished, chastised, chastened if they leave the group or disobey group leaders. Sometimes the leaders, themselves, punish the members, and so members can never be sure when leaders will make good on the threats which they say are God's idea. The members begin to focus on what they can do to meet any and all group demands and how to preserve peace in the short run. Abusive groups may remove children from their parents, control all the money in the group, arrange marriages, destroy personal items of members or hide personal items.
Warning signs:
Preoccupation with trivial demands of daily life, demanding strict compliance with standards of appearance, dress codes, what foods are or are not to be eaten and when, schedules, threats of God's wrath if group rules are not obeyed, a feeling of being monitored, watched constantly by those in the group or by leaders. In other words, what the church wants, believes and thinks its members should do becomes everything, and you feel preoccupied with making sure you are meeting the standards. It no longer matters whether you agree that the standards are correct, only that you follow them and thus keep the peace and in the good graces of leaders.
Induced Debility and Exhaustion
People subjected to this type of spiritual abuse become worn out by tension, fear and continual rushing about in an effort to meet group standards. They must often avoid displays of fear, sorrow or rage, since these may result in ridicule or punishment. Rigid ministry demands and requirements that members attend unreasonable numbers of meetings and events makes the exhaustion and ability to resist group pressure even worse.
Warning Signs:
Feelings of being overwhelmed by demands, close to tears, guilty if one says no to a request or goes against a church standards. Being intimidated or pressured into volunteering for church duties and subjected to scorn or ridicule when one does not "volunteer." Being rebuked or reproved when family or work responsibilities intrude on church responsibilities.
Occasional Indulgences
* Provides motivation for compliance
Leaders of abusive groups often sense when members are making plans to leave and may suddenly offer some kind of indulgence, perhaps just love or affection, attention where there was none before, a note or a gesture of concern. Hope that the situation in the church will change or self doubt ("Maybe I'm just imagining it's this bad,") then replace fear or despair and the members decide to stay a while longer. Other groups practice sporadic demonstrations of compassion or affection right in the middle of
desperate conflict or abusive episodes. This keeps members off guard and doubting their own perceptions of what is happening.
Some of the brainwashing techniques described are extreme, some groups may use them in a disciplined, regular manner while others use them more sporadically. But even mild, occasional use of these techniques is effective in gaining power.
Warning Signs:
Be concerned if you have had an ongoing desire to leave a church or group you believe may be abusive, but find yourself repeatedly drawn back in just at the moment you are ready to leave, by a call, a comment or moment of compassion. These moments, infrequent as they may be, are enough to keep hope in change alive and thus you sacrifice years and years to an abusive group.
Devaluing the Individual
* Creates fear of freedom and dependence upon captors
* Creates feelings of helplessness
* Develops lack of faith in individual capabilities
Abusive leaders are frequently uncannily able to pick out traits church members are proud of and to use those very traits against the members. Those with natural gifts in the areas of music may be told they are proud or puffed up or "anxious to be up front" if they want to use their talents and denied that opportunity. Those with discernment are called judgmental or critical, the merciful are lacking in holiness or good judgment, the peacemakers are reminded the Lord came to bring a sword, not peace. Sometimes efforts are made to convince members that they really are not gifted teachers or musically talented or prophetically inclined as they believed they were. When members begin to doubt the one or two special gifts they possess which they have always been sure were God-given, they begin to doubt everything else they have ever believed about themselves, to feel dependent upon church leaders and afraid to leave the group. ("If I've been wrong about even *that*, how can I ever trust myself to make right decisions ever again?").
Warning Signs:
Unwillingness to allow members to use their gifts. Establishing rigid boot camp-like requirements for the sake of proving commitment to the group before gifts may be exercised. Repeatedly criticizing natural giftedness by reminding members they must die to their natural gifts, that Paul, after all, said, "When I'm weak, I'm strong," and that they should expect God to use them in areas other than their areas of giftedness. Emphasizing helps or service to the group as a prerequisite to church ministry. This might take the form of requiring that anyone wanting to serve in any way first have the responsibility of cleaning toilets or cleaning the church for a specified time, that anyone wanting to sing in the worship band must first sing to the children in Sunday School, or that before exercising any gifts at all, members must demonstrate loyalty to the group by faithful attendance at all functions and such things as tithing. No consideration is given to the length of time a new member has been a Christian or to his age or station in life or his unique talents or abilities. The rules apply to everyone alike. This has the effect of reducing everyone to some kind of lowest common denominator where no one's gifts or natural abilities are valued or appreciated, where the individual is not cherished for the unique blessing he or she is to the body of Christ, where what is most highly valued is service, obedience, submission to authority, and performance without regard to gifts or abilities or, for that matter, individual limitations.
This article re-published from reFOCUS Network.
"Local Church" research site
lcinfo@ugcs.caltech.edu
Last updated 20 April 1996
