Do you know anything about the landmark forum and programming? My mother (who has bpd, so she’s more vulnerable to dissociative disorders) has recently joined and after some reading about their practices I’m terrified she’s part of something unsafe
Hello. The Landmark Forum is the first seminar offered by a company called Landmark Worldwide that uses some of the concepts that were initially utilized in EST training in the 70′s and 80′s. The company offers seminars and follow-up courses in over twenty countries. They, along with their business consulting firm, Vanto Group, advertise a promise for personal growth and success to individuals and businesses.
From what I understand regarding Landmark Forum, they indoctrinate their participants with a belief system that almost all of their negative relational and behavioral conflicts are the result of beliefs that have been developed through negative experiences and interactions with others in their childhood. The major emphasis seems to be feeling old pain, identifying, beliefs, confessing negative beliefs that have been wrongly opposed on other relationships, and modifying thoughts and behavior.
Participants, who sign up for the first course, agree to spend about three days in an extremely controlled environment, where immediately they are told that much of their prior belief systems are negative or meaningless. Then, they are rapidly indoctrinated with new language and a new worldview through scripted speeches, and demonstrations by charismatic speakers.
Throughout the session, large group thought is also used to increase the rapidity of indoctrination. People are encouraged to immediately begin to use and act on the new language and beliefs. Stories and testimonies seem to mock and devalue other ways of thinking. During demonstrations, those who follow the new script are cheered, whereas those who hold to independent thought are viewed in a way that reinforces the indoctrination. Breaks are limited, and reserved for journaling or making phone calls inviting others to upcoming sessions, providing no time or experience with which to challenge the new way of thinking.
The implied goal of the course is to be a more successful and productive person. The outworking of the new belief system (the way to demonstrate the new beliefs) seems to be spending hours making phone calls pressuring others to take the course, as well as signing up for next level courses. Other courses seem to offer increased esoteric experiences.
In regards to programming, sometimes, programmed individuals are leaders in cult or cultish groups, just like they can be leaders in of other religious or political institutions. An adult becoming involved in a group like this cannot be programmed using trauma based programming, as that is something used on children.
One of the ways the seminar has potential for danger is in the extremely rapid way members are asked to process these kinds of beliefs and behaviors. All aspects of the course are designed to create cognitive dissonance, a discrepancy between old and new beliefs, which can cause extreme psychological discomfort, in order to break down an old way of thinking. This increases dissociation and suggestibility. In some people the level of pain that surfaces can be too hard to safely process in a short amount of time, and there is not aftercare provided. Though from what I understand, people are asked to sign a waiver and people with known mental health issues are not allowed to attend, it may not be possible to prevent dangerous emotional and physical side effects.
Another danger is the loss of ability to process circumstances in life utilizing independent thought. A person who already struggles with insecurity is likely to readily become attached to and controlled by a system that states their only value is in being part of the system.
Along with this danger comes the financial loss involved. It seems like the system is set up in such a way that the initial cost provides certain “benefits”, with increased benefits provided at future sessions with increased costs. What can sometimes happen is that people will continue to pay the increased costs in order to continue to validate the belief system. The “threat” to stopping the course would be a fear that all the time and energy invested was wasted.
Within any kind of cult or cultish group, there is also potential for particularly vulnerable people to be further victimized. The more isolated a person is from healthy relationships, the further potential for victimization. The problem is, the indoctrination itself is set up to cause distrust of healthy individuals.
I think it is fair to be concerned about a loved one involved in this group. It may not be helpful to rationally express your concerns with them, because the indoctrination has already undermined any rational arguments. One way to help someone who is involved in a situation like this, is to watch and listen carefully as they live out their indoctrination. Because cognitive dissonance was used to indoctrinate, cognitive dissonance can be used to help. Gently asking questions or acting in ways that are counter the belief system may slowly open their mind to questioning and a return to independent thinking.
~Josha
