Nexus - 0223 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

DECEMBER 1994 -JANUARY 1995 Another psychiatrist to conduct pre-trial medical examinations on Patty Hearst was Dr Robert Jay ILifton of Yale University, author of several major works on coercive persuasion and thought-reform techniques, and another of the-Ctilt Awareness Network's stable of regular consultants. Liftuu pronounced Hearst a "classic case" which met alllithe psychological cr~teria of a coerced prisoner of war. Margaret Singer, who had previously worked with Lifton at the Walter Reed Army Hospital on a study of Chinese behaviour-modification techniques, was also called in by West to conduct a battery of tests on Hearst. She concluded that Hearst was "sad, hope­ less...withdrawn, emotionally distressed and expressing a silent cry for help",'· In 1989, in the case US vs Fishman, Margaret Singer's testimony regarding the alleged brainwashing techniques employed by religious/political groups against their members was dismissed by Judge D. Lowell Jensen who stated: "Although the record before the court is replete with declarations, affidavits and letters from reputable psychologists and sociologists, who concur with the thought-reform theo­ ries propounded by Dr Singer and Dr Ofshe, the government has submilled an equal num­ ber of declarations, affidavits and letters from reputable psychologists and sociologists whodisagreewiththeirtheories... Amoresignificant barometer ofprevailing viewswith­ in the scientific community is provided by professional organisations such as the American Psychological Association (APA} and the American Sociological Association (ASA). The evidence before the court, which is detailed below, shows that neither the APA nor the ASA has endorsed the views ofDr Singer and Dr Ofshe on thought reform... At 'b.est, the evidence establishes that psychiatrists, psychologists and sociologists dis­ agree as to whether or not there is agreement regarding the Singer-Ofshe thesis. The court therefore excludes defendant's proffered testimony." This Was not the first time Singer's theories had been rejected. In ~ 986, Singer had ini­ tiated and headed a Task Force on Deceptive and Ilndirect Methods of Persuasion and Control for the American J>sychological Association's Board of Social and Ethical Responsibility for Psychology (BSERP). lite Task Force produce"d a 69-page report which openly ,attempted to the make CANs definitions of "cults", "brainwashing", etc. official APA usage. On 11 th May 1987, the APA officially rejected the report, stating: "BSERP.. .is unable to accept the report of the Task Force. In general, the report lacks the scientific rigor and evenhanded critical approach necessary for APA imprimatur. "The Board cautions the Task Force members against using their past appointment to imply BSERP or APA support or approval of the positions advocated in the report. BSERP requests that Task Force members not distribute or publicize the report without indicating thaJ Jhe report was unacceptable to the Board." (BSERP, 1987)'9 Nearly 20 years after the Hearst trial, the theories espoused by Dr Singer and her fellow CAN consull!anlS have still not gained the support of the wider medical community, and yet they are regularly paraded before the public, the government, law enforcement agen­ cies and the courts as "experts" on the behaviour of "cults". The Revolving Door Syndrome One could conclude that there is nothing unusual about three national security establish­ ment-linked bebaviOYI-modification specialists examining Patty Hearst and later joining forces to fight for 'personal freedom' as they haive with the Cult Aw.areness Network. However, if you keep digging you will quickly discover that in both the case of the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapping of Patty Hearst and the Jonestown massacre, the 'revolving door syndrome' is ckarly at work. In other words, the people offering to put aut the blaze are sleeping with the people who lit it in the frrst place. NEXUS • 29