The above illustrations are theoretical models intended to serve as metaphors to show the mind has a component that divides and protects certain functions. They may not be totally literally true - but serve to simply get across an important point that in effect is true enough for a beginning study of hypnosis or mind control , while certainly not proven enough for say cognitive neuroscience. This is about the critical factor from hypnosis. To understand Scientology, or human interaction you should know some things about it and actually for Scientology you should know A LOT.
The Critical Factor Hypnosis is a state of mind. The state of mind can be obtained instantaneously, for a state of mind is merely a mood. It is a state of mind in which the critical faculty of the human is bypassed and selective thinking established. The critical faculty of your mind is that part which passes judgment. It distinguishes between the concepts of hot and cold, sweet and sour, large and small, dark and light. It we can bypass this critical faculty in such a way that you no longer distinguish between hot and cold, sweet and sour, we can substitute selective thinking for conventional judgment making. Another way to describe the critical factor is the possession of awareness or mental life or having sensations or feelings. Ethics, morality, rights and wrong police the waking mind. It self-imposes rules, restriction and regulates actions and behavior.Your Critical Factor, Manipulation and Hypnosis Your critical factor is the part of your conscious mind that allows or blocks information getting into your subconscious mind. It is the gatekeeper that allows information in that is reasonable and then becomes a part of how and what you believe, or if the information is not reasonable or logical it is rejected, perhaps to be visited again another day but more often not.
In hypnosis, the critical factor is largely bypassed and information is directly placed into your unconscious mind. The critical factor can be redefined many ways as it sums up many, probably thousands, of mental functions that combine to form judgement, skepticism, logic, independent thinking, discretion and many other things. Most people have very little understanding of the critical factor and even less of hypnotism.
Scientology has a wealth of false info on hypnosis and in particular makes followers ignorant and determined to not learn anything outside Scientology about hypnosis:This is intentional on Hubbard's part.
When he started Scientology he told auditors some info and recommended learning about hypnosis , but he changed his tune when he realized that most people would not lie and enslave others , even for the greater good. Early tapes have key data that show he always knew his auditing , and later the methods in study tech are in fact hypnotic.
AND he always knew it .
A person can have the critical factor turned down , or off by many methods and stage hypnotism or magic shows show only a tiny fraction of it. As I've said many times Arnie Lerma ( Lermanet.com ) and Jon Atack showed me many clues to start seeing how this works in Scientology and I recommend studying the work of both to EVERY Scientologist and ex-Scientologist.A person with the critical factor turned off completely will accept ANYTHING that is not blatantly suicidal ( with very few exceptions ) from the "right" source or sources.
That is why Hubbard had to have the single source myth: when in doubt or confusion a person had to turn only to HIM, and have that as an unshakeable stable datum. There is a phenomenon wherein if you bypass the critical factor very strongly for prolonged periods ( like in Scientology auditing and study ) and install very strong emotional connections and tremendous supporting and self defending info into a person's subconscious they will act just as if it is their own deeply held convictions ; because in a way it is, just without long contemplation and gradually building resolve and choosing for oneself independently .
In hypnosis one can enter a state called trance logic in which deep attention fixation occurs. It is marked by the conscious mind ignoring contradictions from the hypnotist as an authority, the person being hypnotized actually is in denial about the contradictions and their conscious mind ignores them and any cognitive dissonance they create, but the subconscious doesn't. It holds buried both the awareness of contradictions and the accompanying cognitive dissonance and negative emotions it carries as well.
Regarding trance logic here is a quote from Psychweb on trance logic: "Words, in trance logic, are interpreted much more literally, communication being conveyed by focusing on words themselves rather than ideas. There is also an associated decrease in critical judgement of language being processed, and an increased tolerance for incongruity."
Trance logic is a state in hypnosis in which a person has their attention absorbed or focused so strongly that they don't exercise critical and independent thinking, they lose judgment regarding the information they take in and do not CONSCIOUSLY notice contradictions. They experience age regression and like a young child submit to authority and are willing to engage in magical thinking.
This has tremendous importance in Scientology regarding cognitive dissonance as noticing contradiction is a way cognitive dissonance is created, but by making cognitive dissonance serve to create confusion which he uses to create hypnotic trances, Hubbard inspires dissonance then "solves" it by negating the contradiction inspired dissonance by knocking out the critical factor (the capacity for critical and independent thinking, including noticing contradiction) !!
Then, afterward the critical factor is turned back on but often only to attack critics and contradictory info or evidence, driven by implanted compulsion and not reason !
I know some will say Scientology is not hypnotism. Okay, do me one favor read about hypnotism so you have an educated point of view before dismissing my claims.
If Scientology is not hypnotism, and you are not compelled to reject this, couldn't you read about it ? I'd rather bruise some hearts ( and egos ) with the truth, and be a real friend than break them with lies. I think we've all had more than enough of those.
I am not going to be 100% right all the time, BUT I've put a significant effort into this and don't think I'm wrong this time .
