DIANETICS:
common recruiting methods
Followers of Dianetics and Scientology are very sly about how they seek new members. They don't ask prospective recruits if they're interested in being in a bogus self-help cult that could cost millions of dollars and end up separating them from their family. Instead, they prey upon the curiosity, weaknesses, or good nature of the newcomer.
the fraud of the "stress Test"
Typical "Stress Test" setup.
(Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
(Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
One of the most common tactics for hooking newcomers on Dianetics is the use of a "Stress Test." Such setups can be found around the world along public walkways, inside markets, or at Scientology centers. People passing by are invited to sit down and participate in a process that claims to identify the origin(s) of stress in their lives. The cans of the E-meter are placed into the hands of the test-taker, who is asked a series of questions. When the dial of the E-meter moves, the interviewer claims s/he has found a source of stress.
The background of the test-givers is questionable, because the vast majority has no experience in real health science. They are not qualified to identify stress, let alone treat it, in complete strangers. Typically, they are careful not to mention any connection with Dianetics or Scientology unless they feel the timing is right.
In countries like the United States, using the E-meter in these types of public stress tests is fraudulent use of the device. Following a raid by U.S. marshals on the Founding Church of Scientology in 1963 [1], every E-meter produced afterwards was ordered to have a prominent label stating that it is “not medically or scientifically useful for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease." In addition, court orders restricted the E-meter's use to “bona fide religious counseling” only, and it was constrained to religious settings. [2] Anyone who wished to use the E-meter was ordered to file an affidavit with the Secretary of the Food and Drug Administration. As Judge Gesell wrote on the court order, “The effect of this judgment will be to eliminate the E-meter as far as further secular use by Scientologists or others is concerned.” [3] Yet the unlawful use of the E-meter continues in ordinary places like public sidewalks and university campuses.
The background of the test-givers is questionable, because the vast majority has no experience in real health science. They are not qualified to identify stress, let alone treat it, in complete strangers. Typically, they are careful not to mention any connection with Dianetics or Scientology unless they feel the timing is right.
In countries like the United States, using the E-meter in these types of public stress tests is fraudulent use of the device. Following a raid by U.S. marshals on the Founding Church of Scientology in 1963 [1], every E-meter produced afterwards was ordered to have a prominent label stating that it is “not medically or scientifically useful for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease." In addition, court orders restricted the E-meter's use to “bona fide religious counseling” only, and it was constrained to religious settings. [2] Anyone who wished to use the E-meter was ordered to file an affidavit with the Secretary of the Food and Drug Administration. As Judge Gesell wrote on the court order, “The effect of this judgment will be to eliminate the E-meter as far as further secular use by Scientologists or others is concerned.” [3] Yet the unlawful use of the E-meter continues in ordinary places like public sidewalks and university campuses.
a typical stress test sales pitch
Instructions for "hard selling" Dianetics.
(Credit: Public domain photos)
(Credit: Public domain photos)
The stress test is a scam. At its heart, it is not concerned with finding sources of a person's anxiety. The whole aim of this E-meter demonstration is to find a person's "ruin," or weakness, and exploit it. After all, in order to sell someone a solution, one first has to convince him that there is a problem.
The person administering the Stress Test tries to find out what is bothering someone. This process may seem scientific, because it uses the E-meter. But no matter what the problem is, Dianetics will be pushed as the solution. Weight issues? Difficulty talking to girls? Worries about school studies? Dianetics supposedly handles it all.
After the weakness in the test-taker has been identified, the push to sell a Dianetics book comes hard. Getting these unscientific, self-help theories into the hands of the recruit is the first step in hooking them on the Dianetics scam and then leading them into the Scientology cult.
The person administering the Stress Test tries to find out what is bothering someone. This process may seem scientific, because it uses the E-meter. But no matter what the problem is, Dianetics will be pushed as the solution. Weight issues? Difficulty talking to girls? Worries about school studies? Dianetics supposedly handles it all.
After the weakness in the test-taker has been identified, the push to sell a Dianetics book comes hard. Getting these unscientific, self-help theories into the hands of the recruit is the first step in hooking them on the Dianetics scam and then leading them into the Scientology cult.
the danger of the free personality test
A common Dianetics trap.
(Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
(Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Another common introduction to Dianetics comes through the use of a "free personality test." Often, this is referred to by a special name. Sometimes, it is called the American Personality Analysis, and other times it is referred to as the Oxford Capacity Analysis. As with other recruiting methods, the deception here begins immediately: the test was not created or used by the University of Oxford. [4] Regardless of the test title used, you can be sure that the name was chosen to imply scientific credibility.
The test contains a set of 200 questions, many of which are very strange:
Needless to say, the survey is completely unscientific, and it lacks any kind of independent validity. [5] It has been alleged by numerous psychology groups that the survey is used in a "highly manipulative" [6] and "manifestly unethical" [7] manner.
Upon completion of the survey, typically someone from the Church of Scientology organization returns with an unscientific "grading" of the results. Usually an official-looking graph of these "scores" is produced to aid the appearance of legitimacy. The administrator of the test speaks to the person who took it and (eventually) concentrates on areas that supposedly indicate weaknesses in personal ability. Additionally, there are often areas of this credible-looking test result that are alarmingly marked as "attention urgent."
This combination of deception and crafty sales tactics can convince test-takers that they really do have a problem. Then the process of selling them a book or a course becomes much easier, and they are unknowingly drawn closer to the cult of Scientology.
The test contains a set of 200 questions, many of which are very strange:
Needless to say, the survey is completely unscientific, and it lacks any kind of independent validity. [5] It has been alleged by numerous psychology groups that the survey is used in a "highly manipulative" [6] and "manifestly unethical" [7] manner.
Upon completion of the survey, typically someone from the Church of Scientology organization returns with an unscientific "grading" of the results. Usually an official-looking graph of these "scores" is produced to aid the appearance of legitimacy. The administrator of the test speaks to the person who took it and (eventually) concentrates on areas that supposedly indicate weaknesses in personal ability. Additionally, there are often areas of this credible-looking test result that are alarmingly marked as "attention urgent."
This combination of deception and crafty sales tactics can convince test-takers that they really do have a problem. Then the process of selling them a book or a course becomes much easier, and they are unknowingly drawn closer to the cult of Scientology.
Section References
[1] Evans, Christopher Riche. Cults of Unreason. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974. Chapter 6. Print.
[2] Janssen, Wallace. The Health Robbers. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1993. Chapter 23, "The Gadgeteers." Print.
[3] "Court Order - FDA - Scientology Dianetics Hubbard E-meter." Scribd.com. 25 Aug. 2008. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. http://www.scribd.com/doc/5024758/Court-Order-FDA-Scientology-Dianetics-Hubbard-Emeter
[4] Sommer, Mark. "Scientology Tests' Purpose and Validity Are Questioned." Buffalo News 2 Feb. 2005. Web. http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/JeremyPerkins/Articles/buffalo-news-2005-02-02-a.html
[5] Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Enquiry into the Practice and Effects of Scientology. By Sir John Foster, K.B.E., Q.C., M.P. December 1971. Web. http://www.xenu.net/archive/audit/foster05.html#recruitment
[6] "Woman Says Her Sister Was Changed by Scientology." Irish Times 30 Jan. 2008. The Mary Johnston – Media Articles. Dialogue Ireland. Web. http://dialogueireland.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/the-mary-johnston-media-articles/
[7] Professor Gudmund Smith. Granskning Av Oxford Capacity Analysis. University of Lund, Sweden. Municipality of Huddinge, Case No. 150.82 000.285, 1981. Print.
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