Thursday, December 29, 2022

(2) Scientology and NXIVM - Parallels and Plagiarism

 Scientology and NXIVM - Parallels and Plagiarism



Influences on NXIVM beliefs and practices, sourced from Natalie et al (2019), rendered in the mode of W.S. Bainbridge, e.g. Bainbridge 1978. |NXIVM teachings drew upon diverse influences, including Ayn Rand ("parasites"), L. Ron Hubbard ("suppressives"), Milton Erickson's hypnosis, Isaac Asimov's science fiction, Rudolf Steiner, Tony Robbins, and neuro-linguistic programming. NXIVM incorporated elements of multi-level marketing and practices from judo, with colored cloth for rank and bowing.



This is the second post in a series that examines the book Scarred: The True Story Of How I Escaped The Cult That Bound My Life by Sarah Edmondson.

I recommend reading these posts in sequential order and have listed them in order to make reading them in order easy.

Unless noted otherwise, all quotes used in this series are from that book. 

And let's begin:

The first noteworthy similarity between Scientology and NXIVM is in the prologue.


"Any resistance would be turned around and used as my issue. It would prove that I'm "entitled," or Lauren could say that I'm "mad-dogging," NXIVM's term for being defensive. " (Scarred page 3)

This is remarkably similar to several terms and concepts used in Scientology, notably H E  and R E -  human emotion and reaction. 

Let me show you the definition from Scientology:

Human Emotion and Reaction


"Human Emotion and Reaction, the counter emotions and reactions which aberrated human beings express when they are guided toward survival objectives. They are usually below 2.0 on the Tone Scale." (LRH Def. Notes) Abbr. HE & R.


Ronald Hubbard, Scientology founder


Hubbard, L. R. (1976). Modern Management Technology Defined. Los Angeles: Church of Scientology of California Publications Organization United States. 

And let me explain it to you.

"abberated" means not sane, irrational, in error when describing a person or their thoughts or perceptions.

Survival objectives are goals that benefit or increase survival, in other words good. 

Counter emotions are emotions against something, in this case against survival objectives. 

The tone scale is a way of examining and classifying human emotion in Scientology. It's not an original idea at all but a combination of ideas from other practices and not remotely scientific.

The important thing to understand for this example is that any behavior or feelings below 2.0 on this scale are seen as more harmful than beneficial and more irrational than rational.

So, both "mad-dogging" and H E and R E  are both unfalsifiable claims that a person is displaying improper and irrational emotions in response to something.

But think about it. If I say or do ANYTHING and it outrages or upsets you I can say that you are "mad-dogging" me or displaying H E and R E! 

It is a way to dominate another person and take attention from the criticism that they may have to turn it back on them with no recourse. It's certainly authoritarian and can fit the description of gaslighting in many instances. 

I think we can see that several categories of items are going to come up in my comparison worth noting.

First, actual ideas and techniques simply lifted from Scientology.

Second, ideas and techniques that are part of all or many cultic relationships and merely things that fit the cultic dynamic of the group for many, possibly most, or even all cults. 

Third, similar ideas and practices where the connection is not clear or both groups may have lifted them from other groups.

Fourth, some things may actually have a coincidental or mistaken connection. In other words I might be looking for or even seeing a connection where there really isn't one, I am not perfect after all.

Fifth, categories I simply have not thought of.

Sixth, connections that are there to be found that I due to ignorance or some other reason simply didn't find. 


With that in mind I want it clear that any information or actions in Scientology or NXIVM may fit any of these categories. 

Was "mad-dogging" lifted from Scientology? I honestly do not know. Lots of abusers habitually blame the victims of abuse for the abuse in very similar ways to both these methods. It has been around for probably thousands of years and unfortunately doesn't seem to be going away. 

"Each time I've recited this part of NXIVM's twelve-point mission statement, I've proclaimed my ongoing commitment to improve myself in my effort to be at-cause in our world, taking full responsibility as the generator of every single experience in my life." (Scarred page 4)

The term "at-cause" is a concept that definitely has a very prominent place in Scientology.

I can reference an article in Scientology doctrine that describes "cause" and "effect" in Scientology.

Chapter 8 in the book Fundamentals of Thought entitled Causation and Knowledge gives a very good introduction to the concepts of cause and effect as used in Scientology.

The chapter is available free online.

I recommend that any ex NXIVM member who wishes to understand the likely origin of the term "at-cause" and related ideas as used in NXIVM read this very short article. It's barely a few pages but it may help you to understand what Keith Raniere did was plagiarism of a very insidious idea. 


Keith Raniere, NXIVM leader


To be clear, the fact that Raniere took Hubbard's redefined terms without attribution is not what I find immoral and objectionable, it's that he used the term in the same exact way as Hubbard, to restrict and control thought covertly in his followers and mentally enslave them by using loaded language. 

(Loaded language is probably best defined by Robert Jay Lifton in his Eight Criteria for Thought Reform, which is a chapter from his book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism which Lifton has been kind enough to allow others to post online for free so it is readily accessible for everyone)


A very abridged reference that is also useful is the definition of "responsibility" found in the book Introduction to Scientology Ethics.

"Full responsibility is not fault; it is recognition of being cause."

"Responsibility also means a state, quality or fact of being responsible, and responsible means legally or ethically accountable for the care or welfare of another. Involving personal accountability or ability to act without guidance or superior authority. Being the source or cause of something. Capable of making moral or rational decisions on one's own and therefore answerable for one's behavior. Able to be trusted or depended upon; reliable. Based upon or characterized by good judgment or sound thinking."

End quote

From Introduction to Scientology Ethics by Ronald Hubbard

The way "at-cause" is used in NXIVM is extremely likely to have been taken from the definition it has in Scientology as is "full responsibility" itself.

It's noteworthy that in Scientology and NXIVM if a person is unhappy with something they are seen as being "effect" instead of at cause and blamed for bad things that happen to them but in a hierarchical cult structure the founder or leader of a cult is somehow not ever responsible for the bad press they get or financial or legal or health problems they have.

They may be convicted of crimes like Hubbard and Keith Raniere but they don't take any responsibility for the crimes or conviction.

It's really a con and control mechanism in abusive relationships and cults. 







Scientology and NXIVM - Parallels and Plagiarism

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