Indoctrination vs. Initiation
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The Seeker
While often overlooked during conversion experiences, HOW information is perceived is critical to group think and the direction leadership has with external control in the absence of inward consent to the individual or group.
Dictionary Definitions:
Indoctrination
-To imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle.
Initiation
-a process of rites, ordeals, or instructions, for a member of a sect or society an individual or group is invested in.
Another way of stating the argument between the two is this:
Indoctrination is teaching personal beliefs without the benefit of facts, and without the benefit of logical, critical thinking. Much of the time, manipulation through emotions of fear, anger and shame are involved because the beliefs being taught involve untestable faith systems. One must believe without questioning the validity of basics premises.
Initiation is giving a group or individual information and allowing them to find what the information means through individualistic critical thinking and questioning without having to have specific rigid answers based on an ideology or total group think.
Flexible, critical thinking is key to understanding the differences here, and HOW each method is applied for outcome and result.
The Seeker:
Whether considering indoctrination or initiation, both terms require one thing: a seeker.
Becoming a part of an NRM is not always, if ever un-voluntary.
There are two parts to this element: 1) religious and/or political groups depend on new members, particularly if devotee is willing to concede to specific doctrines and rules. 2) is that there must also be a seeker, not just an individual that might happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time- though we all have vulnerabilities, that is too simplistic a notion and caters more to the idea of indoctrination via brainwashing, a term long ago deemed not applicable.
Due to access to information in our current culture, most groups are not this systematic or structured in recruitment to the average person.
Using effective persuasion, many destructive groups convert through cognitive restructuring.
By modifying an individual’s view of reality through altered social circumstances and censored information, conversion happens over time. One example is “love bombing”, making them feel exceptionally welcome to the group.
Indoctrination
-To imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle.
Initiation
-a process of rites, ordeals, or instructions, for a member of a sect or society an individual or group is invested in.
Another way of stating the argument between the two is this:
Indoctrination is teaching personal beliefs without the benefit of facts, and without the benefit of logical, critical thinking. Much of the time, manipulation through emotions of fear, anger and shame are involved because the beliefs being taught involve untestable faith systems. One must believe without questioning the validity of basics premises.
Initiation is giving a group or individual information and allowing them to find what the information means through individualistic critical thinking and questioning without having to have specific rigid answers based on an ideology or total group think.
Flexible, critical thinking is key to understanding the differences here, and HOW each method is applied for outcome and result.
The Seeker:
Whether considering indoctrination or initiation, both terms require one thing: a seeker.
Becoming a part of an NRM is not always, if ever un-voluntary.
There are two parts to this element: 1) religious and/or political groups depend on new members, particularly if devotee is willing to concede to specific doctrines and rules. 2) is that there must also be a seeker, not just an individual that might happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time- though we all have vulnerabilities, that is too simplistic a notion and caters more to the idea of indoctrination via brainwashing, a term long ago deemed not applicable.
Due to access to information in our current culture, most groups are not this systematic or structured in recruitment to the average person.
Using effective persuasion, many destructive groups convert through cognitive restructuring.
By modifying an individual’s view of reality through altered social circumstances and censored information, conversion happens over time. One example is “love bombing”, making them feel exceptionally welcome to the group.