Story thread · 2 reports / 1 sources

Former cult member details top signs America is being run by a cult leader

alternet.org · 3h · first reportShare

Dr. Steven Hassan's model of things cult leaders do to control others walks through specific examples, from clothing to pledges, and in a new video, ex-cult member Jim Picariello explained how MAGA has become a victim of Donald Trump's control. Hassan's model is known as the BITE method for controlling people through undue influence. BITE stands for Behavior, Information, Thought and Emotional. Picariello explained, using the model, that Trump is " reinforcing mind control " in some subtle and other outlandish ways. It may seem silly, but when Trump was buying his Cabinet officials shoes that didn't fit, Picariello said, it falls under that first column for "behavior." Examples include "control of physical environment, rigid rules, rewards and punishments and dependence and obedience." "They were exactly the same style, and everybody was — what did they do? They wore them anyway just to show that they had allegiance towards Trump," said Picariello. "Now he's controlled their behavior."