The BITE model may provide sociological and psychological researchers their best chance of understanding cults and their ideologies. So far, cults remain challenging to study because those involved are too distrustful of outsiders to allow them to engage with their group or its ideologies. Due to this difficulty, research typically relies on former members and their perspectives; this also presents a challenge as most of those former members are too reluctant to share their knowledge. As a result, clearly defining a group as a cult remains a struggle, thus further hindering support for its victims.
The BITE Model
Mind control follows a set of specific methods designed to influence people’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. For example, certain methods like gaslighting and hypnosis are clearly defined processes that cult leaders use on their victims to control them. These methods work as they make victims question their own thoughts while becoming more dependent on the cult leader for guidance.
Developed by Nationally Certified Counselor Steve Hassan, the BITE model helps expose these cult leaders by describing the systematic recruiting processes they use. The BITE model also delves into how cult leaders find their victims and maintain control over them. Furthermore, the acronym “BITE” explains these manipulative tactics, as the words stand for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control.
Along with the Influence Continuum Model (ICM), the BITE Model provides the best understanding of the effects of authoritarian control. Although different cult groups showcase certain aspects of the BITE model, each group may display various practices. For instance, certain cults may possess more elements in the B-category of the model, while another group may feature more I-category characteristics.
B for Behavior Control
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Behavior control in cults involves the domination of people’s actions by placing strict rules, punishments, and even rewards on their members. These cults exert control over people’s lives by dictating their place of living, interests, diets, and even relationships. Punishments that cult leaders may employ are financial exploitation, sleep deprivation, and restriction of leisure activities.
As a result of these punishments, members may lose their autonomy, which strengthens their group dependency. Moreover, cults may utilize other severe forms of punishment to correct disobedient behaviors such as imprisonment, physical and emotional abuse, and even murder. Due to strict rules and regulations, these cults discourage their members from seeking individualism by enforcing groupthink. In worse cases, cults may engage in separations of families by way of kidnapping to maintain control. Ultimately, this level of behavior control is used to break down people’s sense of self by instilling deep dependence on the cult’s authority.
I for Information Control
The I-Category explains how cults manipulate individuals by maintaining strict control over information. They use deception to control people by distorting or withholding information or outright lying to their members. More than that, these cults restrict access to outside information and perspectives to minimize or discourage members from seeking them. For instance, they may keep their members busy to dissuade them from seeking information from alternative sources. Specifically, cult leaders may restrict access to television, the Internet, books, and other media by portraying information from these sources as misleading or dangerous.
Other ways cult leaders control information is by acting similar to Big Brother from the dystopian novel 1984. In other ways, they divide people into two opposing groups, insiders and outsiders. They further tighten control over information by determining who accesses them on a need-to-know basis. Likewise, cult members are encouraged to report deviant thoughts and feelings they have, while spying on each other to maintain conformity.
T for Thought Control
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The T-Category of the BITE model focuses on the psychological techniques that cult leaders use to influence people’s attitudes and beliefs. These authority figures can suppress one’s critical thinking by requiring members to internalize group doctrine as truth while adopting their way of life as correct. This behavioral process instills a black-and-white, good versus evil mentality that makes these individuals distrusting of outside influence.
To maintain control, cult leaders may encourage people to change their names and identities that align with their ideologies. Additionally, these groups may rely on hypnotic techniques to alter their members’ thoughts and behaviors. Thought-stopping techniques such as praying and meditation can shut down people’s thoughts so cult ideologies persist. What’s more? Members are forbidden from questioning the leaders, policies, and doctrine as alternative ideologies are seen as evil or illegitimate. As a result of this manipulation, these individuals are further alienated from outside help.
E for Emotion Control
Emotional control is another tactic that cult leaders use to enforce loyalty and dependency among their members. The E-Category identifies behavior that influences their members including guilt, fear-based indoctrination, and love-bombing. These manipulative leaders strip away their members’ emotions by labeling certain emotions as wrong, evil, and selfish. Through emotional manipulation, members are made to feel inadequate in certain aspects of their lives, identities, and relationships.
The most powerful tool that cult leaders use on their members to maintain control is fear as it stops people from seeking, or even wanting, help. Typically, cult members may struggle with emotional highs and lows as they could be praised one moment and shamed the next. Comparatively, ritualistic confessions of one’s sins are common as well as phobia indoctrination with irrational beliefs that leaving would result in eternal damnation.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, exiting a cult can be challenging as it takes courage and genuine support to fully recover and heal from the constant manipulation. Former members should seek the guidance of a specialized therapist with experience in cult recovery, as they provide the understanding and tools to help in the rebuilding process. With a little trust and encouragement, these therapists can help you reclaim your independence, sense of self, and everything else taken from you.
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