| Mind control is an old, natural and often | | | | When you study large religious groups like the Roman |
| misunderstood science. Only recently have | | | | Catholic Church, the use of just these elements |
| psychologists began uncovering these secrets that | | | | becomes apparent. Keep in mind that using these |
| have allowed governments and religious organizations | | | | two elements in any combination is not right or |
| to capture the hearts and emotions of their | | | | wrong in and of itself. They are merely natural human |
| followers, sometimes leading to disastrous and | | | | response mechanisms. They can be used, for either |
| horrible results. One doesn't have to look very far to | | | | good or evil. Because mainstream religions have a |
| see the devastating effect blind allegiance to a leader | | | | reputation for being relatively beneficial organizations |
| with evil intentions. Even today, the headlines are | | | | in today's society, most don't look at religious |
| filled with such stories. | | | | teachings with an overly critical eye. |
| If these happen, why are they possible? Did great | | | | But you can be sure that if a beloved pastor at a |
| religious organizations like the Catholic Church | | | | large, well established church gave a controversial |
| purposely set out to covertly grab the thoughts of | | | | sermon, it would be take completely differently that |
| millions? This was likely not the case. Rather, the | | | | a strangely dressed single man on a corner shouting |
| church happened across these two powerful | | | | through a bullhorn. |
| elements, as their very prevalence leaves it almost | | | | The reason that humans respond to authority and |
| impossible to tap them in some respect. | | | | group thinking so readily is that during our evolution, it |
| What are they? The two most powerful elements | | | | was beneficial to do so. But all things that were |
| that people respond to is social proof, sometimes | | | | beneficial to us in our evolutionary past may not be |
| called the bandwagon effect, and authority. Social | | | | beneficial in today's modern society. For example, a |
| proof plays into effect whenever people follow a | | | | cave man would do well to gorge himself to capacity |
| fad, wear the same designer sunglasses, or even | | | | every time he came across a source of food, |
| during jury votes. Next time you are walking down | | | | because food sources were few and far between. |
| the street, pay attention to your feelings and | | | | Those that ate with a size 4 cavewoman outfit in |
| emotions whenever you pass a large crowd that | | | | mind didn't last very long. Obviously, in today's |
| happens to be looking at something. Many find that | | | | society of abundant food, gorging yourself at every |
| they feel an almost irresistible urge to do what the | | | | opportunity has quite the opposite effect. |
| crowd is doing. | | | | And one doesn't have to look very far to find stories |
| Authority works the same way. Police officers, | | | | of group thinking and blind allegiance to authority to |
| doctors, likable politicians all have the effect of the | | | | give evidence that these two may have outlived |
| content of their message bypassing the critical factor | | | | their usefulness. |
| of most people. The same message said by two | | | | Luckily, humans have the capacity for reason and |
| different people will be interpreted two different | | | | critical thinking. Perhaps it's time to start using these |
| ways based on their individual level of authority. | | | | two resources more often. |