When most of us think of Jim Jones and Jonestown, we think of images like the one above showing the horrible aftermath of almost one thousand folks drinking poison-laced kool-aid at the behest of a man who is characterized as a nut job cult leader or we think of the assassination of Congressman Leo Ryan and his entourage that led to what until the events of 9-11 was the largest loss of American life in one event outside of natural disaster or warfare. I remember watching television in my grandmother’s home back in 1978 when the news broke and how overwhelming it was for so many of us.
Today, Jim Jones and his followers have been relegated almost to the status of footnote but we can still learn much.
In A Thousand Lives, Julia Scheeres, attempts a neutral history of the circumstances with interviews of the remaining survivors (close to one hundred people survived but that still pales next to the well over 900 who drank their poison and lay down to die – including well over 200 children – the original death count was much smaller, until the investigators began moving bodies to discover the smaller bodies underneath).
The story of Jonestown is NOT a story of a mad man’s march to doom . . . Jim Jones started out doing good, he did a LOT of good in his work with the underprivileged and a less disenfranchised version his brand of apostolic progressivism certainly would certainly serve a place today.
Jones gathered his followers through social influence and then that monster fame along with drugs began changing the man behind the movement . . . the desire to be bigger and better began changing the method so that social engineering began rearing its ugly head and his revivals began having elements of shyster and con man as he began having healing sessions and psychic readings within the revivals, on the surface staying congruent with his apostolic background but employing the methods from the dark underbelly of that movement more than the honest trancework and spiritual communion . . . the desire to expand and control began taking hold.
Eventually, the paranoia set in – most likely caused by drug abuse but certainly assisted by the sense of isolation and a need to protect one’s hold upon one’s flock. The need to isolate his members and the influence of outsiders led to movements to various locales until he managed the ultimate isolation in Guyana.
See Laura Miller‘s discussion of Scheeres’s new book as it’s fascinating. Go to http://www.salon.com/2011/10/10/a_thousand_lives_what_really_happened_in_jonestown/singleton/ for more.
Note how social influence, persuasion, and social engineering play into the events. Even the fact that they practiced the suicide ritual made it easier for the actual ritual to be effective just as any therapist or teacher can tell you rehearsed actions are always easier to carry out than unrehearsed ones . . . and as social influence scholars know, rehearsed actions are less likely to be blocked by cognitive dissonance . . . one automatically obeys authority and carries out rehearsed behaviors.
Neal Osherow has written an analysis of the Jonestown events in his “Making Sense of the Nonsensical: An Analysis of Jonestown“ which explores some of the specific elements of influence and social influence at play worth looking at. We see case studies in the use of conformity, consistency, persuasion, and more.
For Osherow’s paper, see http://www.guyana.org/features/jonestown.html. Note that he has other critiques of Jonestown on the same site as well.
Of course, not all social influence ends up so tragically. It can, which is why I strongly encourage my own students to learn the principles at play so that they can recognize when they are being manipulated. I also strongly encourage my students to use the principles of effective social influence ethically with the genuine best interests of their audience in mind.
This material is based upon just one of many forms that social psychology or social influence can take. The Jonestown case is an example of how things go wrong, however, there are also examples of social influence being used for good . . . often, for very good.
Once we understand the principles behind influence of this type, we can begin to apply those principles in a variety of positive contexts. We become more effective at changing behaviors and in creating desirable outcomes . . . socially, in business, and within any other context you can imagine.
This year, participants in the WALKABOUT TRANCE THREE will take this sort of knowledge and learn to put it to actual immediate and effective use by going out into the public and applying the principles in fun and engaging real world practicum experiments with members of the public as we explore walkabout style waking street hypnosis and social influence and more. Participants will not only be learning cutting edge techniques in delivering weaking hypnotic suggestions to members of the public, they will learn the core principles and more of authentic social influence with practical exercises out and about walkabout trance style to engage and influence members of the public that develop their skills and take their ability to effectively influence others to the next level and beyond.
Learn the theory . . . learn the talk . . . and . . . most importantly . . . learn to walk the walk and become the sort of influential person you wish to be!
Of course, keeping in mind that one must be ever vigilant in ensuring that the general welfare and good of the persons you’re influencing is kept utmost in one’s mind while applying this very powerful material. Yes, there have been folks who have mis-applied the principles or used them for ill in the past, but we hope the folks who learn to be true masters of persuasion will use them well and with good intent. Seriously, this is very powerful stuff.
Want to learn how to engage complete strangers and influence them through the principles of social influence, waking suggestion, power communication and more in a new and improved powerful form of Walkabout Trance that combines the positive qualities of walkabout trance style street hypnosis with social influence and eyes open waking hypnosis and so very much more and beyond?
http://www.walkabouttrance.com
Join us for WALKABOUT TRANCE THREE in February in Los Angeles as part of the Beach Resort Getaway weekend of hypnotic experiences . . . see http://www.walkabouttrance.com for more information (sign up now and receive the very special early bird discount). This time around, we’re going way beyond what others have been doing as simple street hypnosis as we explore the use of Eyes Open Waking Hypnosis combined with some amazing Social Influence and Power Communication material that will take your skills to the next level. Seriously, this is both an incredibly powerful course experience with both theory and immediate practical application out and about on the boardwalk of a beach resort as well as an incredible Hypnoparty that takes you well beyond the next level in a meaningful yet fun way. Seriously, do NOT miss your chance.
The instructor of the weekend, Brian David Phillips (that’s me), is a highly regarded hypnotist within the worldwide hypnosis community as well as an associate professor at an elite university in Asia. He has actively taught performance presentation, communication, critical theory, and influence for decades at the undergraduate through doctoral levels. Likewise, he has had a lifelong love of hypnosis and has taught cutting edge hypnosis courses in countries throughout the globe.
You can also check out the products below to improve your skillsets related to speed hypnosis and eyes open waking hypnosis.
Brian
www.BrianDavidPhillips.net
