By 1971 Dederich would submit that while 10 to 12,000 people had gone through Synanon only about 10% stayed free of drugs for as much as 2 years, which was similar to the statistics everyone else concluded, which were the same at Lexington Hospital when Synanon was founded. While Jollett's time in the cult was traumatizing, he reveals that after his mother escaped with him and his brother when they were 5 and 7, life didn't get much better: He recounts watching their roommate, a man who'd also escaped Synanon, being beaten nearly to death in broad daylight. Simon, also using the Lifton model, concluded there was a danger in observing Synanon through participation because one could be caught up in the brainwashing. Worse, they continue today despite strong efforts to expose them. In 1974, Congress opened an investigation into such behavior-modification programs, finding that The Seed had used methods similar to the highly refined brainwashing techniques employed by the North Koreans. What is known about the early days, was that the older joiners were more likely to stay than the younger, and its initial opening success per Ofshe reflected that then the current age of entry was 34 or older; they were people who had a strong desire to remove themselves from the demanding regime of an addict/criminal life. Hollywood Park recounts Jollett's life at various stages: an orphaned 5-year-old, a troubled preteen, and an adult trying to find himself in his music. Synanon just gave it a giant shove through its PR machine which unfortunately attracted sociopaths wanting an easy road to riches and unfortunately led many governmental agencies and politicians to back their concepts. There just a, lots of them down in the Bank of America building in San Francisco, Pacific Union club, various law offices throughout the country, the streets, the ghettos, the penitentiaries. Largely, the squares were people looking for purpose and to be part of something. Jollett says his feelings were not validated by his mother, who instead relied on him for comfort. "I make them.". He wrote the failure of Yablonsky to see the horror of what he had written raised questions suggesting a lack of humanity in Yablonsky. When I asked if he had studied brainwashing he said he had not. I offered the information to Janzen and he didnt want it. For us, it was Experience of Contact, thousands of interviews, internal documents, depositions of leaders and a lifelong examination. AA, as Synanon did, says one must participate in AA for life and have a religious belief in AA 12 steps. It was like, 'Nothing ever gets to me. Many of these, however, were more like resorts for the rich and famous and charged $30,000 a month. A small portion decided they had enough, and gave too much credit to Synanon and not enough to their own will power. You dont present any facts that they are lies because you have none. This story Straights attorney for that trial was a prominent Washington, DC civil liberties lawyer named Ronald Goldfarb. Let alone, 'Okay, here you go stranger I've never met, take care of my kid. But he ruled them out as heretics, not ever once, as did Janzen, do, as Deep Throat suggested to the Watergate investigators: follow the money.. I listened to countless game tapes. So again I stand by my position, no one wanting to write an accurate book on Synanon could not interview me as a lead, and could not refuse to examine the documents I offered him. For Jollett, experiencing his dad's love was a life-changing experience. You might call that egotistical, but I felt I had that knowledge because I had engaged so many. is a different This issue obviously needs further elaboration and research, but there are suggestions that there are age limits below which this form of treatment is contraindicated. Now theres a little room for you now. The methods the religious community used to break down the members are still used in rehab facilities across the United States. Sincerely Your post-talks about the bonds, the relationships and enjoyment people had, particularly in earlier days. You would know that in general I have a higher regard for Synanon people than the public at large. I am very grateful that you have included in writing your blog about Joe Riccis version or interpetation of Synanon. A Violent, Deadly Cult With Forced Abortions and Shades of Scientology FOLLOW THE LEADER San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images Prove that all the Synanon documents directing kidnappings, beatings and murder did not exist. Sure it maybe closed but it still needs to be investigated in the same fashion that Penn state was investigated. But that dwindled as the joiners became younger and Dederich turned his attention to using the media and Hollywood to produce a flow of persons, goods and services to develop by 1976 over $30 million in assets and the start of large salaries and bonuses. In 1971, Dederich stated, as Ofshe noted: we want at the idea of graduate. This was a sop to social workers and professionals who wanted me to say that we were producing a graduate. I always wanted to say to them, A person with this fatal disease will have to live here all of his life. I know damn well if they got out of Synanon they are dead. The example story might be that of Joe Musico and Lance Kenton. Some of these programs were in the wilderness, some were high in the Mountains, or in deserts, or per parents trading children and keeping them in locked rooms when they were not in camps many of which were like old time chain gangs this saving cost of shelter and food. As messages here seem to disappear and reappear per you request I am repeating it. As to CED I have no clear answer, but certainly his childhood traumas and abandonments were likely to produce pathology. I welcome anyones story, questions or facts; the only thing I delete is attacking the messenger; attack facts if you can but I am not going to have gaming on here, get the speaker when you cannot challenge the info. The robber barons cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience., *..*.*. You say it is unscientific nonsense, but prove that any of the statistics and studies were not accurate or that the events that took place in the clones did not happen. Many who studied Synanon agreed. There is likely truth that allowing contact with past relationships might lure someone to leave or want to get high, but that is the persons choice. Researched by Maia Szalavitz for a book in 2006 and for Mother Jones in 2007 she described the clone horrors and traced them back to Synanon. Elan was known of using such standards as haircut, pull- up, the game and humiliating signs; but added a boxing ring for resisters to be plummeted by bigger guys until a bloody confession was extracted, regardless of its truth. What you write is not experience of all. Jollett believes the violence to which adults were subjected has received widespread attention. It was a gift. When she finally was rescued by a grandmother, the organization was fortunately wiped out by the resulting civil judgment for damages. He also admitted violence could not occur without his approval but he forgot the details due to his stroke. Dinosaur Survivors Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Such people probably would be happier in a small environment with given friends, lovers, jobs and a sense of purpose, where most needs are fulfilled. This piece was limited to legacy and was put together through stats, admissions and results in clones. Dr. Casriel in 1963 reported that of 62 people located of 160 entries, 19 were graduates, while 43 remained inside Synanon. Maia wrote: No fewer than 50 programs can trace their treatment philosophy, directly or indirectly, to an anti-drug cult called Synanon. It is also a story of the unconditional love between The Cedu Schools developed into an industry of sister schools, clones and copy-cats, that are now a multi-million dollar, international and unregulated business., *.*.. Facing seven-figure legal judgments, despite ties with the Bush family and Nancy Reagan, it closed in 1993. In 1993, Dr. DuPont testified that the progenitor of Straight was Synanon and that those places which used Synanons methods are called therapeutic communities and that there are two rules for these therapeutic communities: No Sex and No Violence. But that idea was bantered by law enforcement as because of the wire, and the wire logs, knowledge could be proven against all who stayed in support. He noted that the child seemed lost in the rigid hierarchy and confrontation tactics of the program. He wrote: As a clinician I am concerned about the effects of intense, violent verbal interaction upon young teenagers engaged in a sensitive process of identity formation. But he failed to see while controlled and anti-social pathology still existedit awaited release and that many were eager to respond to their old days ways if the message to do good turned to do bad. I informed him that some of the people he interviewed were in fact the ones who participated most in the violence and that he had been lied to. Hopefully somedaywe get back the candidates like that; but Im not smart enough to suggest how. by And when former clients sued Straight for holding them against their will, Straight pressured parents into letting Straight fight for them for the right to force their kids into treatment with the force of a court order. It does appear prior post returned and I did respond to you at length. Yes it was a tough nut to crack and in part due to the protection it recieved. It exposes the cruel abnormal policies, practices and propaganda the Synanon children were forced to endure in a so-called modern America. The leader, Chuck Dederich, decided we wouldn't have parents, and then we just didn't.". But instead he made lab rats out of people. . Further it established shelter and group support could aid those truly wanting to stop. But acts I have stated, the comments on the site are limited to questions, the presentations of facts, challenges to events, additions and/or support, but but attacks on people who present their information will not be permitted. Professor David Bellis was one. The evil was he boasted that they would cut off any charity that did not do as Synanon told them to do. Any dammed fool who wants to come in and say Id like to live with you and we let them in. According to Department of *, As with The Seed, at Straight abuse was omnipresentincluding beatings and kidnapping of adult participants. Tony, always angry as a child, sank into addiction at an early age and went to rehab. Margo I agree I looked at every branch. Spare the Rod Healing. Nonprofit Organization. I suspected this would happen, because it is well known that people in cults go from outrageous anger to a final whimsical yearning at the end for a time of spirit and comradeship. The study of cults can teach us the problems of nations. But is there anything worth giving up freedom of thought? Today there is argument, but generally it only comes from true believers like Janzen or long time residents who once condemned Synanon, , but now in their old age, as is generally the final stage for victims of brainwashing, per Dr. Lifton, rewrite their memories so each night they are at peace with what they took part in, including, if not outright participating, knowing of the Imperial Marines and all the beatings. Almost all modern day therapeutic communitiesand there are hundreds of themare based on the game. But I DO know the culture of Synanon. Perhaps worse, was Dederichs friendship with Caesar Chavez wherein CED convinced Caesar to live like a rich man on La Paz and import the game which led to mutiny and the downfall of the UFW. We were indoctrinated quickly thru fear, humiliation,and the constant threat of physical violence. This was written before he joined. but if I missed something please tell me. It is also a story of the unconditional love between a So I went through it again to tried to erase that ambiguity and I hope you are happier with it. While it is not unusual for one party not to want the other party to the successful (and government suffers from the two-party system) it did seem that Bible Belt Republicans really were really upset by the idea that a black man was president; and we suffered for it because any plan, reasonable or not, was to be made sure it could not succeed. Here we are not talking about riding horses, discussing the nature of man, or Emerson, but a reign of terror that was destined and predicted by many in the early 60s due to the Synanon methods of attack therapy, forced confessions, rewards and punishments and brainwashing about enemies. Kids were assaulted and restrained without cause and all the rest. Anybody. Its like, its like the story Ive always told you, you know about the warden standing up on the, looking out the window of his office and down in the big yard and saying, Come here, George, watch em theyll all fuck each other pretty soon you know, we, we, we most of the people to come into our house and say I would like to live here and turn out to be very, very real crazy people. And I really try to do that," Jollett says. And of course, this was what was best in early Synanon, i.e., peers to talk to and help if the craving starts; also support when kicking cold turkey, food and a roof. Neither AA, Synanon, or those that followed, were based on any scientific studies. Ofshe further pointed out Dr. Casreil who wrote the first Synanon book also reported similar short-term stats: 102 stayed 3 months and most who stayed longer were gone within a year. Since I alone have the records (UCLA has only what Synanon chose to give it) I felt obligated. The Hammer Podcast. And it was repeated in books by Yablonsky and Endore and unfortunately repeated a decade ago by Janzen. Since I had as friends, people like Bernie Kolb and Ben Parks, who went from long-term addictions to long time great human beings, I concluded something there must have worked. Others reported in 1973 that the Synanon absorbing members was retention, not rehabilitation, a result found unfortunately in many of the Synanon clones, which Synanon bragged 2,400 existed. Yet by 1968, to justify ending graduation, if Dederich was correct, there was little success in curing addicts. I would say some things are not debatable. borderline schizophrenic patients, schizoid personalities, and acutely anxious, neurotic adolescents. in the understanding and treatment of adolescents. . Arbitrarily, I would say that young persons under 16 years of age should be excluded from these programs and that careful evaluation be given admitting persons between 16 and 18 years of age . The monster that now existed had to be stopped. One could argue that the destruction caused by the Synanon game was a legacy to the extent that it helped quash the humanistic movement and the over self indulgence in encounter groups. And he started saying, 'Don't be like me. "Mary Karr likes to say, 'You have to write about difficult relationships with great love.' And in March she went, flying into Georgetown with her family, a few friends, and Jordan The sicker he became, the more he was tormented and tortured by the staff. just state that and agree to the group rules!! Both boys had to navigate poverty and abuse, but Jollett's experience was vastly different from his brother's. "All of us started having kids, and I think as parents we were like, 'Holy s---, what? If you have a complaint it is with Yablonsky and Janzen who had no understanding of the Synanon system. Worse, when others, like Dr. Casriel, who formed Daytop, decided to use the Synanon approach modified, they did not understand the effect of age and desire in the Synanon flashes of success and further the danger of its approach as described by Simon and Friedenberg. first, you say that many agree with what I wrote and others did not, and as you say, these agreements are expected and that some would be vehemently because of the psychological processes of denial. What is mysterious about this? You think I didnt experience Synanon, but I did. A business illiterate, I dont know an invoice from a purchase order or the difference between shipped and delivered. In the book The Tunnel Back Yablonsky, Dederich and another Dr. discuss that the Synanon system is similar to Dr. Liftons discussion of Chinese brainwashing. I'll see you in a few weeks for three hours,' Or in some cases, 'I'll see you in six months,' in some cases, five years. I am very aware of the early philosophies of Synanon. Did you change partners? I'm not doing that. . And he told of the case of one TC therapist who forced female clients to perform fellatio on him while he talked on the phone to their probation officers., *..**. They made people like Bernie Kolb who I loved very much. Straight used Synanons vaginal and anal searches to search for contraband for years even though they never found any. You know ts great fun, to watch that. Pierce (1977) While forced to admit the attack on me, there is no mention of Phil Ritter or Eidson, etc., in his book, Rise and Fall of Synanon (which was same working title I had) rather a statement that the media exaggerated the violence and that there was no violence inside Synanon. Kimberly Stafford, the Vision Quest counselor who was driving the supply vehicle, was convicted of careless driving. For those, as stated above, there is no doubt Synanon served as Ofshe stated, a realistic shelter while they got their act together. But it is a calculated risk we take. S. 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