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1984 Mind Control Techniques

Decent Essays

Social psychologist have been studying various ways to how Jones was able to influence his followers through thoughts and actions (Dittman). “Jonestown, they say, offers important lessons for psychology, such as the power of situational and social influences and the consequences of a leader using such influences to destructively manipulate others' behavior” (Dittman). Phillip G. Zimbardo, APA's past-president and psychology professor, thinks Jones learned his unique ability to persuade from George Orwell (Dittman).
Zimbardo has found parallels between the mind control techniques used by Jones at Jonestown--namely sophisticated types of compliance, conformity and obedience training--and those described in Orwell's fictional book "1984” (Dittman). …show more content…

Jones used the technique “Big Brother is Watching You,” by making some of his followers spy on one another, and his messages from his loudspeaker in Jonestown, blasting all hours of the day (Dittman). In Orwell's book, “1984,” Big Brother Watching You, was propaganda put throughout the cities to remind people that if they broke any rules, they would be punished because they were being monitored 24/7. Jones made people self incriminate themselves in front of crowds for their “wrong-doings” and were punished by their worst fears with humiliation. In, “1984,” the main character is subjected to his worst fear of being covered in rats for his “wrong-doings” (Dittman). Orwell's main character says that "the proper thing was to kill yourself before they get you" when in a threat of war (Dittman). Jones made his followers practice suicide drills until the actual mass suicide event (Jonestown, PBS Documentary (FULL)") . The last parallel, distorting people’s perceptions, was done by blurring words and reality (Dittman). The main example used was, Jones required his followers to give Jones himself daily thanks for food and work yet, the people were starving and were working six days a week. In, “1984,” this was similarly done but it was called, newspeak. Using these techniques allowed …show more content…

From the American Psychology Association they say,
Jones, through his natural understanding of social psychology, knew the way to obtain a strong influence over his followers was to move them from their urban American environment to a remote South American jungle, generating uncertainty in their new surroundings. And when people are uncertain, they look to others for cues on what to do, research has shown. Zimbardo notes that people are particularly vulnerable when they are in new surroundings, feel lonely or disconnected (Dittman).
Jones also promoted the idea of a “utopian world,” and spoke with “passionate attacks on segregation and the “abuses, disgraces, and contradictions of American capitalism””(“Alternative Considerations Of Jonestown & Peoples Temple"). He made his followers feel safe and made them feel as if he was a perfect god

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