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From: judy@ism780.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Experiential Processes - (nf)
Message-ID: <320@ism780.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Jul-84 20:56:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: ism780.320
Posted: Thu Jul 12 20:56:53 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 16-Jul-84 07:36:11 EDT
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#R:tektronix:-297500:ism780:13000022:000:2758
ism780!judy    Jul 11 16:02:00 1984

You make several good arguments and I will adjust my statements accordingly.

1)  You refer to the name experiential processes (EP) and say that they are
not dangerous because if they were, there would be greater public outcry.
They may not be dangerous to the average person.  My concern is for those
with mental and emotional difficulties.  There are some people, and they
are often drawn into groups like this, who are on a mental edge.  Such an
experience may, for them, push them over the edge in a negative (non-
therapeutic) way.  Most EP trainers are not equipped to deal with this.
They will also state it isn't a problem.  I have dealt with many psychologists
who will argue differently.  They are usually treating these people who were
pushed over the edge.

EP's can be dangerous to the unstable.

2) > But I, for one, have felt that my own particular DM (defense mechanism)
   > is getting more and more in my way.

As I stated in my first article, DM's which are no longer necessary will fall
away by the natural process of living.  The one you are referring to is
probably one of those.  The ones which are not ready to be gotten rid of
are usually unknown to the owner.

3)  You state that no one forces the person.  Yet most of these workshops work
on the psychology of peer pressure.  Just try saying you don't want to talk
about an area of your life in one of those meetings.  You will have everyone
else in the room saying things like "You're resisting" and "Trust us", etc.
This kind of pressure is just what is used by brain washers.

Also, in many of these workshops you are isolated with the other members of
the workshops for 72 hours at a time.  This is, in essence, separating
you from your emotional support structure.  And while isolated, you are
often put in anxiety prone situations.  The great joke about EST is that they
won't let you go to the bathroom.  You learn to pee in your pants.  Now,
what psychological good can it really do to pee in your pants.  (I know,
it gets you past your first socialization process - toilet training.  I
prefer to remain toilet trained).

4)  You are absolutely correct.  There is a difference between cults
and these groups.  But it is more a tactical difference than anything else.
The people I have known who get involved with EP projects have ended up
spending ALL THEIR SPARE TIME in workshops, getting people into them, etc.
And with their time has gone their money.  They don't always live in communes
as most cults do.  But, then, Scientology is an experiential process in which
you do not have to become a member.  But it is also a cult.  And there are
many people who, after having been trained, wind up as members (usually after
all their savings have been already spent).

Judy