The BITE Model and Mormon Control

by Luna Lindsey

The Mormon Church is a high-demand group that exerts control over its members' Behavior, Information, Thoughts, and Emotions to create a cycle of psychological dependency. This BITE Model (developed by cult exit counselor Steven Hassan) describes how cults and totalist groups employ coercive persuasion that inflicts deep psychological scars.This short ebook supplements Luna Lindsey's "Recovering Agency" and reveals further how certain LDS doctrines, culture, and policies fit the BITE Model. These unhealthy pressures stifle free agency and keep members trapped within their Church. The BITE Model and Mormon Control looks at this same information through a different angle, and can either be read standalone, or both books can be read together for deeper understanding. Whether you are recovering from Mormonism or another totalist religion, or interested in real-life examples of group power dynamics to protect yourself from manipulation, or whether you are merely curious, this book will be a quick and fascinating exploration of the LDS inner-life. Turn the pages and learn the answers to longstanding questions about this unique American religion and about the human mind.

Genres: Religion

121 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2015

Reviews

[Abram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short E-book brings a lot of memories back. For example Mormonism held such a control over me that I confessed my sexual thoughts to my bishop. They were just thoughts!!!. Also I told a bishop something in confidence and then someone else relayed to me the same information that I thought was between me and him. I remember the last Sunday I attended Mormon sacrament meeting the bishop was talking about people doubting the church and leaving it. He warned people that if they leave they put their children's salvation and grandchildren's salvation in danger. This guilt-trip coercion strikes me as immoral. (I disbelieved the church for other reasons like lack of evidence for the Book of Mormon) but that was the last Sunday I attended.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent analysis of how several control measures in the LDS church fit into the BITE model. Hopefully the LDS church will let go of these measures in time.