Dr. Steven Hassan's

BITE MODELRof Authoritarian Control

TMTMDR. STEVEN HASSAN'S
BITE MODEL OF
AUTHORITARIAN CONTROLTMBEHAVIORINFORMATIONTHOUGHTEMOTION

Many think of mind control as an ambiguous, mystical process that is difficult to define.
Mind control refers to a specific set of methods and techniques, such as hypnosis or
thought-stopping, that influence how a person thinks, feels, and acts.
Steven Hassan developed the BITE Model to describe cults' specific methods to recruit andmaintain control over people. “BITE” stands for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotionalcontrol. The BITE model should be used within the Influence Continuum Model to help
determine authoritarian control. Not every group or relationship uses every one of these. Someare universal such as deception (Information control), indoctrinating people to distrust critics andformer members, or installing phobias to make people afraid of questioning or leaving.

716 Beacon Street, #590443, Newton, MA 02459(617) 396-4638(617) 628-8153
freedomofmind.com
Dissertation published January 2021: “The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control: Undue Influence, Thought
Reform, Brainwashing, Mind Control, Trafficking and the Law”

freedomofmind.com ©2023 all rights reserved.

Dr. Steven Hassan's

BITE MODEL

Rof Authoritarian Control

TMBEHAVIOR CONTROL
1. Regulate individual's physical reality
2. Dictate where, how, and with whom the member lives
and associates or isolates
3. When, how and with whom the member has sex
4. Control types of clothing and hairstyles
5. Regulate diet - food and drink, hunger and/or fasting
6. Manipulation and deprivation of sleep
7. Financial exploitation, manipulation or dependence
8. Restrict leisure, entertainment, vacation time
9. Major time spent with group indoctrination andrituals and/or self indoctrination including the Internet
10. Permission required for major decisions
11. Rewards and punishments used to modify behaviors,
both positive and negative
12. Discourage individualism, encourage group-think
13. Impose rigid rules and regulations
14. Punish disobedience by beating, torture, burning,cutting, rape, or tattooing/branding
15. Threaten harm to family and friends
16. Force individual to rape or be raped
17. Encourage and engage in corporal punishment
18. Instill dependency and obedience
19. Kidnapping
20. Beating
21. Torture
22. Rape
23. Separation of Families
24. Imprisonment
25. Murder

INFORMATION CONTROL
1. Deception:
a. Deliberately withhold informationb. Distort information to make it more acceptablec. Systematically lie to the cult member
2. Minimize or discourage access to non-cult sourcesof information, including:a. Internet, TV, radio, books, articles, newspapers,
magazines, media
b. Critical informationc. Former members
d. Keep members busy so they don't have time tothink and investigatee. Control through cell phone with texting, calls,
internet tracking
3. Compartmentalize information into Outsider
vs. Insider doctrines
a. Ensure that information is not freely accessibleb. Control information at different levels and missions
within groupc. Allow only leadership to decide who needs to knowwhat and when
4. Encourage spying on other members
a. Impose a buddy system to monitor and control member
b. Report deviant thoughts, feelings and actions to leadershipc. Ensure that individual behavior is monitored by group
5. Extensive use of cult-generated informationand propaganda, including:a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audiotapes, videotapes,YouTube, movies and other media
b. Misquoting statements or using them out of context from
non-cult sources
6. Unethical use of confessiona. Information about sins used to disrupt and/or dissolve identity boundaries
b. Withholding forgiveness or absolutionc. Manipulation of memory, possible false memories

freedomofmind.com ©2023 all rights reserved.

Dr. Steven Hassan's

BITE MODEL

Rof Authoritarian Control

TMTHOUGHT CONTROL
1. Require members to internalize the group's
doctrine as truth
a. Adopting the group's 'map of reality' as reality
b. Instill black and white thinking
c. Decide between good vs. evild. Organize people into us vs. them (insiders vs. outsiders)
2. Change person's name and identity

3. Use of loaded language and cliches which constrict
knowledge, stop critical thoughts and reducecomplexities into platitudinous buzz words
4. Encourage only 'good and proper' thoughts
5. Hypnotic techniques are used to alter mental states,
undermine critical thinking and even to age
regress the member
6. Memories are manipulated and false memories
are created
7. Teaching thought-stopping techniques whichshut down reality testing by stopping negative thoughts
and allowing only positive thoughts, including:a. Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking
b. Chantingc. Meditatingd. Prayinge. Speaking in tongues
f. Singing or humming
8. Rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking,constructive criticism

9. Forbid critical questions about leader, doctrine,or policy allowed
10. Labeling alternative belief systems as illegitimate,evil, or not useful

EMOTIONAL CONTROL
1. Manipulate and narrow the range of feelings –some emotions and/or needs are deemed as evil,
wrong or selfish
2. Teach emotion-stopping techniques to block
feelings of homesickness, anger, doubt
3. Make the person feel that problems are always theirown fault, never the leader's or the group's fault
4. Promote feelings of guilt or unworthiness, such asa. Identity guiltb. You are not living up to your potential
c. Your family is deficientd. Your past is suspecte. Your affiliations are unwise
f. Your thoughts, feelings, actions are irrelevant or selfish
g. Social guilth. Historical guilt

5. Instill fear, such as fear of:a. Thinking independently
b. The outside worldc. Enemies
d. Losing one's salvatione. Leaving or being shunned by the groupf. Other's disapproval
6. Extremes of emotional highs and lows – love bombing
and praise one moment and then declaring you
are horrible sinner
7. Ritualistic and sometimes public confession of sins
8. Phobia indoctrination: inculcating irrational fears
about leaving the group or questioning the leader's authority
a. No happiness or fulfillment possible outside of the groupb. Terrible consequences if you leave: hell, demon possession,
incurable diseases, accidents, suicide, insanity,
10,000 reincarnations, etc.
c. Shunning of those who leave; fear of being rejectedby friends and family
d. Never a legitimate reason to leave; those who leave
are weak, undisciplined, unspiritual, worldly, brainwashed byfamily or counselor, or seduced by money, sex, or rock and rolle. Threats of harm to ex-member and family

11. Instill new “map of reality”

freedomofmind.com ©2023 all rights reserved.

Dr. Steven Hassan's

BITE MODELRof Authoritarian Control

TMUNLOCK MINDS. EMPOWER LIVES.
To learn more about undue influence, Dr. Steven Hassan has created a series of online
life-changing courses. These transformative programs are valuable for individuals who haveexperienced brainwashing or undue influence and for their loved ones seeking to understandand support them, as well as professionals working with this vulnerable population.
Dr. Hassan's courses provide hope and healing for those who have encountered the harrowing
effects of cognitive dissonance, identity confusion, emotional manipulation, isolation, or fear
due to manipulative groups. But these courses offer much more – they equip people withessential information and tools to assist and guide them towards recovery and reclamation of
their true selves.
These courses also are invaluable for professionals working in human studies fields by helping
them gain insights into the intricate dynamics of undue influence and brainwashing. Using thisinformation, these practitioners can better serve their clients, offering tailored support andevidence-based strategies to foster increased self-awareness, restored autonomy, reestablishedrelationships, emotional healing, and a rediscovered identity. We look forward to supporting
you on your recovery and educational journey.

ENROLL HERE

freedomofmind.com ©2023 all rights reserved.