It was noted that there was a need for structure and containment in a training program, and that such a need was most likely behind the beginnings of the practices described. However, there had been a movement far beyond this, which included the institutionalisation of sadism. It was noted that the descriptions involved did not refer only to psychoanalytic institutes. The Australian army and the Indian Communist Party were each mentioned as having similar practices as experienced by members. An hypothesis was put forward by one member who talked of the dependency illustrated in the article.
People come then to depend upon it.
Such dependency leads to the destruction of the good and cruelty occurs in an attempt to protect what was good. The discussion went on to look at the kind of fundamentalism created, how this becomes intemalised and hence develops into totalitarianism. He felt that if one was unsure of the self, then this destabilises creativity. The practices described stifle creativity. Yet some structure is required for leaming.