Forensic Psychologist and Cult Expert Dr. Steve Eichel on Hypnosis, Social Contagion, and Disinformation

Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan

Dr. Steven Hassan

Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Education

4.8 • 684 Ratings

🗓️ 26 June 2023

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There are few people in the field of forensic psychology with the training, background, and experience of Dr. Steve Eichel. In 1975, almost a year before I was deprogrammed from the Moonies, he decided to do his dissertation research on my former cult. He has had a long distinguished career, serving as the President of the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), and remains an active member of their Board of Directors. He has been published extensively in the field and has served as an expert witness on undue influence in many cases. I asked him about his experience working for the defense in the case of DC sniper Lee Boyd Malvo. Steve joined the podcast to discuss these experiences and his expertise in therapeutic hypnosis. He was one of the experts I interviewed in researching my last book, The Cult of Trump. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm Dr. Stephen Hassan with another episode of the influence continuum.
0:08.7	This episode, I'm very grateful to be with a very old colleague and friend, Steve Ischall,
0:17.2	is a PhD psychologist, licensed, board certified.
0:23.6	He does forensic psychology.
0:26.6	He's a certified sex therapist as well.
0:31.6	And Steve has been involved with the cultic studies field since 1975.
0:47.0	Believe it or not, he decided he would go to the Mooneys, my former cult, in order to do a dissertation research experience up at the Barrytown facility, which I was at many, many times.
0:56.7	I think you did that in...
0:59.6	April of 75.
1:01.5	April of 75.
1:03.0	So I wasn't even out of the Moonies yet till May of 76.
1:09.9	But I don't remember meeting you at Barrytown.
1:12.6	In any case, Steve was the president of the International Cultic Studies Association from 2012 to 2021.
1:25.4	Steve is published, presented extensively on cult-related topics for 40 years.
1:31.4	Steve, you're an expert in hypnosis. You know, you are a fount of knowledge, and I'm so
1:38.1	happy to share with my listeners your expertise. And before I ask you to introduce yourself and say what you want to say,
1:49.7	I just want to comment that at the current moment in the world, we're seeing such prevalence
1:56.6	of cult stories, cult deaths in Kenya, Lori Vallow was just convicted of doomsday cult, you know,
2:08.5	murdering her own children. And there's also a very organized effort on behalf of cults trying to say, nope, you know, they're just
2:21.5	new religious movements and there's no such thing as brainwashing or mind control.
2:26.9	Don't believe any of the ex-members.
2:29.2	So there's a whole sciop, you know, psychological warfare component to what's happening around the world. And Steve,
	...

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