Re: Self-Test: Under the Influence of a Destructive Group?

[Guest guest]

Thank you for posting this. Its quite interesting. I can answer

yes to most regarding A.A.

> Are you " UNDER THE INFLUENCE " of a destructive group or belief

system?

> Find out with this SELF QUIZ:

>

> Does your group discourage doubts, criticism or ideas that differ

> from their belief system?

> Yes____No____

> Do you tend to rationalize whatever the group does even when it

goes

> against your sense of right and wrong?

> Yes___ No___

> Do you often feel exhausted from lengthy group activities, meetings

> and projects?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group have its own unique words, clichés, slogans,

> chants,

> prayers and doctrinal phrases that reinforce the group viewpoint?

> Yes___ No___

> Are doubts viewed as a lack of faith, dedication, commitment or

> disloyalty?

> Yes___ No___

> Have " your thoughts " become " the enemy? "

> Yes___ No___

> Do you often find yourself doing more and more things in the group

or

> because of group peer pressure that you would not have done on your

> own?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group publicly humiliate or criticize members?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group have a system of punishments and rewards for

> behavior?

> Yes___ No___

> Group paranoia: Does your group obsessively think other groups or

> people with different beliefs are out to get them?

> Yes___ No___

> Does the prospect of leaving your group seem scary, difficult?

> Yes___ No___

> Do you feel the need to leave in secret?

> Yes___ No___

> Have you been told something bad might happen if you leave?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group/belief system think they have/are the only or

highest

> truth, or have the solution for the world's problems?

> Yes___ No___

> Are your leader's ideas or belief system considered beyond

> reproach

> or sacred?

> Yes___ No___

> Do you follow a particular individual or belief system that

requires

> unquestioning obedience and loyalty?

> Yes___ No___

> ) Do members of your group feel specially chosen, superior,

> exclusive, elite?

> Yes___ No___

> Do you feel the need to save or convert others to your belief

system

> or ideology?

> Yes___ No___

> Is your group secretive to outsiders about its inner workings,

> teachings, activities or beliefs?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group equate purity and goodness to being in your group,

> and impurity or evil to those outside your group?

> Yes___ No___

> Do you place your group's mission or agenda above your own goals

> and

> ideals? Do group interests come before your own interest

> Yes___ No___

> Do you find yourself thinking in a we-they, us-versus-them mind

set?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group/system have a clear outside enemy?

> Yes___ No___

> Do you see less and less of your family and friends who do not

belong

> to your group or who do not subscribe to your group's belief

> system?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group use frequent public testimonials, confessions, or

> sharings that reinforce the group's mission or agenda?

> Yes___ No___

> Is communication within, into and out of your group controlled or

> censored in any manner?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group criticize, shun, abandon or demean individuals who

> leave the group?

> Yes___ No___

> Do members seek approval or get permission from group leader(s) for

> personal life choices?

> Yes___ No___

> Do you feel pressured to attend meetings, events, lectures,

seminars?

> And do you feel guilty if you don't attend?

> Yes___ No___

> Do you feel pressured to give a portion of your income to the

group,

> or spend money on courses, books or special projects?

> Yes___ No___

> Are the group's financial needs more important than your own

> economic

> well-being?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group discriminate against anyone regarding race, gender,

> belief, or sexual orientation?

> Yes___ No___

> Does your group have a totalitarian structure: a strict, top-down

> centralized control?

> Yes___ No___

>

>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

> ----------

>

> Do you wonder if you have been in a destructive group?

>

> Do you...

>

> ...have difficulty forming new friendships and intimate

> relationships?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...have low self-esteem, poor self-image or loss of identity?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...have difficulty making simple decisions and choices?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...often feel depressed, anxious and nervous?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...feel isolated, lonely, guilty, cynical?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...feel like you are just now growing up, becoming a mature adult?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...have short-term memory difficulties?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...feel you have nothing to believe in?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...often feel anger and rage towards the group?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...have nightmares or unpleasant dreams?

> Yes___ No___

>

> ...find it difficult or impossible to stop mental or other group

> ritualistic practices?

> Yes___ No___

>

>

> This quiz has no scientifically predetermined number of " yes "

answers

> to indicate a destructive group. However, answering " yes " to any

of

> the above questions means you may need to examine your group and

its

> influence in your life in those areas.

>

> Source: D. Goldenhammer, Ph. D., author of Under The

Influence:

> The Destructive Effects of Group Dynamics. (Promethus Books, 1996)

> on his web-site at www.goldhammer.com.

>

>

>

**********************************************************************

> He invites correspondence to john@g... While Goldhammer

> clearly considers AA to be a destructive group, that section of his

> links page is still under construction.

>

> BTW, he gives permission to use the quiz as long as his URL is

> credited.