Educational Series
Media, Misinformation & Control

Prey, Obey, USA

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This video was created and published by Big Think and features journalist Jane Borden and cult expert Dr. Steven Hassan.
It is included here as an educational supplement to the Prey, Obey, USA series.
The views expressed in the video are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Empowerment Collective. Empowerment Collective does not claim ownership of this video or its contents. We are sharing it to support public education around cult psychology, political extremism, and media manipulation.

IN THIS SERIES

How religion, nationalism, and manipulation built an American cult

Some people still think MAGA is just a political movement. But when you look closely, using the lens of cult psychology, social control, and emotional manipulation, it becomes clear that something far more dangerous is happening.

This educational series explains what cults really are, how they work, and how MAGA’s tactics match every major red flag.

We’re not here to sensationalize. We’re here to break it down.

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How to Help Someone Leave a Cult-Like Movement

  • 📚 Core Academic and Expert Sources

    Cult Psychology and Deprogramming

    • Dr. Steven Hassan – Combating Cult Mind Control
      Creator of the BITE Model (Behavior, Information, Thought, Emotion control)
      🔗 https://freedomofmind.com

    • Dr. Janja Lalich – Take Back Your Life and Bounded Choice
      🔗 https://janjalalich.com/books/

    • Dr. Margaret Singer – Cults in Our Midst
      Available via library and major book retailers
      🔗 https://archive.org/details/cultsinourmidst00sing

    • Robert Jay Lifton – Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism
      🔗 https://www.amazon.com/Thought-Reform-Psychology-Totalism-Brainwashing/dp/0807842532

    🧠 Political Behavior, Groupthink, and Identity Research

    • John Horgan (Georgia State University)
      Research on political extremism and radicalization
      🔗 https://cas.gsu.edu/profile/john-horgan/

    • University of Oxford & Cambridge – Identity Fusion Studies
      🔗 https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-psychology-of-radicalization-and-deradicalization/

    • American Psychological Association – Authoritarianism & Obedience
      🔗 https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/partisan-political-stress

    • Brookings Institution – Religion, Nationalism, and Trumpism
      🔗 https://www.brookings.edu/articles/religion-and-authoritarianism/

    • Pew Research Center – Religion and Politics in the U.S.
      🔗 https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/politics-policy/political-parties-political-ideology/

    📰 Credible Journalism and Government Reports

    • House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack – Final Report
      🔗 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/january-6th-committee

    • FBI & DHS Bulletins – Domestic Terrorism & Radicalization Warnings
      🔗 https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-november-30-2022

    • ProPublica – Investigations on MAGA Extremism
      🔗 https://www.propublica.org/series/insurrection

    • Reuters & NPR – Fact-Checked Political Coverage
      🔗 https://www.reuters.com/
      🔗 https://www.npr.org/

    • Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) – Extremist Files
      🔗 https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files

    🎧 Media and Educational Videos Used

    • YouTube: “Apocalypse Cults: Inside the MAGA Mindset” – Jane Borden & Dr. Steven Hassan
      🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dixpI5YD4dg

    • Democracy-ish: “Dissecting the MAGA Cult”
      🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPKdamHnaJo

    • QAnon Anonymous (Podcast)
      🔗 https://www.qanonanonymous.com/

    • American Hysteria (Podcast)
      🔗 https://www.chelseywebersmith.com/americanhysteria

    • A Little Bit Culty (Podcast)
      🔗 https://www.alittlebitculty.com/

    🔎 Key Terms and Frameworks Referenced

    • BITE Model (Dr. Steven Hassan)
      🔗 https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/

    • Identity Fusion – Oxford/Cambridge studies
      🔗 https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/the-psychology-of-radicalisation-identity-fusion-and-group-violence

    • Love Bombing – Cult Tactic Overview
      🔗 https://psychcentral.com/health/love-bombing

    • Information Control & Loaded Language – Cult Tools
      🔗 https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/information-control/