Dianetics

The symbol of Dianetics is the green triangle, symbolizing the Greek letter " delta ", which is divided into four parts by yellow horizontal stripes. Yellow lines symbolize life. The green color symbolizes growth, and the green segments themselves are life and development, the four spheres of survival covered by dianetics.

Background

In 1923, at the age of twelve, Hubbard, under the leadership of US Capt. 2nd Rank Joseph S. Thompson, who allegedly studied with Sigmund Freud in Vienna, studied Freud's theory at the Library of Congress in Washington , which served as the basis for his further studies of the mind .

From 1927 to 1929, as a teenager, Hubbard traveled without parents to East and Southeast Asia ( Guam , Hawaii , Japan , China , the Philippines , Hong Kong , Tibet ), studying the methods of local sorcerers for influencing the mind and communicating with perfumes.

In 1929, Hubbard, according to his own statement, entered George Washington University to study engineering , mathematics, and nuclear physics , the knowledge of which he allegedly later used as a methodology in his "studies of the mind and spirit." He claimed that he had conducted his first experiment at the university in the field of structure and function of the mind. The fact that he managed to successfully graduate from the university is currently not confirmed information.

In his biography, Hubbard claims that in 1933 he went on a “ mineralogical expedition” to Puerto Rico , where, in addition to the main tasks of the expedition, he studies local cultures and beliefs, including spiritualism and voodoo .

Writing Dianetics

In 1947, Hubbard opened an office in Los Angeles for his studies of Dianetics. There he applies the early developments of Dianetics to actors, directors and writers in Hollywood .

In the same year, he summed up the research and application of the development of Dianetics on 400 respondents in the manuscript “Dianetics: initial theses”. In 1948, the manuscript was distributed among Hubbard friends in the amount of several hundred copies. In 1951, it was published for the first time. Later, the name was changed to "The Dynamics of Life." Currently published as “Dianetics: An Initial Thesis.”

In 1948, Hubbard continued research using dianetics in hospitals and psychiatric hospitals in Savannah , Georgia .

At the end of 1949, Hubbard wrote an article on the Dianetics Terra Incognita: The Mind ( Terra Incognita: The Mind (inaccessible link from 02/26/2018 [559 days]) ), which is published in the winter-spring issue of The Explorers Journal ”(see Explorers Club ).

Activity

At the beginning of 1950, Hubbard wrote an article called Dianetics: The Evolution of Science, which he published in May of that year in the science fiction magazine Astounding Science Fiction . Since 1955, this article has been published as a separate book under the same title. The book describes how Hubbard discovered the “ reactive mind ” and developed a procedure to get rid of it, how he applied the “scientific methodology” in his research on the problems of the mind, and outlines the basics of Dianetics.

At the same time (early 1950), while in Bay Head, New Jersey , Hubbard wrote the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of the Mind. He is contracting to publish this book with Hermitage House Publishing. The first edition of this book appeared on May 9. On June 18, 1950, she was on the New York Times bestseller list and remained there for the next 28 weeks. High sales ratings were achieved by buying the print runs of the Scientologists themselves.

In parallel with the book, "courses for its study" were created. Skillful marketing strategy caused great demand for both the book and these courses, which turned the teachings outlined there into the fastest growing popular idea in America at that time.

Soon across America - first in the largest cities, and then in dozens of small ones - numerous clubs for the "study of Dianetics" were created, in which a multi-stage system of "personal development courses" implied the long-term promotion of the "improving soul" from zero to the 99th (according to other sources, until the 110th).

In 1950, the German philosopher and psychologist Erich Fromm wrote a review of the book “Dianetics: The Modern Science of the Mind,” titled “Dianetics: Seekers of Fabricated Happiness,” in the New York Herald Tribune Book Review, where he harshly criticizes and ridicules Hubbard’s approach as far from science. ^[9]

Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor and Head of the Department of Development Psychology, Dean of the Psychological Department of Samara State University KS Lisetsky noted: ^[10]

This organization works on the principle of a financial pyramid , but the only thing it sells to people is air, and it makes money on it. They offer their "clients" socialization , but socialization that is different from traditional. First of all, they contribute to the fact that a person moves away from his relatives. Also an indispensable condition is the de-individualization of a person. He seems to be losing his personality traits. Habitual values ​​in their teaching are turned upside down. In this organization, other models of social behavior are inculcated. People there unlearn how to distinguish between reality and fantasy. All the supporters of this doctrine, according to my observations, lose their sense of humor, often fall into hysteria and even become wild when they show irony in relation to their activities. The most important thing: they turn into zombies, but not in managed ones, but in active ones. One of my students, together with a relative, got into a similar organization. The girl with great difficulty managed to get out of it. But the relative was not lucky. Mentors drove him to ruin. And in a similar pattern, proponents of Dianetics work with all their students. So do not have any illusions about the new center and arm yourself with information about it before getting to know the organization.

Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogical Psychology, Moscow State Pedagogical University S. S. Stepanov :

“For an unbiased look, it is clear that this theory is nothing more than a figment of the rich imagination of a talented science fiction writer. Any supposedly scientific arguments in its favor do not stand up to the test with the help of a truly scientific methodology. In fact, we have yet another kind of mystical doctrine that you can only believe in or not believe in - it is not subject to scientific verification. " ^[eleven]

Site “Orthodox Russia. Theme. ”Writes:

Dianetics and Scientology are a powerful international sect with great capital. The doctrine of Scientology is a religion in which Ron Hubbard, in fact, takes the place of God, and all his works are scripture. Dianetics and Scientology “work” through auditing sessions that give hypnotic methods a feeling of euphoria (emotional lift) to the client. The adherents of the sect are inspired by the idea of ​​a worldwide conspiracy against them, a sense of their chosenness, a sharply hostile attitude towards criticism and unlimited devotion to the organization. Truth is only in Scientology, the rest of humanity perishes and is mistaken. The organization develops a dependency and a guilt complex for its adherent. The ultimate goal of Scientologists is the seizure of world power and the restructuring of the world according to the Scientology model, which is achieved by eradicating all other movements, religions and even opinions ^[12] .

According to law enforcement agencies, in 2009, an examination of the activities of one of the Dianetics centers in the Republic of Tatarstan revealed signs of social and psychological impact on those attending classes. An audit of the Altai Krai prosecutor’s office revealed that the activities of the Barnaul Humanitarian Center of Dianetics are not public , as stated by the center, but religious . Legal entities of both centers of Dianetics were liquidated in court. ^{[13] [14]}

• L. Ron Hubbard "Excalibur" (unpublished manuscript, 1938).
• L. Ron Hubbard, “Dianetics: An Initial Thesis.” (Eng. "Dianetics: The Original Thesis") Another name: "The Dynamics of Life" (1948).
• L. Ron Hubbard, article "Terra Incognita: The Mind" (in the winter-spring issue of the magazine "Club of Travelers" (Explorers Club Journal) 1949-1950).
• L. Ron Hubbard "Dianetics: the evolution of science." (April 1950).
• Hubbard Ron L. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mind = Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. - Copenhagen, Denmark: New Era Publications International ApS, 2007 (first edition - May 1950). - 664 p. - ISBN 978-87-7687-1406 .
• L. Ron Hubbard, The Science of Survival (June 1951).
• L. Ron Hubbard "Introspection" (August 1951).
• L. Ron Hubbard, Children's Dianetics (October 1951).
• L. Ron Hubbard, Advanced Procedure and Axioms (November 1951).
• L. Ron Hubbard, The Handbook for the Preclears (December 1951).
• L. Ron Hubbard “Dianetics 55!” (December 1954).

• Scientology

in Russian

• Kagan V.E. Scientology and Psychotherapy: Expert Materials // Independent Psychiatric Journal . - 1999. - No. 3 . - S. 49–56 . - ISSN 1028-8554 .
• Kagan V.E. Scientology and Psychotherapy: Expert Materials // Independent Psychiatric Journal . - 1999. - No. 4 . - S. 61–72 . - ISSN 1028-8554 .
• Carroll R. T. Encyclopedia of Delusions: a collection of incredible facts, amazing discoveries and dangerous beliefs . - M .: Williams Publishing House, 2005. - 672 p. - ISBN 5-8459-0830-2 , ISBN 0-471-27242-6 .
• Privalov K. B. Sects: dossier of fear: [On the activity of the mystic. sects of the USA and Zap. Europe]. - M .: Politizdat , 1987 .-- 191 p. - 200,000 copies.

in other languages

• dianetics.ru , dianetics.org (eng.) - Church of Scientology Dianetics sites
• Ofshe RJ A Very Brief Overview of Scientology
• “The Sect of Dianetics and Scientology” // Materials on Theme.orthodoxy.ru // “Orthodox Russia”