Seven Key LGAT Articles

There is some great research and articles on Large Group Awareness Training methodologies that is available right at your fingertips. New "Research" and "Questions to Ask" sections have been added to the helpful links sections to your right. The Questions to Ask section is pretty self-explanatory. This includes lists of carefully formulated questions that you should ask yourself, the friend who introduced you to the group, and the group's leader in order to gather more useful information.

Here is a bit about the newly added links to the Research section:

APA Task Force
Officially titled: "Report of the APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control," this report was headed by Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer through the American Psychological Assocation in November 1986. This report covers a wide variety of topics related to Large Group Awareness Training, Psychotherapy Cults, Brainwashing and methods of influence.

In the Image of Man
Written by a Marcia Montenegro, this is an article entitled "In the Image of Man: An Overview of the Human Potential Movement and Motivational Seminars," written in June 2003. The article contains some useful resources, including a list of warning sign traits to watch out for, at the end of the article.

LGATs, Cult Observer
"Large Group Awareness Trainings," written by Dr. Michael Langone, appeared in the Cult Observer, Volume 15, No. 1, 1998, an academic take on the "encounter group movement.

The LGAT Experience
The writer walks you through a step-by-step process of an LGAT course, which in this particular article takes place over a 4-day period.

Mary Polaski "L" Series
Polaski begins the preface with: "The Mary Polaski "L" Series is intended to provide my opinion about Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) programs such as The Landmark Forum, Lifespring Basic, and others. My opinion is informed by extensive research that I have conducted on the topic, as well as my own first-hand experience."

Mass Marathon Trainings
An excerpt from "The Politics of Transformation: Recruitment - Indoctrination Processes In a Mass Marathon Psychology Organization," by Philip Cushman.

Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism
Excerpted from Chapter 22 of the book by Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, published by University of North Carolina Press.