Some of the other procedures used in certain of the large group awareness training (LGAT) programs and their offshoots contain processes to humiliate people (they resemble fraternity hazing events).
Some of the other procedures used in certain of the large group awareness training (LGAT) programs and their offshoots contain processes to humiliate people (they resemble fraternity hazing events).
On federal court orders, I have attended six large group awareness training sessions (sponsored by est, the Forum, Lifespring, and PSI World) and have interviewed dozens of persons who have attended these and such other programs as Silva Mind Control, Actualizations, and Direct Centering, as well as the myriad of other programs now available, some started by former employees and even, on occasion, attendees of the larger well-known LGATs. I have studied the training manuals and videos used to train trainers and have interviewed a number of trainers.
2000, Donald A. Eisner, The Death of Psychotherapy: From Freud to Alien Abductions, Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, →ISBN, page 60:
est and Large-Group Awareness Seminars: Arising out of the human potential movement in the 1960s were a number of workshops, seminars and training programs. The most famous human potential program was erhard seminars training known as est. est was an intensive 60-hour workshop designed to alter a person's life view. There are a number of est clones including Life Spring, Actualizations and Forum, which is a successor to est. All of these workshops have several features in common. Participants are verbally attacked. The idea is to break down emotional defenses in order to allow new beliefs and attitudes to take over. There is a significant cathartic element in that emotional release is generated by the est techniques.
2001 April, Steven R. McCarl, Steve Zaffron, Joyce McCarl Nielsen, Sally Lewis Kennedy, “The Promise of Philosophy and the Landmark Forum”, in Contemporary Philosophy[1], volume XXIII, number 1 & 2, Social Science Research Network, Barbados Group Working Paper No. 01-01.:
Dennison's dissertation, which categorizes the Landmark Forum as a ‘large group awareness training’ is a qualitative study based on interviews with Forum graduates. He also reports predominantly positive outcomes and in addition, briefly summarizes philosophical components of the Forum.
2001 April, Steven R. McCarl, Steve Zaffron, Joyce McCarl Nielsen, Sally Lewis Kennedy, “The Promise of Philosophy and the Landmark Forum”, in Contemporary Philosophy[2], volume XXIII, number 1 & 2, Social Science Research Network, Barbados Group Working Paper No. 01-01.:
The extensive research literature on ‘large group awareness training’ published in the 1970s and 80s (summarized in Finkelstein, Wenegrat, and Yalom) is framed in psychological more than philosophical terms, albeit there is some reference to the training as existential psychotherapy.
2004, Elizabeth Puttick, “Landmark Forum (est)”, in Christopher Partridge, editor, New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 407:
Both est and Landmark Forum could be classified as LGATs (large group awareness trainings), a sociological grouping that includes neuro-linguistic programming, Insight Training Seminars (see the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness), and a whole plethora of sales and motivational courses.
2006, Jonathan Black, Yes You Can!: Behind the Hype and Hustle of the Motivation Biz, New York: Bloomsbury, →ISBN, page 133:
Landmark Education, as it's formally known, is hardly alone. There are any number of groups that foster change in an intense, supportive environment. Formally, they are gathered under the rubric ‘large group awareness training.’ A few groups are relatively new. Some have been around for decades. Almost all owe a major debt to a Unity minister named Alexander Everett.
2007, James K. Walker, The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality, Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House, →ISBN, pages 137–138:
est, Werner Erhard (aka John Paul Rosenberg): Personal transformation seminar promising individual growth, business management skills, and stress reduction. Through large group awareness training meeting in hotels and conference centers around the world, Erhard and his disciples sought to help their students to 'get it'—in essence, to achieve enlightenment. Personal responsibility and virtually limitless human possibilities were promoted through slogans such as, 'You're a god in your universe. You caused it.' Many early participants reported strenuous emotional—and for some, physical—strain from the 60-hour sessions and confrontational tenor of the seminar. According to published reports, Erhard incorporated elements from a variety of religions, including Zen Buddhism and Scientology, into est. Controversy surrounded the movement including charges of tax evasion. A 60 Minutes television report aired in 1991 accused Erhard of spousal abuse and included the accusation of incest by several of his daughters (one of whom later recanted). In the midst of mounting troubles, Erhard decided to leave the United States. The seminar and organization have undergone numerous transformations and name changes through the years. Est was discontinued and replaced with The Forum, and in 1991, Werner Erhard and Associates (WE&A) was dissolved. In its place, Landmark Education was incorporated, with Erhard's brother, serving as CEO and overseeing the current seminar, which is called Landmark Forum.
2010, John Gastil, The Group in Society, Los Angeles: SAGE, →ISBN, pages 228–229:
More direct evidence comes from a careful study of Large Group Awareness Training programs, variously known as Erhard Seminars Training (est), Lifespring, or simply the Forum. The basic procedure of these courses parallels the group training workshops ... but the emphasis shifts from group effectiveness to personal development. By talking through life challenges, aspirations, fears, and the like with fellow participants and professional counselors/teachers, individuals hope to change how they view themselves, their family and friends, and their prospects for a fulfilling life.
2011, Robert Carroll, “large group awareness training program (aka self-help and actualization movement)”, in The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions[3], Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, →ISBN:
A large group awareness training (LGAT) program is a personal development training program in which dozens to hundreds of people are given several hours to several days of intense instruction aimed at helping participants begin to discover what is hindering them from achieving their full potential and living more satisfied lives.
2011, Robert Carroll, “Landmark Forum”, in The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions[4], Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, →ISBN:
Landmark Forum is a large group awareness training program in which up to 150 people take a seminar together aimed at helping them realize their true potential.
