On a recent trip from Tucson to Phoenix, I caught a remarkable CBC Radio/SiriusXM show about NXIVM, from the point of view of a Canadian woman, Sarah Edmondson, caught up in NXIVM at the highest levels, including eventually being a slave to Lauren Salzman.
I found it fascinating how NXIVM entrapped women. NXIVM was fundamentally a women's self-improvement organization, attracting women who wanted to better themselves and become highly successful. Once women were within the organization, however, NXIVM did everything they could to convince them that they were fatally flawed, because they were women.
An interesting technique was the "NXIVM Flip". If a NXIVM member ever complained or expressed discomfort about what was going on in NXIVM, a mentor would strongly assert that the supposed problem was really a weakness in the complainer, which the complainer would have to work harder to overcome.
Another technique was the use of "collateral". In order to proceed to the highest levels of NXIVM, a convert would need to provide "collateral" in the form of pornographic photographs or incriminating secrets/stories about the convert and\/or members of their family. Edmondson says that her secrets weren't bad enough to serve as collateral, so she actually made up stories about herself and her parents to be allowed to become a slave to Salzman, which also required her to receive the NXIVM pubic brand (inflicted with a cauterization instrument).
Edmondson was finally convinced to break with NXIVM when her boyfriend noticed that the brand -- supposedly a symbol of commitment to self-improvement-- was actually just a combination of the initials of Keith Raniere and Allison Mack.
Women were seduced into NXIVM by their own noble goals of self-improvement, combined with the instilled belief that Raniere -- the enabler for their improvement -- was approximately the Second Coming,.
that’s some link ya got there, AZ..
“On a recent trip from Tucson to Phoenix, I caught a remarkable CBC Radio/SiriusXM show about NXIVM, “
to bookmark this post ...
I saw a similar interview with an American mother who fought tooth and nail for her daughter, brainwashed by Ranier & Company.
In the end, mom was successful, but the tale she told of how it’s done and the impact on desperate parents, as well. They capture your beloved child and authorities are lead footed.
Reminded me of the Patty Hearst story- my own first view of a public story, in real time, that brain washing was real. Thanks, AZ.
The women you describe sound to me to be weak and foolish. I have no sympathy for them.