The BITE Model
Introduction
The BITE Model outlines the systematic methods used by authoritarian and high-control groups, including religious cults like Shincheonji, to manipulate and control their members. Developed by Steven Hassan, the BITE Model describes the techniques of Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotion control used by these groups. Understanding these methods can help identify and address manipulative practices in various organizations.
What is the BITE Model?
The BITE Model is a standard framework used to define and analyze high-control groups. It was developed by Steven Hassan to explain how authoritarian and cultic groups recruit and maintain control over individuals. The model is applied to various organizations, including religious sects like Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, as well as other manipulative groups. The BITE Model reveals how such groups manipulate behavior, information, thought, and emotion to maintain control.
For more information on the BITE Model, visit Steven Hassan’s BITE Model Overview.
Characteristics of a Religious Cult
A Leader with No Accountability
Leaders in high-control groups often receive a level of respect and reverence that exceeds what is normally given to individuals. This veneration can be likened to worship. Members may:
- Perceive the leader as deserving of more respect than any other individual.
- Hesitate to treat others the same way.
- Avoid questioning the leader’s ideas or statements.
- Attribute mistakes within the group to members rather than the leader.
- Believe that if the leader is wrong, no one else can be right.
Example: Shincheonji’s Lee Manhee, who claims to be the Promised Shepherd within the Bible and the vessel which Jesus’ spirit uses in the 2nd coming to convey the truth and path to salvation.
Understanding Shincheonji’s Recruitment and Indoctrination Process
Shincheonji (SCJ) presents itself as a Bible-based Christian movement, but beneath its surface lies a highly structured and deceptive recruitment and indoctrination process. This document provides a comprehensive analysis of how SCJ strategically recruits, manipulates, and retains its members through psychological, social, and theological tactics.
SCJ’s approach is not simply about teaching the Bible—it employs systematic social influence to reshape a recruit’s identity and belief system. This process follows a BITE model (Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control), similar to methods used in other high-control religious groups. The goal is not just to convince individuals of SCJ’s teachings but to create unwavering dependence on the organization.
Selection & Recruitment (filtering, information gathering, grooming)
Shincheonji (SCJ) is known for its deceptive recruitment strategies that target unsuspecting individuals through social media, dating apps, street evangelism, and even personal acquaintances. Many former members describe the recruitment process as highly manipulative, using psychological tactics to create dependency and reshape a person’s faith without their full awareness.
In this article, we’ll expose how SCJ selects and recruits potential members, the step-by-step indoctrination process, and the tactics they use to retain control over their followers.
SCJ does not openly advertise itself. Instead, it operates covertly, using various strategies to filter, groom, and recruit individuals.
How Shincheonji Recruits
Shincheonji recruits through social media like Instagram, Facebook, Discord and even dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, etc. in order to recruit Christians. The group also infiltrates churches, pretending to be a Christian orgnai