" The crowd that obeys a leader is under the influence of his prestige, and its submission is not dictated by any sentiment of interest or gratitude.¶ In consequence the leader endowed with sufficient prestige wields almost absolute power. The immense influence exerted during a long series of years, thanks to his prestige . . . "" THE CROWD A STUDY OF THE POPULAR MIND BY GUSTAVE LE BON
Indeed, that I continued to discuss the "prestige" concept in further discussing Hubbard is merely one way my comments sought to continue discussion of LeBon's notions. At least so I thought, but if I wasn't clear, okay. Perhaps we simply have very different conclusions about what LeBon suggested is true.
I don't necessarily agree that LeBon's works were empircally validated, and indeed came to read LeBon originally because of criticisms in other works of LeBon's failure to be empirically validated, such as for instance in failing to account for the rise and conduct of the Berkeley "Free Speech" movement in its initial crowd sourcing.
I agree with you that these modern OT VIIIs don't really show anything special compared to the usual human. That doesn't mean something more impressive never existed. Whether you choose to believe me or not, up through about the mid-70s I was seeing people doing higher levels who often showed me signs of potential evidence that they did have somethng beyond usual human ability. It wasn't evidence of the sort of certainty or probative value that I would write a scathing rebuttal to the world about doubting supernatural aspects of human life, but it wasn't nothing either.
here is le bon's book, free for anybody to read.
https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/econ/ugcm/3ll3/lebon/Crowds.pdf
specifically, leaders of crowds, book 2, chapter 3, page 67. "The Leaders of Crowds and Their Means of Persuasion."
There are 3 of them, and Hubbard used all 3. They are Affirmation, Repetition and Contagion.
Le Bon further explains all three.
Here is what Le Bon says of affirmation:
"Affirmation pure and simple, kept free of all reasoning and all proof, is one
of the surest means of making an idea enter the mind of crowds. The conciser
an affirmation is, the more destitute of every appearance of proof and
demonstration, the more weight it carries. The religious books and the legal
codes of all ages have always resorted to simple affirmation. Statesmen called
upon to defend a political cause, and commercial men pushing the sale of their
products by means of advertising are acquainted with the value of affirmation"
One of Hubbard's biggest things is affirmation, even going back to Dianetics. Hubbard called it Success Stories, all affirmation without proof.
As P&B says, where's your proof of OT abilities?
Repetition, Hubbard constantly repeated the message, it's in his Marketing and PR Series. Why do you think the COS is constantly sending out letters and promo pieces?
And what of contagion:
from Le Bon:
"The opinions and beliefs of crowds are specially propagated by contagion,
but never by reasoning."
Hubbard most certainly used all of Le Bon's works.
Then her children came to visit and help and she started getting better, walking around, gardening and even cooking! The cancer went into remission for years. That was a miracle. Her children stayed close to her for the rest of her life, too. :love:
