Intentional or not, here are (ED: now over) a dozen combinations of psychological mechanisms that can be found in various aspects/experiences in Scientology:
- Asch conformity experiments combined with love-bombing (Body Routing)
- Barnum Effect combined with Closing techniques (Regging)
- Ganzfeld effect combined with trance-inducing compliance and Traumatic bonding (TRs, Bullbaiting)
- Ideomotor phenomenon combined with Illusory correlation (E-meter)
- Double Bind and Confusion Technique combined with Delusions of Grandeur (Auditing)
- Escalation of commitment combined with Reiteration effect (Course Graduation "Success Stories")
- Thought-terminating cliches combined with propaganda by redefinition of words (MUs, Tech dictionaries)
- Us and them mentality combined with medical Self-blame (PTS/SP/Disconnection, "Pulling it in")
- Belief Perseverance combined with Fundamental attribution error (KSW, OT Phenomena)
- Identity Transference combined with the Milgram experiment (LRH lectures, Policy lookup)
- Effort justification combined with sunk cost Choice-supportive bias (Event attendance, Donations)
- Snitching culture combined with gaslighting (Knowledge Reports/OSA)
- Lying by omission combined with Vexatious litigation ("Acceptable Truth"/"Greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics")
- The planning fallacy combined with sleep deprivation ("Clearing the Planet" as Staff/Sea Org)
- Stanford prison experiment combined with learned helplessness (Lower conditions formulas/RPF)
Just reading about them might be enough, but if someone can relate to how these are done outside the context of Scientology that could be more effective as a way of understanding.
NOTE: #5, #8 and #13 were added since this was originally published.