A religion too far: a historical and qualitative study on how ex-Synanon members value critical incidents that might have led to the downfall of their Utopia

Abstract

Although Synanon has been extensively studied, attention has seldom been paid to the question of how the many ex-members who left Synanon before or at its dissolution ‘survived’ their community and indoctrination, and how they now evaluate their involvement. This article explores how ex-members react to their previous affiliation to Synanon, the cradle of the therapeutic community (TC) for addiction. A series of critical incidents, following Synanon's public proclamation restyling itself as a religion, which led to the dismantlement of Synanon, are highlighted and contrasted with the achievements of the movement. For this research study, we used a social constructivist methodology. Following qualitative snowball targeted sampling, open interviews and text analysis, 14 statements, representing the main reactions, were retained. These served as the basis for a web-based survey. It was found that ex-Synanon members still believe in the positive realizations of their experience. On the other hand, they are not blind to the negative aspects of this time but tend to deny, or perhaps do not know, that the proclamation to become a religion was in fact initiated by the inner circle and that this was the start of the dismantling of the organization's value system and the introduction of strange and inappropriate behaviour. The article emphazises the potential powerful and long-lasting effects of ‘community as method’ as a means of indoctrination of values. It endorses the opinion that the drug-free concept-based TC operates within the framework of an effective belief system that encourages and reinforces behavioural change. It is therefore critically important to ensure that present-day TCs remain open to the views and expectations of society.

Keywords:

• qualitative research
• substance abuse
• therapeutic community
• Synanon
• cult

Notes

1. Letter from Robert Burns to James Burness, 3rd August 1784. Cited in Maurice Lindsay's Burns Encyclopaedia.

2. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Luke, 20, 35.

3. For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. Matthew, 12, 25.

4. The Reach is a discussion technique, on basis of a diversity of (potential) ideological questions, which aims at the full integration of all answers of all members within the discussion group.