Encounter Groups

Blog #2

Why did Synanon partake in encounter groups?

Encounter groups were used at Synanon as a way to gain physiological benefit through close contact with one another in the group. This included different kinds of encounter groups such as: The Game, Dissipation, Trip, and Stew. All of which were ways the group kept people in line and had them get better as their own. Synanon believed these groups were essential and were a way to keep things going smoothly. The groups kept people in check, allowed for people to be called out when needed, and made it to where everyone knew everyones business and there were no secretes at all in the house.
"The Game"- This was when the group of Synanon got together and talked about change. It had ten to fifteen people in a session and one "synasist" who would facilitate the meeting. This time was a time for open thoughts and opinions where people could verbally criticize/ attack each other in order to reach perfectionism as well as self-realization. Everyone at this time is encouraged to be extremely honest and to tell everyone about how they feel and what they are thinking. This was considered a way of showing how people cared about one another. Its interesting to see how people could verbally attack one another with hurtful words yet at the end this kind of encounter group "seemed" to always help.
"Dissipation"- Was another kind of encounter group that could last anywhere between thirty six hours to seventy two hours depending on what was going on at the time. This was when people in Synanon discussed their childhood to each other while experiencing hallucinations because they had not slept in so long. At this time the group would use the ouija board to talk to old spirits of Synanon or important people of the past to try to find out the missions of Synanon and their importance of why they were there. When reading this the question comes to mind is that did this really work or were they so tired that they were just seeing things due to the lack of sleep that they had?
"Trip"- This was like the mini session of dissipation because it only lasted forty eight hours. It was expected that concussion was to occur at this time which they thought would cause more honesty and exploration into self-reliance. At the end of this encounter group suggestions would be given to each member to hold them to a personal commitment and to become a better person for them and also for the community.
"Stew"- Was the last kind of encounter group used at Synanon. it was an eighty four hour session where anyone that was participating in it was allowed to rotate in and out of it and could take two six hour breaks in between.
Having these encounter groups at Synanon was interesting to me because when looking at other articles where they had taken the "Synanon like tactics" to try to use with teens it is proven that most of the time it does not work and does not help the addicts at all. So why were they used and kept around at Synanon for so long when statistically it was proven that it really was not helping?
In The Cult That Spawned the Tough-Love Teen Industry it talks about encounter groups from Synanon being used at boot camps, wilderness programs, behaviorist programs, and other groups. All these groups use the forms of the encounter groups as tough love. Words that describe it are emotional, punishment, humiliation, harsh. These word show how hard the encounter groups are on a person and how high the standards are for people to get better or else they would keep going through the verbal attacks and humiliation during the group meetings. It is proven that these group sessions could provide lasting psychological harm and almost too much for any human being to have to deal with. So why is it still used and allowed through out all the different programs and groups if it is that awful and truly does not do anything for a person besides hurt them?