In recent decades, the Law of Attraction has become one of the most influential belief systems in wellness, self-help, and multilevel marketing (MLM) circles. Its premise is seductively simple: your thoughts shape your reality. Think positively, and abundance will flow; dwell on negativity, and you’ll attract misfortune.
We have discussed the pitfalls of Law of attraction in a previous episode, you can find here.
🎙️ Another throwback episode is linked below, where I unpack my journey from wellness fanatic within MLM into a high-control religion. Together, we explore the wild “crunchy hippie to alt-right pipeline.” 🌿➡️🛑 social media, influencers, and wellness hype quietly nudge people toward extreme ideas, and in this episode, we break down exactly how. 🎧🔥
This modern doctrine of “mind over matter” is often traced to The Secret (2006) by Rhonda Byrne, but its genealogy is much older. It reaches back to New Thought philosophy of the 19th century, where figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Phineas Quimby, and later Mary Baker Eddy (founder of Christian Science) claimed that divine thought itself was the engine of reality. These Mind Cure and faith healing movements linked spirt and matter together. Disease, poverty, and suffering were seen as products of “wrong or stinking thinking.” Salvation was not just spiritual but cognitive: change your thinking, change your life.
and so again I say: It is shockingly right instead of shockingly wrong of you to be prosperous. Obviously, you cannot be very happy if you are poor and you need not be poor. It is a sin. –Catherine Ponder (The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity)
In fact, it is the search for spiritual healing of the body that led to what is known today as prosperity consciousness or in Christian evangelism, it’s prosperity theology.
That intellectual lineage matters because it shows how the Law of Attraction has always been more than a harmless pep talk. It represents a cosmology of control, one that locates all responsibility (and blame) within the individual mind. As we have discussed many times before, Jonathan Haidt observes in The Righteous Mind, belief systems serve a dual function: they bind communities together and blind them to alternative explanations.
In this sense, the Law of Attraction doesn’t just inspire positive thinking; it narrows. By framing success and failure as purely mental vibrations, it obscures structural realities like economic inequality, physical health and genetic limitations, racism, or corporate exploitation.
And that narrowing is precisely what makes it the perfect handmaiden to MLM culture.
When Positive Thinking Becomes a Business Model
Robert L. FitzPatrick, in False Profits and Ponzinomics, describes MLMs as “endless chain” recruitment schemes. What sustains them isn’t product sales but the constant influx of hopeful recruits. Yet these schemes require something more than numbers: they require belief.
Here, the Law of Attraction becomes the MLM’s best salesman. Distributors are told:
Failure isn’t about the structure of the business; it’s about your mindset.
Doubt is “negative energy” that will block your success.
Quitting is not just a business choice but a moral failing.
In the Amway training program, the “ABCs of Success” are “Attitude, Belief and Commitment.” Attitude was the key which must be guarded. Don’t let anyone steal your attitude. Negative was defined as “whatever influence weakens your belief and commitment in the business” -False Profits
This is where Norman Vincent Peale’s “positive thinking” gospel dovetails with MLM. In his 1948 book Positive Thinking for a Time Like This, Peale popularized the phrase
“Let go and let God. Let Him take over your life and run it. He knows how.”
While originally a call to spiritual surrender, the phrase has since been weaponized in countless contexts from Holiness movements to Alcoholics Anonymous to prosperity preaching. At its worst, it functions as a silencer: don’t question, don’t resist, don’t think critically. Just “let go,” and trust that outcomes (or uplines) will provide.
Eastern Orthodox Christianity has a word for this: prelest. It’s the belief that human beings are so easily deceived that any private sense of spiritual progress — a feeling of clarity, joy, empowerment, even a mystical experience — can’t be trusted on its own. Without humility and the guidance of a spiritual father, you’re told it may just be pride, delusion, or the devil in disguise.
That’s the trap: you can’t trust your own mind, heart, or gut. The only “safe” option is obedience to the system. Which is exactly how MLMs and other high-control groups operate — undermining self-trust to keep you dependent.
Nietzsche would have called this a kind of slave morality, a belief system that encourages resignation to suffering rather than rebellion against unjust structures. The Law of Attraction, framed in this way, doesn’t challenge MLM exploitation; it sanctifies it.
More powerful than any product, charismatic leader, or compensation plan, the MLM mindset materials (the tapes, courses, and “personal development” kits) are the prime tools used to recruit and control distributors. Once you’re in the system, you’re encouraged to buy these materials week after week, keeping you invested emotionally and financially while feeding the company’s bottom line.
I went back through my Facebook to find some goodies for you! 😜This photo says “My energy creates my reality. What I focus on is what I will Manifest.” Here is the original caption so you can hear how brainwashed I was. “💥🙌🏼Belief is a feeling of certainty about something, driven by emotion. Feeling certain means that it feels true to you and therefore it is your reality. 💥🙌🏼 💪🏼 What you focus on you find 💪🏼 👀 You’ve got to believe it, to see it 👀”
Flashback to my first corporate event Aug 2016. My upline purchased my flight basically forcing me to go.
My caption at the time: 🤮
🔥IGNITE YOUR VISION! 🔥 ⚡Attended an event that changed my life. Showed me the massive vision of this company. 🤗Join our passionate, growing team of 18-35-year-olds striving for extraordinary lives and ownership of health, dreams, and contributions. 🤩Returning to this LIFE CHANGING event soon! Nashville, TN—let’s learn, grow, and celebrate!
Sounds inspiring, right? Except what they’re really selling is mandatory product purchases, endless hype, and a community that keeps you chasing the next status milestone. That “massive vision” isn’t about your health or dreams—it’s about the company’s bottom line.
Words like passionate, extraordinary, innovators, ownership are carefully chosen psychological nudges, making you feel like life itself is on the line if you’re not on board. And the countdown to the next “life-changing” event? Keeps you spending, attending, and emotionally hooked.
This is exactly what FitzPatrick calls out in Ponzinomics: the sales rep is the best customer. Only a tiny fraction of participants earn anything; the rest are paying to stay inspired.
More flashback images from my cult days….
The Psychological Toll
When these elements collide the New Thought inheritance of “mind over matter,” Peale’s positive thinking, religious community networks and MLM compensation plans… the result is a high-control environment dressed in empowerment language.
The outcomes are rarely empowering:
Blame and guilt when inevitable losses occur.
Anxiety from the demand to maintain “high vibrations.”
Suppression of doubt, lest skepticism be mistaken for weakness.
Financial harm disguised as personal failure.
In wellness communities, this logic extends beyond money. If essential oils don’t heal your illness, it’s because your mindset was wrong. If the diet doesn’t work, it’s because you didn’t “believe” enough. Structural realities (biology, medicine, inequality) are flattened into personal responsibility.
As Haidt warns, morality (and by extension ideology) can both bind and blind. The Law of Attraction, when paired with MLM, binds participants into a shared culture of hope and positivity while blinding them to exploitation.
Connecting the Dots: Bodybuilding, Metabolism & Team Isagenix
A couple weeks ago on the podcast, I shared about my bodybuilding years and the metabolic fallout I still live with today. I had forgotten how much of that season was actually entangled with my Isagenix obsession. My upline (the couple who enrolled me) were a part of Team Isagenix®, and I craved the validation of being “seen” as a successful athlete inside that community.
The requirements were brutal: placing in the top three of multiple competitions in a short span of time. So, between May 2017 and October 2018, I crammed in four shows in just 18 months. No off-season. No recovery. Just constant prep cycles. My metabolism never had a chance to stabilize, and I pushed myself past healthy limits. I wrecked my body and I’m still paying the price.
This is why I push back so hard when people insist that success is all about having a “positive enough” attitude to manifest it. My mindset was ironclad. What I lacked the conscious awareness that valued human health over recruitment and body image. That drive wasn’t just about stage lights and trophies. It was about proving my worth to an MLM culture that dangled prestige as the price of belonging. Team Isagenix® made the bar steep, and I was determined to clear it, no matter the cost.
And if you need proof of how deep this “mindset over matter” indoctrination goes, look no further than my old upline…now rebranded as a Manifestation Coach. Picture the classic boss-babe felt hat, paired with a website promising “signature mindset tools for rapid results.” According to her, if fear or doubt was “shrinking your dreams,” this was your moment to “flip it.” She name-drops 8-figure companies, influencers, and visionaries (the usual credibility glitter) while selling memberships, live events, and 7-day challenges.
It’s the same pitch recycled: your struggle isn’t systemic, it’s your mindset. If you’re not living your “life you truly love,” it’s because you haven’t invested enough in flipping the script (with her paid framework, of course). The MLM grind culture just got a new coat of “manifesting” paint.
🧠 Isagenix Programs & Their Psychological Impact
Healthy Mind and Body Program: A 60-day “mindset” initiative framed as holistic wellness. In practice, it ties product use to personal development, creating behavioral conditioning and binding members into a sense of shared identity and belonging. 🚩
IsaBody Challenge: A 16-week transformation contest requiring regular Isagenix product purchases. Completion comes with swag and vouchers; finalists are paraded as “success stories,” gamifying loyalty and dangling prestige as bait. The grand prize winner earns $25,000 but most participants earn only deeper entanglement. 🚩
Team Isagenix: Marketed as a prestige group for elite athletes with current national certifications, offering exclusivity and aspirational branding. This elevates certain members as “proof” of the products’ legitimacy, fueling both loyalty and recruitment. 🚩
Product Consumption: Isagenix requires 100 PV every 30 days just to remain “active.” This equates to about $150/month you HAVE to spend. On paper, bonuses and ranks promise unlimited potential. In reality, most associates struggle to recoup even their monthly product costs. Personal development rhetoric and community belonging often eclipse these financial realities, keeping participants cycling through hope, debt, and blame. 🚩
🤮🐦🔥 “Transform Your Life with Isagenix | Empowering Wellness and Wealth” 🐦🔥 🤮
Watch closely, because this is where the magic happens: the company paints a picture of limitless opportunity, but as Robert L. FitzPatrick lays out in Ponzinomics, the secret is that the sales rep is the best customer. That’s right… the real profits aren’t coming from your vague dreams of financial freedom; they’re coming from the people who are already buying the products and trying to climb the ranks.
The numbers don’t lie. According to Isagenix’s own disclosure: the overall average annual income for associates is $892. Among those who actually earned anything, the average jumps to $3,994. Do the math: $892 ÷ $3,994 ≈ 0.223 — meaning only about 22% of associates earn anything at all. The other 78%? Zero. Nada. Zilch.
And before you start fantasizing about that $3,994, remember: that’s before expenses. Let’s run a realistic scenario based on actual product spend:
$150/month on products or promotional materials = $1,800/year → net ≈ $2,194 − $1,800 = $1,194 before other costs.
Factor in travel, events, or socials? That $1,194 could easily drop to near zero…or negative.
The point: the so-called “income potential” evaporates fast when you account for the mandatory spending MLMs require. The only thing truly transformed is the company’s bottom line, not yours.
No wonder the comments are turned off.
Apparently, nobody actually crunches the numbers while the marketing spiel promises energy, strength, and vitality as if a shake could fix financial exploitation, metabolic burnout, and guilt-tripping at the same time.
My story is just one case study of how these tactics play out in real lives: I was recruited through trusted connections, emotionally manipulated with promises of transformation, pressured into relentless product use, and left with financial strain and long-lasting health consequences. That’s the “empowerment” MLMs sell and it’s why scrutiny matters.
Cultural Ecosystems That Enable MLMs
MLMs don’t operate in a vacuum. They flourish where belief structures already normalize submission to authority, truth-claims, and tightly networked communities. Evangelicals and the LDS Church provide striking examples: tight-knit congregations, missionary training in persuasion, and a cultural emphasis on self-reliance and communal obligation create fertile ground for recruitment.
Companies like Nu Skin, Young Living, doTERRA, and Melaleuca have disproportionately strong followings in Utah and among Mormon communities. FitzPatrick notes that MLMs thrive where trust networks and shared values make persuasion easier. The kind of environment where aspirational marketing and “prestige” teams can latch onto pre-existing social structures.
In short, it’s not just the products or the promises of positive thinking; it’s where belief, community, and culture all collide… that allows MLMs to hook people and keep them chasing elusive success.
Beyond Magical Thinking
The critique, then, is not of hope or positivity per se, but of weaponized optimism. When mantras like let go and let God or just thinking positive to manifest it are used to shut down discernment, discourage action, or excuse exploitation, they cease to be spiritual tools and become instruments of control.
Nietzsche challenged us to look beyond systems that sanctify passivity, urging instead a confrontation with reality even when it is brutal. FitzPatrick’s work extends this challenge to the world of commerce: if we truly care about empowerment, we must be willing to see how belief systems can be manipulated for profit.
That’s why MLMs and the Law of Attraction deserve scrutiny. Not because they promise too much, but because they redirect responsibility away from unjust structures and onto the very people they exploit.
Coming Up: A Deeper Dive
Next week on the podcast, I’ll be speaking with Robert L. FitzPatrick, author of False Profits and one of the world’s leading experts on MLMs. With decades of research, FitzPatrick has testified in court cases exposing fraudulent MLM schemes and helped unravel the mechanisms behind these multi-billion-dollar operations. He’s seen firsthand how MLMs manipulate culture, co-opt spirituality, and turn belief itself into a product.
Stay tuned. This is a conversation about more than scams, it’s about the machinery of belief, and how it shapes our lives in ways we rarely see.
Byrne, Rhonda. The Secret. New York: Atria Books, 2006.
Eddy, Mary Baker. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1875.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Edited by Brooks Atkinson. New York: Modern Library, 2000.
FitzPatrick, Robert L. False Profits: Seeking Financial and Spiritual Deliverance in Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Schemes. Charlotte, NC: Herald Press, 1997.
FitzPatrick, Robert L. Ponzinomics: The Untold Story of Multi-Level Marketing. Charlotte, NC: Skyhorse Publishing, 2020.
Haidt, Jonathan. The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. New York: Vintage Books, 2012.
Nietzsche, Friedrich. On the Genealogy of Morals. Edited by Walter Kaufmann. New York: Vintage Books, 1989 (originally published 1887).
Peale, Norman Vincent. Positive Thinking for a Time Like This. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1948.
Quimby, Phineas P. The Quimby Manuscripts. Edited by Horatio W. Dresser. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1921.
Wallace, David Foster. “Consider the Lobster.” In Consider the Lobster and Other Essays. New York: Little, Brown, 2005. (Useful on consumer culture critique, if you want a modern edge.)
New Episode Alert: The Dark Side of MLMs and Coercive Control
🚨 This Week on Taste of Truth Tuesdays 🚨, we’re diving into the complex and manipulative world of multi-level marketing (MLM) companies—uncovering the coercive control tactics they use to keep people hooked. 🧠💸 MLMs don’t just sell products. They sell a dream—a dream of financial freedom, wealth, and unlimited success. The problem? That dream is often built on deceptive tactics that prey on vulnerability, foster magical thinking, and emotionally manipulate their members.
At first glance, MLMs seem like a golden opportunity. They promise wealth, freedom, and independence—targeting people who are seeking a way out of financial struggle or a traditional 9-to-5. But underneath those glittering promises are dangerous tactics that prey on human psychology, exploiting emotional weaknesses to create loyalty and blind devotion.
A key tactic MLMs use is magical thinking. This is the belief that positive thoughts and visualizations alone can bring success, wealth, or health. A 2019 study in Frontiers in Psychology revealed that many MLMs sell products—like supplements and essential oils—by making unverified claims about curing diseases, with little to no scientific evidence to back them up. 😳
Why Is Magical Thinking So Dangerous?
Magical thinking isn’t just harmless optimism. In the context of MLMs, it can lead people to make poor financial and health decisions. Here’s why it’s so dangerous:
🚫 False Sense of Control: Magical thinking tricks people into believing they can control outcomes simply by thinking positively. This false confidence can prevent them from taking real, actionable steps to improve their situation.
🚫 Health Risks: MLMs often push supplements and oils with promises of “miracle cures” for serious illnesses—without scientific validation. People may choose these products over actual medical treatments, putting their health in danger.
🚫 Emotional Manipulation: By convincing members that failure is due to their lack of belief or effort, MLMs shift the blame from the system to the individual. This creates a toxic cycle of guilt and shame, trapping people emotionally in the MLM.
Coercive Loyalty and Emotional Manipulation
Beyond magical thinking, MLMs use coercive control tactics to create a false sense of community and belonging. They foster an atmosphere of loyalty where members feel pressured to stay positive, constantly recruit new people, and never question the system.
💥 Coercive Loyalty: Members are often told that the reason they’re not successful is because they’re not trying hard enough, recruiting enough, or believing in themselves. This turns failure into a personal flaw, rather than a flaw in the business model.
💥 Community Pressure: MLMs thrive on social dynamics, where members are encouraged to pressure their friends and family into joining. This creates a network of dependency and makes it harder for people to leave, even when they start seeing the cracks in the system.
💥 Emotional Exploitation: Guilt, shame, and failure are powerful emotional tools used by MLMs. When people don’t succeed, they’re often made to feel as if they didn’t believe in the product or themselves enough. This emotional manipulation keeps members invested—financially, mentally, and emotionally—even when the odds are against them.
Breaking Free: Real Stories of Escaping MLMs
In this week’s episode, we also share real stories of individuals who have been trapped in MLMs and how they broke free. These stories highlight the emotional, financial, and mental toll that MLMs take on their members, and how difficult it can be to escape once you’re in the cycle. 😳
Why You Need to Listen
If you’ve ever been approached by someone pushing a “life-changing opportunity” or a “groundbreaking product,” this episode is for you. If you’ve been tempted to join an MLM—or know someone who has—this episode is essential listening. We’re unpacking the toxic blend of pseudoscience, community pressure, and emotional exploitation that keeps MLMs running, and sharing actionable tips on how to recognize the red flags before it’s too late. 🚩
Tune in to this week’s episode of Taste of Truth Tuesdays to learn how to protect yourself from the manipulative tactics of MLMs and avoid falling into their web of magical thinking and emotional control. Whether you’re considering joining an MLM or are currently involved, understanding these tactics is key to protecting your financial and emotional well-being.
Magical thinking is a quirky psychological phenomenon where people believe that their thoughts, wishes, or actions can directly influence real-world outcomes, despite defying logic or scientific fact. It’s the belief that if you wish for something hard enough, visualize it every day, or think positively, the universe will somehow bend to your will. Sounds empowering, right? But in reality, it leads to a lot of irrational beliefs and behaviors, particularly in high-pressure environments like multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes.
MLMs thrive on this kind of thinking, pushing slogans and practices that dangle the promise of success, wealth, and happiness in front of their members—all through nothing but the power of positive thinking and visualization. “Just think it, and it’ll happen!” But here’s the catch: it never really works like that.
Why Is Magical Thinking Dangerous?
1. False Sense of Control
Magical thinking feeds people this false sense of control over their lives and circumstances. It convinces them that all they need is positive vibes to attract success, which can lead to dangerous complacency. Instead of putting in the hard work, effort, and strategic thinking needed to succeed in any real business, MLM recruits often fall into a trap where they believe success will magically come to them. Spoiler alert: it won’t.
2. Financial Loss
MLMs are notorious for selling the idea that anyone can make it big if they just believe in themselves. It sounds inspiring, right? But it’s a trap. People are encouraged to pour their hard-earned money into products, recruitment materials, and endless training sessions without fully understanding the shaky foundation these businesses stand on. In reality, research shows that up to 99% of MLM participants lose money, but thanks to the allure of magical thinking, they keep going, convinced that their big break is just one more product purchase or recruit away.
3. Emotional Manipulation
MLMs are also masters of emotional manipulation. If you’re not succeeding, they’ll convince you that it’s not the business model that’s failing—it’s you. You didn’t think positively enough, you didn’t manifest hard enough, or you weren’t dedicated enough to your dreams. This emotional burden can leave individuals feeling guilty, ashamed, and like personal failures, even when the deck was stacked against them from the start. The cycle of shame continues as they compare themselves to the shiny success stories splashed all over social media.
4. Detachment from Reality
Magical thinking can lead to complete detachment from reality. When you’re convinced that positive thoughts are all you need, you can easily ignore the mounting red flags. People end up ignoring their dwindling bank accounts, fractured relationships, and mental exhaustion because they’re too busy trying to manifest success. And by the time they snap out of it, the damage is done.
Why Do MLMs Use Magical Thinking?
1. Reinforcement of Loyalty
MLMs aren’t just about selling products—they’re about creating a cult-like loyalty. By pushing magical thinking, they foster a tight-knit community of like-minded believers. This sense of belonging makes it incredibly difficult for individuals to walk away, even when the financial and emotional costs start piling up. After all, leaving the MLM means leaving the tribe—and who wants to be the one to break away?
2. Justification of Failure
When magical thinking is the foundation of your belief system, failure is never about the business model. It’s always personal. Didn’t make the millions you were promised? It’s because you didn’t believe enough. This mindset is a genius way for MLMs to deflect blame, keeping their own reputation intact while making their members feel like the problem lies with them. It keeps the business running without accountability.
3. Encouragement of Recruitment
MLMs thrive on recruitment, and magical thinking is the fuel for the machine. The idea that anyone can succeed if they just think positively or visualize their dreams is a powerful hook for drawing in new recruits. If everyone believes success is inevitable through mental willpower alone, they’ll keep signing up—and bringing others with them.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
• Slogans and Phrases
Be on the lookout for those overly-optimistic, saccharine catchphrases like, “Just believe and you’ll achieve!” or “Manifest your dreams, and they’ll come true!” These slogans might seem harmless at first, but they’re big red flags that magical thinking is being used to manipulate and keep people hooked.
• Focus on Personal Stories
MLMs love to highlight the few personal success stories where individuals “made it,” while conveniently sweeping the 99% of struggling participants under the rug. This selective storytelling distorts reality and feeds the illusion that success is within easy reach for everyone.
• Pressure to Stay Positive
If you feel constant pressure to only stay positive and avoid discussing any challenges or failures, that’s another major warning sign. MLMs don’t want anyone disrupting their “positive vibes” because questioning the business model threatens the entire operation.
• Ignoring Evidence
If an MLM is constantly dismissing scientific evidence or research in favor of anecdotal stories and positive affirmations, it’s time to raise an eyebrow. Facts and figures don’t lie—but magical thinking demands you ignore the hard truths in favor of feel-good fiction.
Conclusion
Magical thinking can feel seductive—after all, who doesn’t want to believe that simply thinking positively can change your life? But in the context of MLMs, it’s a dangerous trap that exploits emotions, manipulates reality, and can lead to significant financial and psychological harm.
Recognizing the power of magical thinking is a key step toward protecting yourself from falling prey to MLM schemes. The next time someone tries to sell you the dream with a hefty dose of “just believe,” remember: real success comes from strategy, effort, and critical thinking—not wishful thinking. Stay sharp, and always dig for the facts behind the hype.
If you’re looking to dig deeper into the topic of magical thinking, MLMs, and their psychological impacts, here are some top-notch resources that will give you the depth and insight needed to fully understand the scope of this issue:
1. Books
“Merchants of Deception” by Eric Scheibeler
A former high-ranking member of an MLM, Scheibeler exposes the dark side of the industry, shining a light on the manipulative tactics, including magical thinking, used to keep participants hooked and financially invested.
“Ponzinomics: The Untold Story of Multi-Level Marketing” by Robert FitzPatrick
FitzPatrick’s book is one of the most thorough resources available on MLMs, dissecting the psychological manipulation that fosters the illusion of success, including how magical thinking plays a role in perpetuating these business models.
“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini
While not specifically about MLMs, this classic book on persuasion provides a solid foundation for understanding the psychological tactics used in MLMs, including magical thinking. The book covers how people are influenced by emotional appeals and irrational thinking in decision-making.
“The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It… Every Time” by Maria Konnikova
This book dives into why people fall for scams, cons, and magical thinking, explaining the psychological elements at play, such as the desire for control and emotional manipulation—key tactics used by MLMs.
2. Podcasts
“The Dream”
This investigative podcast explores the world of MLMs, breaking down the psychological manipulation, emotional appeals, and magical thinking used to recruit and retain participants. The show offers interviews and personal stories, exposing the inner workings of MLMs in a captivating and digestible format.
“MLM: The Broke Podcast”
Hosted by a former MLM member, this podcast uncovers how MLMs operate and the manipulative strategies they employ. The podcast touches on magical thinking and the emotional manipulation that keeps participants in these schemes.
3. Academic Articles & Research Papers
“Magical Thinking and Superstitions: How Beliefs and Cognitive Biases Drive Irrational Behavior” – by Michael Shermer
This article explores the psychological underpinnings of magical thinking and how it relates to belief systems. Shermer’s work is helpful for understanding the cognitive biases MLMs exploit.
“The Dark Side of Positive Thinking” by Gabriele Oettingen (Psychological Science)
Oettingen’s research critically examines the idea that positive thinking, often promoted in MLMs, can lead to worse outcomes when people fail to back it up with realistic planning and action, a key aspect of magical thinking.
“The Fantasy of Success: MLMs and the Psychology of Unrealistic Optimism” by Kim Korteweg (Journal of Business Ethics)
This study looks at the role of unrealistic optimism and magical thinking in MLM recruitment and retention, providing a scholarly perspective on how these psychological tricks keep participants engaged.
4. Documentaries & Films
“Betting on Zero” (2016)
This documentary follows hedge fund manager Bill Ackman’s quest to expose Herbalife as a pyramid scheme. It highlights how MLMs, including Herbalife, use magical thinking to maintain their recruitment and selling operations, and the devastating impact it has on participants.
“LuluRich” (2021)
A documentary series about the rise and fall of LuLaRoe, this film touches on the magical thinking that drove people to invest thousands into the company based on promises of riches and financial freedom. It dives into the personal stories of those who fell victim to the MLM’s tactics.
5. Articles and Blogs
“MLMs Use Magical Thinking to Sell Dreams” (The Atlantic)
This article delves into the connection between magical thinking and MLM success, explaining how the industry’s use of vision boards, affirmations, and other positive-thinking tactics lure people into believing they can manifest wealth.
“Why People Keep Falling for MLM Scams” by Amanda Montell (Cosmopolitan)
Montell breaks down the psychological manipulation MLMs use, including magical thinking, and how they tap into emotional vulnerabilities, especially for women seeking financial independence or a sense of community.
“Multi-Level Marketing and the Cult of Magical Thinking” (Psychology Today)
This blog post by a psychologist explores the mental traps of magical thinking, including how MLMs leverage these tactics to keep people hooked, even when they’re losing money.
6. Research Studies & Psychology Databases
American Psychological Association (APA)
The APA has various articles and studies on cognitive distortions, belief systems, and the psychology behind magical thinking, which are key to understanding how MLMs manipulate thought patterns.
PubMed/NIH Studies
If you’re looking for peer-reviewed research, searching PubMed for articles on cognitive biases, emotional manipulation, and the psychology of MLMs can provide high-quality, evidence-based insights.
These resources will give you a comprehensive understanding of how magical thinking, emotional manipulation, and psychological tricks are intertwined with MLM schemes. Whether you’re writing, podcasting, or just seeking to educate yourself, these tools will sharpen your perspective on the dangers of MLMs and the allure of magical thinking.
Have you been noticing the trend this week on how MLMs and high-control religions are like two peas in a pod? 🤔Both are pros at narrative control and emotional manipulation to keep you hooked and hush any objections. 🧠💥
By boosting group identity, crafting slick stories to tackle doubts, and giving dissenters the cold shoulder, they shut down critical thinking faster than you can say “independent thought.” 🚫💭
Both MLM companies and high-control religions use sophisticated methods of narrative control and emotional manipulation to maintain adherence and deflect objections.
In this post, we’ll explore these tactics in detail, shedding light on the parallels between the two and their impact on individuals.
MLM Companies
Training on Objection Handling:
Preemptive Framing:
Narrative: MLM companies often train recruits to preemptively frame any criticism as coming from those who don’t understand the business model or are jealous of the potential success.
Example: “People who criticize MLMs just don’t understand how it works. They’re stuck in the traditional 9-to-5 mindset.”
Repetition of Success Stories:
Narrative: Recruits are encouraged to repeatedly share and focus on success stories within the MLM to create a positive and hopeful group identity.
Example: “Look at how much [successful person] has achieved! You can do it too if you follow the system.”
Us vs. Them Mentality:
Narrative: Critics are often labeled as ‘negative’ or ‘toxic,’ the idea that only those within the MLM understand and support each other.
Example: “Don’t listen to the naysayers; they don’t want you to succeed like we do.”
Deflection Techniques:
Narrative: Recruits are taught to deflect objections by changing the subject or asking questions to steer the conversation back to the positive aspects of the MLM.
Example: “I understand your concern, but let me ask you this: Don’t you want more financial freedom?”
High-Control Religions (Apologetics Tactics)
Thought-Stopping Techniques:
Scriptural Rebuttal:
Technique: Apologists use specific scriptures to counter objections, often discouraging further questioning by framing it as a lack of faith or understanding.
Example: “The Bible says to lean not on our own understanding. Trust in God’s plan.”
Repetition of Doctrinal Stories:
Technique: Similar to MLM success stories, these religions emphasize repetitive storytelling of faith miracles or doctrinal teachings to strengthen group identity.
Example: “Remember how [biblical figure] overcame doubt by trusting in God. We must do the same.”
Isolation of Dissenters:
Technique: Those who question or criticize are often isolated or labeled as spiritually weak or rebellious, reinforcing conformity.
Example: “Anyone who causes division is not acting in love. Avoid such people.”
Deflection and Redirection:
Technique: Apologists often deflect challenging questions by redirecting the conversation to more familiar or comfortable topics within the faith.
Example: “That’s an interesting question, but let’s focus on how much God loves us and has a plan for our lives.”
Comparison
Common Elements:
Group Identity Reinforcement:
Both MLMs and high-control religions heavily rely on creating a strong sense of group identity to foster loyalty and discourage dissent.
Narrative Control:
Both systems use pre-defined narratives to handle objections and maintain control over the beliefs and behaviors of their members.
Us vs. Them Mentality:
By framing outsiders or critics as ‘misinformed’ or ‘negative,’ both MLMs and high-control religions create a protective barrier against external critique.
Emotional Manipulation:
Both systems use emotional stories (success stories in MLMs, faith miracles in religions) to inspire and motivate adherence, often at the expense of critical thinking.
Conclusion
Both MLM companies and high-control religions use sophisticated methods of narrative control and emotional manipulation to maintain adherence and deflect objections. By reinforcing group identity, employing specific narratives to handle objections, and isolating dissenters, they create environments where questioning and critical thinking are discouraged. Understanding these parallels can help in identifying and addressing the underlying tactics used to exert control in both contexts.
Want the juicy details? 🍿🎧 Tune into this week’s podcast episode to get the full scoop and learn how to spot these tactics in action. 🎙️✨
When it comes to making a profit, the comparison between lottery odds and MLM (multi-level marketing) success rates reveals a stark reality: both paths are fraught with significant financial risk, but MLMs typically offer even lower chances of profitability.
🚀 Join us for an eye-opening episode that tackles the intersections of gender, culture, business, and control. Don’t miss out on these compelling insights!
Lottery Odds
The chances of winning a significant prize in major lotteries, such as Powerball or Mega Millions, are astronomically low. For example:
Powerball Jackpot: The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 292 million.
Smaller Prizes: While there are better odds for smaller prizes, they still remain quite low, often making even minor winnings a rare occurrence.
MLM Profitability
Studies and reports paint a grim picture for those involved in MLMs:
FTC Report: According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), approximately 99% of MLM participants end up losing money.
Profit Sources: Success in MLMs often hinges on recruiting new participants rather than selling products to consumers, which creates a structure where the majority are positioned at the bottom, struggling to make a profit.
Key Factors to Consider
Initial Costs: Many MLMs require an initial investment or ongoing purchases to remain active. This financial commitment can lead to losses if the participant fails to recruit enough new members or sell sufficient products.
Time and Effort: Achieving success in MLMs often demands a significant investment of time and effort, frequently far exceeding the potential earnings.
Recruitment Focus: The profitability for top MLM earners typically comes from recruiting others rather than direct product sales, creating a high barrier to profit for most participants.
Conclusion
While neither playing the lottery nor joining an MLM is advisable for making a profit, statistically speaking, the majority of people will lose money in both scenarios. However, due to the structural and financial demands of MLMs, the likelihood of achieving a profit is typically even lower than winning a smaller lottery prize.
In summary, while both the lottery and MLMs are risky ventures with slim chances of financial gain, comparative data suggests that the average person is more likely to incur losses in an MLM than in the lottery. Proceed with caution and consider more reliable financial strategies to achieve your monetary goals.
Over the last few weeks, we have been exploring the complex interplay between radicalization, conspiracies and religion. During the pandemic, I was one of those new-age rebels that was pumped into conspiracy and conversion to religion pipeline. I was one of those people seeking answers and meaning that was drawn to radical ideologies and conspiratorial narratives that promised belonging, purpose, and empowerment.
A huge aspect of my deconstruction process is realizing how I’ve been susceptible and caught up in cult-like dynamics for most of my adult life. I spent years entangled in an MLM (2016-2020), which only worsened my dis0rded eat1ng behaviors from high school. These products often promoting unrealistic body standards and fostering unhealthy relationships with food. Feeling lost without that community, I was drawn into pandem1c conspiracies and eventually into high-control religion.
The “crunchy hippie to alt-right pipeline” is a phenomenon where individuals initially attracted to alternative wellness and New Age practices become increasingly exposed to far-right ideologies. This shift is facilitated by social media algorithms and influential figures who blend wellness content with conspiracy theories and extremist views.
Key Points of the Pipeline:
Algorithmic Influence:
Social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram use algorithms that can gradually expose users to more extreme content. For instance, someone watching videos on natural health remedies might eventually receive recommendations for videos that include far-right conspiracy theories or anti-establishment rhetoric (Virginia Review of Politics).
Overlapping Values:
Certain aspects of New Age and wellness cultures, such as skepticism of mainstream medicine and government, overlap with the distrust and anti-establishment sentiments of far-right groups. This makes the transition smoother as the ideologies can appear to support each other (Cross Cultural Solidarity).
Influential Figures:
Wellness influencers who propagate conspiracy theories (like QAnon) help bridge the gap between New Age communities and far-right ideologies. They often present themselves as offering alternative truths, which can be appealing to those already disillusioned with conventional systems (Cross Cultural Solidarity).
Community Dynamics:
Online communities play a crucial role. Individuals often seek validation and a sense of belonging in these groups. Once part of a community that blends wellness with far-right views, it becomes easier to accept and internalize these extremist ideologies (Virginia Review of Politics) (Cross Cultural Solidarity).
Implications:
Radicalization: This pipeline can lead to the radicalization of individuals who initially joined wellness communities for benign reasons but gradually adopt extremist views.
Polarization: The spread of far-right ideologies within wellness spaces contributes to societal polarization and the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories.
Public Health Concerns:
Misinformation and Hesitancy towards “BigPharma” Social media platforms have been conduits for the dissemination of misinformation regarding 💉, leading to hesitancy. False claims about safety and conspiracy theories have undermined public health efforts.
Addressing these public health concerns requires a multi-faceted approach that includes combating misinformation, improving mental health services, addressing healthcare inequities, ensuring continuity of chronic disease management, strengthening public health infrastructure, and promoting evidence-based health practices. Public awareness and education, policy reforms, and community engagement are essential in tackling these challenges and improving overall public health outcomes
Conclusion:
Understanding this pipeline is essential for recognizing how seemingly unrelated interests in wellness and spirituality can be co-opted by extremist ideologies. It highlights the need for vigilance and critical thinking in online spaces, as well as the importance of promoting credible information and fostering inclusive communities. For more detailed discussions on this topic, you can refer to articles from sources like the Virginia Review of Politics and Cross Cultural Solidarity (Virginia Review of Politics) (Cross Cultural Solidarity).
Over the last few months, I’ve learned that multilevel marketing companies, conspiracy theories, and high-control religions share similarities in their recruitment tactics, manipulation of beliefs, and the creation of insular communities. They often use charismatic leaders, exploit emotional vulnerabilities, and promote an us-versus-them mentality to maintain control and loyalty among their followers. 🫨
Social media wields considerable influence in radicalizing individuals and indoctrinating them into high-control religions and MLM schemes through the use of various potent methods and strategies.
The concern about their role in radicalization, polarization, and recruitment into high-control groups, MLMs, and religions is significant but often underplayed. Social media platforms can amplify echo chambers, spreading misinformation and extreme views quickly. Algorithms prioritize engaging content, which can include sensationalist or divisive posts, fostering an environment ripe for radicalization and recruitment. Additionally, the sense of community and belonging offered by these groups can be appealing, making individuals more susceptible to their influence. Greater awareness and critical media literacy are essential to mitigate these risks.
🔑 Primary methods employed on social media:
1️⃣Direct Messaging: Followers can reach out to potential recruits directly through private messages, providing personalized attention and answers to their questions, fostering a sense of personal connection and care. Influencers and Leaders: Charismatic leaders and influencers within can use their social media presence to attract followers, often by presenting themselves as relatable and trustworthy figures.
2️⃣Content Flooding: These groups can flood social media with posts, videos, and articles promoting their beliefs. This constant stream of content can overwhelm users, making it difficult for them to encounter alternative perspectives. Misinformation: False or misleading information can be spread to discredit critics, demonize outsiders, and paint the religion in a positive light, further ensnaring individuals who come across such content.
3️⃣ Inspirational Stories: Testimonials, miracle stories, and dramatic conversions are shared widely to evoke strong emotional responses, making the religion appear attractive and compelling. Fear Tactics: Content that promotes fear of worldly dangers, apocalyptic scenarios, or spiritual consequences of not joining the religion can be used to manipulate users into adopting the group’s beliefs.
4️⃣Algorithmic Targeting: Social media platforms use algorithms to show content that aligns with users’ existing beliefs and interests. Once someone engages with this content, they are likely to see more of it, reinforcing their views. Group Isolation: Users can join groups and follow pages that only promote the ideology of the high control religion or MLM, effectively creating echo chambers where dissenting views are absent.
5️⃣ Virtual Communities: Social media platforms allow the formation of virtual communities where members can interact, share experiences, and reinforce each other’s beliefs. This sense of community can be a powerful draw for those seeking belonging. Exclusive Content: Providing exclusive content, such as live sermons, special teachings, and interactive sessions, can create a sense of privilege and deeper connection among followers.
6️⃣ Engagement Metrics: Likes, shares, and comments serve as positive reinforcement for engaging with content, encouraging users to consume and spread more of it. Regular Interaction: Frequent interaction with content through daily posts, challenges, and reminders helps to condition users’ behavior and integrate the religion or products into their daily routine.
7️⃣ Multi-Platform Presence: Both high control religions and MLMs often maintain a presence across multiple social media platforms, ensuring that their message reaches users wherever they spend their time online. Coordinated Campaigns: Coordinated campaigns across platforms can amplify the reach and impact of their message, creating a pervasive online presence that is hard to escape.
8️⃣Data Analytics: Social media platforms gather data on user behavior, preferences, and interactions, which can be analyzed to tailor more effective recruitment and indoctrination strategies. Monitoring and Policing: Leaders and members can monitor interactions within their social media groups to quickly address dissent and reinforce group norms.
9️⃣Virality of Content: High-quality, engaging, and provocative content is more likely to go viral. By exploiting social media algorithms that prioritize such content, these groups can rapidly spread their message to a broad audience. Hashtag Campaigns: Using specific hashtags can help content gain visibility and connect with trending topics, drawing in users who might not have actively sought out this particular kind of content.
To avoid being recruited into high-control religions or MLMs on social media, consider these strategies:
Be cautious of persuasive tactics: Watch out for overly aggressive or manipulative recruitment techniques, such as love bombing or excessive flattery.
Research the organization: Look into the background and reputation of the group or company before getting involved. Check for any red flags or warning signs of cult-like behavior.
Trust your instincts: If something feels off or too good to be true, it probably is. Listen to your gut instincts and don’t ignore any feelings of discomfort.
Set boundaries: Establish clear boundaries for yourself and stick to them. Don’t be afraid to say no or walk away if you feel pressured or uncomfortable.
Seek advice from trusted sources: Talk to friends, family, or mentors about your concerns before making any decisions. They may offer valuable insights or perspectives that you hadn’t considered.
Educate yourself: Learn about the tactics and strategies used by high-control groups and MLMs to recruit and retain members. Being informed can help you recognize and resist manipulation more effectively.
Practice critical thinking: Be skeptical of any promises of quick wealth or guaranteed salvation. Take the time to evaluate information critically and consider multiple perspectives before making a decision.
By staying vigilant and informed, you can protect yourself from falling victim to high-control religions or MLMs on social media.
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