Mind Dynamics

Infobox Company
company_name = Mind Dynamics
company_
company_type = For-profit
genre =
foundation = 1968
founder = Alexander Everett
location_city =
location_country =
location = Texas,
USA
origins =
key_people = Alexander Everett
William Penn Patrick
Robert White, President
John Hanley, Field Director [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = 800G AWARD FOR CHANGED PERSONALITY
work = Philadelphia Daily News
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = July 31, 1984
url =
accessdate =
"Lifespring's founder, John Hanley, was a national field director for Mind Dynamics who was convicted in 1969 on mail-fraud charges.."]
area_served =
industry = Self-help, Personal development, Large Group Awareness Training
products =
services =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent = Leadership Dynamicscite book
last = Church
first = Gene
authorlink =
coauthors = Conrad D. Carnes
title = The Pit: A Group Encounter Defiled
publisher = Outerbridge and Lazard
date = 1972
location = New York
pages =
url =
doi =
id = ]
divisions =
subsid =
owner =
company_slogan = "We'll do anything to help you be a better manager, even hurt you."cite book
last = Golembiewski
first = Robert T.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Organization Development: ideas and issues
publisher = Transaction Publishers
date = 1989
location =
pages = Pp. 112, 150
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0887382452 ]
homepage =
dissolved = 1973
footnotes =

Mind Dynamics was a seminar company, founded by Alexander Everett in Texas in 1968. Mind Dynamics later led to two other companies, est and Lifespring.

After investigations for fraudulent representations and practicing medicine without a license, plus the death of co-owner William Penn Patrick and the resignation of President Robert White, the company ceased operating in December 1973.

Techniques, methodology

Mind Dynamics has been called a major forerunner of large group awareness trainingscite book
last = Navarro,
first = Espy M.
authorlink =
coauthors = Robert Navarro
title = Self Realization: The Est and Forum Phenomena in American Society
publisher = Xlibris Corporation
date = 2002
location =
pages = 54
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 1401042201
Page. 54. :
"Mind Dynamics, founded by Alexander Everett, was the major forerunner of large group awareness trainings. Although Mind Dynamics was only in existence for a few years, it sparked an entire industry of similar trainings."] . The organization's methods and techniques helped to influence an industry of trainings that would follow it. Mind Dynamics has been compared to Dale Carnegie, and encounter groups. [cite news
last = Mathison
first = Dirk
coauthors =
title = White collar cults, they want your mind ...
work = Self Magazine
pages =
language = English
publisher =
date = February 1993
url = http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=958&Itemid=12
accessdate = ] Mind Dynamics trained businessmen in personal development techniques, but relied on unique activities rather than academic theories [cite book
last = Kaslow
first = Florence Whiteman
authorlink =
coauthors = Marvin B. Sussman
title = Cults and the Family
publisher = Haworth Press
date = 1982
location =
pages = 190
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0917724550] . The coursework also utilized techniques that focused on visualization, and meditation. Snider wrote that Mind Dynamics was intended to prod individuals and goad them to improve upon themselves.

Techniques drawn from the Unity Church included periods of silence, focusing the mind on positive elements, and distinguishing the "intuitive inner voice."

Some of Mind Dynamics' techniques were compared to self-hypnosis, and mind control [cite book
last = Turner
first = Dean E.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility
publisher = Hope Publishing House
date = 1991
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0932727433
"Erhard was also closely associated with Alexander Everett, founder of Mind Dynamics, a self-hypnosis mind control enterprise."] . Mind Dynamics has been described as part of the "consciousness transformation" movement, and has been compared to Scientology, est, psychocybernetics, and Amway [cite book
last = Butterfield
first = Stephen
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Amway: The Cult of Free Enterprise
publisher = South End Press
date = 1985
location =
pages = 129
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0896082539]

Influences

Snider wrote that Mind Dynamics was part of the Human Potential Movementcite news
last = Snider
first = Suzanne
coauthors =
title = est, Werner Erhard and the Corporatization of Self-Help
work = The Believer
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = May 2003
url = http://www.believermag.com/issues/200305/?read=article_snider
accessdate = ] . Heelas' "The New Age Movement" states that Mind Dynamics and Alexander Everett were influenced by Edgar Cayce, Theosophy, and Silva Mind Control [cite book
last = Heelas
first = Paul
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The New Age Movement: the celebration of the self and the sacralization of modernity
publisher = Blackwell Publishing
date = 1996
location =
pages = 72
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0631193324] , and Curtiss' "Depression is a Choice" also cites Silva Mind Control and "self-talk" as the basis for Mind Dynamicscite book
last = Curtiss
first = Arline B.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Depression is a Choice: Winning the Fight Without Drugs
publisher = Hyperion
date = 2001
location =
pages = 305
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0786866292] . Mind Dynamics has also been described by several authors on religious texts as an offshoot of Silva Mind Control [cite book
last = Clarke
first = Peter Bernard
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = New Religions in Global Perspective: a study of religious change in the modern world
publisher = Routledge
date = 2006
location =
pages = 33
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0415257476] [cite book
last = Stark
first = Rodney
authorlink =
coauthors = William Sims Bainbridge
title = The Future of Religion: Secularization, Revival, and Cult Formation
publisher = University of California Press
date = 1986
location =
pages = 182
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0520057317] cite book
last = Ankerberg
first = John
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions
publisher = Harvest House
date = 1999
location = Silva Mind Control, entry
pages =
url = http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/_PDFArchives/apologetics/AP4W1000.pdf
doi =
id =
"SMC has resulted in a number of "off-shoots" that have utilized SMC techniques, including Mind Dynamics and est/The Forum. According to Silva, both Alexander Everett, founder of Mind Dynamics, and Werner Erhard, founder of est/The Forum, are SMG graduates."] . According to Jose Silva, Alex Everett was a graduate of Silva Mind Control. Everett also drew on principles from the Unity Church, Egyptology and Rosicrucianism in developing Mind DynamicsCitation
last = Vahle
first = Neal
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title = Alexander Everett and Complete Centering
journal = New Realities Magazine
volume =
issue =
pages =
date = May/June 1987
year =
url =
doi =
id = ] .

Leadership Dynamics, Holiday Magic

Other companies which had corporate relationships with Mind Dynamics included Leadership Dynamics and Holiday Magic, both of which were founded by William Penn Patrick, co-owner and Board Member for Mind Dynamics. Holiday Magic later folded, amidst investigations by authorities and accusations of being a multi-level marketing pyramid scheme [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Endless Chain Scheme Suit Hits Cosmetics Co.
work = Star-News, Pasadena, California
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = December 20, 1972
url =
accessdate = ] cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Battling the Biggest Fraud
work = Time Magazine
pages = 2 pgs.
language =
publisher =
date = July 16, 1973
url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907582,00.html
accessdate =
William Penn Patrick, a former mentor of Turner's, was charged last month by the Securities and Exchange Commission with bilking some 80,000 people out of more than $250 million through his Holiday Magic cosmetics and soap empire.] . Every employee in management positions at Holiday Magic was required to participate in the coursework.

William Penn Patrick, owner of Leadership Dynamics, invested in Mind Dynamics in 1970. All employees in management at Holiday Magic were expected to take the Mind Dynamics coursework.

Investigated for fraud, practicing medicine without a license

In December 1972 [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = The Fresno Bee, Fresno, California
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = June 10, 1973
url =
accessdate =
"The California attorney general filed suit against Mind dynamics In December, charging The company made false claims about benefits of The course."] , Mind Dynamics was investigated for practicing medicine without a license, and fraudulent representation of the potential benefits of participating in their coursework. [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = The Modesto Bee and News-Herald, Modesto, California
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = December 14, 1972
url =
accessdate = ] cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Charleston Daily Mail
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = December 15, 1972
url =
accessdate = ] [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Winnipeg Free Press
work =
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = December 15, 1972
url =
accessdate = ] The company was also investigated by the state of California for making fraudulent claims.cite book
last = Wittebols
first = James H.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Watching M*A*S*H, Watching America: A Social History of the 1972-1983 Television Series
publisher = McFarland & Company
date = 2003
location =
pages = 95
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0786417013] . A lawsuit brought forth by the State of California in 1973 requested that Mind Dynamics be barred from what California referred to as its unlawful practice of Medicinecite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California
work =
pages =
language = English
publisher =
date = February 18, 1973
url =
accessdate = ] . William Penn Patrick was named as a party with Mind Dynamics in the lawsuit.

Mind Dynamics ceased operating in 1973, after being investigated and charged with fraud and practicing medicine without a licensecite book
last = Scherr
first = Raquel L.
authorlink =
coauthors = Leonard Michaels, David Reid
title = West of the West: Imagining California : an Anthology
publisher = University of California Press
date = 1995
location =
pages = 290
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0520201647] . According to an article in "Forbes", as of 1974, the State of California was still seeking to enjoin the company from making fraudulent claims, and practicing medicine without a licensecite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = The Power Of Positive Eyewash
work = Forbes
pages = Features, Page 22
language =
publisher =
date = December 1, 1975
url =
accessdate =
Erhard was a division sales manager for Grolier Society Inc. when it was enjoined by the state of California for fraudulent and deceptive sales practices. As recently as 1974 California was seeking to enjoin Mind Dynamics -- whose ex-president said Erhard was once his No. One man -- from making fraudulent claims and practicing medicine without a license.] .

Later groups

Vahle's "The Unity Movement" lists nine "personal growth organizations" which grew out of Mind Dynamics, including: Erhard Seminars Training and The Forum, Landmark Education, Lifespring, Lifestream, Context Training, PSI Seminars, Personal Dynamics in Switzerland, Life Dynamics in Japan and Hong Kong, Alpha Seminars in Australia, Hoffman Quadrinity Process, Dimensional Mind Approach, Pathwork, and Actualizationscite book
last = Vahle
first = Neal
authorlink =
coauthors = Connie Fillmore Bazzy
title = The Unity Movement: Its Evolution and Spiritual Teachings
publisher = Templeton Foundation Press
date = 2002
location =
pages = 399, 402, 403, 480
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 1890151963] . Vahle goes on to describe similar techniques used by these groups which were incorporated from Mind Dynamics' practices. Berger's "Agit-Pop" also gives examples of EST, Lifespring and Actualizations, as groups that grew out of Mind Dynamics and helped form the human potential movement [cite book
last = Berger
first = Arthur Asa
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Agit-Pop: : Political Culture and Communication Theory
publisher = Transaction Publishers
date = 1990
location =
pages = 68
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0887383157] . The organizations cited above were founded by prior instructors from Mind Dynamics that had been trained by Alexander Everett, including Stewart Emery who founded Actualizations, Randy Revell, who developed Context Training, James Quinn, who organized Lifestream, and Thomas Wilhite, who founded PSI Seminars.

Former MDI President Robert White founded Lifespring and ARC International which delivered the Life Dynamics seminars in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Sydney.

Werner Erhard was influenced by his experiences at Mind Dynamics, methods of which he later incorporated into est, and this formed the basis for Erhard Seminars Training [cite book
last = Wilson
first = Brian R.
authorlink =
coauthors = Jamie Cresswell
title = New Religious Movements: challenge and response
publisher = Routledge
date = 1999
location =
pages = 56, 72, 280
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0415200490
"Especially influenced, it would appear, by his time with Mind Dynamics at the beginning of the 1970s, Erhard went on to found "est", (the first seminar ran in October 1971)."] [cite book
last = Hoffmann
first = Frank W.
authorlink =
coauthors = William G. Bailey
title = Mind & Society Fads
publisher = Haworth Press
date = 1992
location =
pages = 119
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 1560241780] . Mind Dynamics has also been cited as forming the initial basis for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Manabu wrote in the "Japanese Journal of Religious Studies" that both Lifespring and Erhard Seminars Training/est had traceable origins in Mind Dynamics, and its developer Alexander Everettcite journal
last = Manabu
first = Haga
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Self-development seminars in Japan
journal = Japanese Journal of Religious Studies
volume =
issue = 22
pages = 3–4
publisher =
date = 1995
url = http://www.ic.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/jjrs/pdf/451.pdf
doi =
id =
accessdate = ] .

References

External links