Editing Mind Dynamics

{{Short description|Seminar company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Mind Dynamics
| logo =
| type = [[For-profit]]
| genre =
| foundation = 1968
| founder = [[Alexander Everett]]
| location_city =
| location_country =
| location = [[Texas]], <br> [[United States]]
| key_people = [[Alexander Everett]]<br>[[William Penn Patrick]]<ref name="oakland" /><br>Robert White, President<ref name="charleston" /><br>John Hanley, Field Director<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Staff
  | title = 800G AWARD FOR CHANGED PERSONALITY
  | work = Philadelphia Daily News
  | date = July 31, 1984
  }}<br>"Lifespring's founder, John Hanley, was a national field director for Mind Dynamics who was convicted in 1969 on mail-fraud charges.."
</ref>
| area_served =
| industry = [[Self-help]], [[Personal development]], [[Large Group Awareness Training]]
| products =
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| parent = [[Leadership Dynamics]]<ref name="thepit">{{cite book
  | last = Church
  | first = Gene
  |author2=Conrad D. Carnes
  | title = The Pit: A Group Encounter Defiled
  | publisher = Outerbridge and Lazard
  | year = 1972
  | location = New York
  }}
</ref>
| divisions =
| subsid =
| owner =
| homepage =
| dissolved = 1973
| footnotes =
}}

'''Mind Dynamics''' was a seminar company, founded by [[Alexander Everett]] in [[Texas]] in 1968.<ref name="manabu">{{cite journal
  | last = Manabu
  | first = Haga
  | title = Self-development seminars in Japan
  | journal = Japanese Journal of Religious Studies
  | issue = 22
  | pages = 3–4
  | year = 1995
  | url = http://www.ic.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/jjrs/pdf/451.pdf
  | format = PDF
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015333/http://www.ic.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/jjrs/pdf/451.pdf
  | archive-date = 2007-09-30
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref><ref name="vahle" /> The company ceased operating in December 1973 after the death of co-owner [[William Penn Patrick]] and the resignation of President Robert White, alongside investigations for fraudulent representations and practicing medicine without a license.<ref name="west" /><ref name="forbes" />

== Techniques, methodology ==
Mind Dynamics has been compared to [[Dale Carnegie]], and [[encounter group]]s.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Mathison
  | first = Dirk
  | title = White collar cults, they want your mind ...
  | work = Self Magazine
  | date = February 1993
  | url = http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=958&Itemid=12
  }}
</ref>  Mind Dynamics trained businessmen in personal development techniques,<ref name="Wittebols" /> but relied on unique activities rather than academic theories.<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Kaslow
  | first = Florence Whiteman
  |author2=Marvin B. Sussman
  | title = Cults and the Family
  | publisher = Haworth Press
  | year = 1982
  | pages = 190
  | isbn = 0-917724-55-0}}
</ref>  The coursework also utilized techniques that focused on visualization, and meditation.<ref name="manabu" />  

Techniques drawn from the [[Unity Church]] included periods of silence, focusing the mind on positive elements, and distinguishing the "intuitive inner voice."<ref name="vahle" />

Some of Mind Dynamics' techniques were compared to [[self-hypnosis]], and [[Brainwashing|mind control]].<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Turner
  | first = Dean E.
  | title = Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility
  | publisher = Hope Publishing House
  | year = 1991
  | isbn =  0-932727-43-3}}<br></ref>  Mind Dynamics has been described as part of the ''consciousness transformation'' movement, and has been compared to [[Scientology]], [[Erhard Seminars Training|est]], [[Psycho-Cybernetics]], and [[Amway]].<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Butterfield
  | first = Stephen
  | title = Amway: The Cult of Free Enterprise
  | publisher = South End Press
  | year = 1985
  | pages = [https://archive.org/details/amwaycultoffreee00butt/page/129 129]
  | url = https://archive.org/details/amwaycultoffreee00butt/page/129
  | isbn = 0-89608-253-9
  }}</ref>

== Influences ==
Heelas' ''The New Age Movement'' states that Mind Dynamics and Alexander Everett were influenced by [[Edgar Cayce]], [[Theosophy (Blavatskian)|Theosophy]], and [[Silva Mind Control]],<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Heelas
  | first = Paul
  | title = The New Age Movement: the celebration of the self and the sacralization of modernity
  | publisher = Blackwell Publishing
  | year = 1996
  | pages = 72
  | isbn =  0-631-19332-4}}
</ref> and Curtiss' ''Depression is a Choice'' also cites Silva Mind Control and ''self-talk'' as the basis for Mind Dynamics.<ref name="curtiss">{{cite book
  | last = Curtiss
  | first = Arline B.
  | title = Depression is a Choice: Winning the Fight Without Drugs
  | publisher = Hyperion
  | year = 2001
  | pages = [https://archive.org/details/depressionischoi00abcu/page/305 305]
  | url = https://archive.org/details/depressionischoi00abcu/page/305
  | isbn = 0-7868-6629-2
  }}
</ref>  Mind Dynamics has also been described by several authors on religious texts as an offshoot of Silva Mind Control.<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Clarke
  | first = Peter Bernard
  | title = New Religions in Global Perspective: a study of religious change in the modern world
  | publisher = Routledge
  | year = 2006
  | pages = [https://archive.org/details/newreligionsglob00clar/page/n48 33]
  | url =https://archive.org/details/newreligionsglob00clar
  | url-access = limited
  | isbn =  0-415-25747-6}}
</ref><ref>{{cite book
  | last = Stark
  | first = Rodney
  |author2=William Sims Bainbridge
  | title = The Future of Religion: Secularization, Revival, and Cult Formation
  | publisher = [[University of California Press]]
  | year = 1986
  | pages = 182
  | isbn =  0-520-05731-7}}
</ref><ref name="ankerberg">{{cite book
  | last = Ankerberg
  | first = John
  | title = Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions
  | publisher = Harvest House
  | year = 1999
  | location = Silva Mind Control, entry
  | url = http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/_PDFArchives/apologetics/AP4W1000.pdf
  |format=PDF
  }}<br></ref>  According to Jose Silva, Alexander Everett was a graduate of Silva Mind Control.<ref name="ankerberg" />  Everett also drew on principles from the [[Unity Church]], [[Egyptology]] and [[Rosicrucianism]] in developing Mind Dynamics.<ref name="vahlecentering">{{Cite journal
  | last = Vahle
  | first = Neal
  | title = Alexander Everett and Complete Centering
  | journal = New Realities Magazine
  | date = May–June 1987
  }}
</ref>

== 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.<ref name="thepit" />  Holiday Magic later folded, amidst investigations by authorities and accusations of being a [[multi-level marketing]] [[pyramid scheme]].<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Staff
  | title = Endless Chain Scheme Suit Hits Cosmetics Co.
  | work = Star-News, [[Pasadena, California]]
  | date = December 20, 1972
  }}
</ref><ref name="time73">{{cite news
  | last = Staff
  | title = Battling the Biggest Fraud
  | work = [[Time Magazine]]
  | pages = 2 pgs.
  | date = July 16, 1973
  | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907582,00.html
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070427044857/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907582,00.html
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = April 27, 2007
  }}<br>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.
</ref> Every employee in management positions at Holiday Magic was required to participate in the coursework.<ref name="thepit" />

== Investigated for fraud, practicing medicine without a license ==
In December 1972,<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Staff
  | title = The Fresno Bee, [[Fresno, California]]
  | date = June 10, 1973
  }}<br>"The California attorney general filed suit against Mind dynamics In December, charging The company made false claims about benefits of The course."
</ref> Mind Dynamics was investigated for [[practicing medicine without a license]], and fraudulent representation of the potential benefits of participating in their coursework.<ref name="charleston">{{cite news
  | last = Staff
  | title = Charleston Daily Mail
  | date = December 15, 1972
  }}
</ref><ref name="west" /><ref>{{cite news
  | last = Staff
  | title = The Modesto Bee and News-Herald, [[Modesto, California]]
  | date = December 14, 1972
  }}
</ref><ref>{{cite news
  | last = Staff
  | title = Winnipeg Free Press
  | date = December 15, 1972
  }}
</ref>  The company was also investigated by the state of California for making fraudulent claims.<ref name="Wittebols">{{cite book
  | last = Wittebols
  | first = James H.
  | title = Watching M*A*S*H, Watching America: A Social History of the 1972-1983 Television Series
  | publisher = McFarland & Company
  | year = 2003
  | pages = 95
  | isbn =  0-7864-1701-3}}
</ref>  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 medicine.<ref name="oakland">{{cite news
  | last = Staff
  | title = Oakland Tribune, [[Oakland, California]]
  | date = February 18, 1973
  }}
</ref>  [[William Penn Patrick]] was named as a party with Mind Dynamics in the lawsuit.<ref name="oakland" />

Mind Dynamics ceased operating in 1973, after being investigated and charged with fraud and practicing medicine without a license.<ref name="west">{{cite book
  | last = Scherr
  | first = Raquel L.
  |author2=Leonard Michaels |author3=David Reid
   | title = West of the West: Imagining California : an Anthology
  | publisher = [[University of California Press]]
  | year = 1995
  | pages = 290
  | isbn =  0-520-20164-7}}
</ref>  According to an article in ''[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]'', as of 1974, the State of California was still seeking to enjoin the company from making fraudulent claims, and [[Medical Doctor|practicing medicine]] without a [[Medical license|license]].<ref name="forbes">{{cite news
  | last = Staff
  | title = The Power Of Positive Eyewash
  | work = [[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]
  | pages = Features, Page 22
  | date = December 1, 1975
  }}<br></ref>

== Later groups ==
Neal Vahle's ''The Unity Movement'' lists nine personal growth organizations which grew out of Mind Dynamics, including: [[Erhard Seminars Training|est]] and [[Werner Erhard and Associates|The Forum]], [[Landmark Education]], [[Lifespring]], [[Lifestream Seminars|Lifestream]], LifeResults, [[LifeSuccess]], Context Training / Context International, [[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 [[Actualization]]s.<ref name="vahle">{{cite book
  | last = Vahle
  | first = Neal
  |author2=Connie Fillmore Bazzy
  | title = The Unity Movement: Its Evolution and Spiritual Teachings
  | publisher = Templeton Foundation Press
  | year = 2002
  | pages = 399, 402, 403, 480
  | isbn =  1-890151-96-3}}
</ref>  Vahle goes on to describe similar techniques used by these groups which were incorporated from Mind Dynamics' practices.<ref name="vahle" />  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]].<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Berger
  | first = Arthur Asa
  | title = Agit-Pop: : Political Culture and Communication Theory
  | publisher = Transaction Publishers
  | year = 1990
  | pages = 68
  | isbn =  0-88738-315-7}}
</ref>  The organizations cited above were founded by prior instructors from Mind Dynamics who had been trained by Alexander Everett, including [[Stewart Emery]] (who founded Actualizations), [[Randy Revell]] (who developed Context Training), [[James Roswell Quinn| James Quinn]] (who organized Lifestream/LifeResults/LifeSuccess), and [[Thomas Wilhite]] (who founded PSI Seminars).<ref name="vahle" />

[[Werner Erhard]], subsequently associated with [[Erhard Seminars Training | est]] (1971-1984), [[Werner Erhard and Associates | WE&A]] (1981-1991) and [[Landmark Education]] (founded 1991, known as [[Landmark Worldwide]] since 2013) taught in the Mind Dynamics organization,<ref>
{{cite book
 |last1                = Tipton
 |first1               = Steven M.
 |publication-date     = 18 February 2014
 |date                 = 19 March 2014
 |orig-date            = 1982
 |title                = Getting Saved from the Sixties: Moral Meaning in Conversion and Cultural Change
 |url                  = https://books.google.com/books?id=gAyvCwAAQBAJ
 |publication-place    = Eugene, Oregon
 |publisher            = Wipf and Stock Publishers
 |page                 = 329
 |isbn                 = 9781625646996
 |access-date          = 10 September 2023
 |quote                = Erhard was an instructor in Mind Dynamics (a now defunct program devised by autodidact Alexander Everett to teach people haw to control their minds more efficiently, reportedly through self-hypnosis and visualization) immediately before starting ''est'', and his delivery of the Mind Dynamics course closely resembled ''est'', according to some clients of both.
}} 
</ref><ref>
{{cite book
 | last1 = Lande
 | first1 = Nathaniel
 | author-link1 = Nathaniel Lande
 | title = Mindstyles, Lifestyles: A Comprehensive Overview of Today's Life-changing Philosophies
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EgYrAAAAMAAJ
 | publisher = Price/Stern/Sloan
 | date = 1976
 | isbn = 9780843104097
 | access-date = 10 September 2023
 | quote = Mind Dynamics is another major source for the est training. Not only was Werner Erhard trained as a Mind Dynamics instructor, he was selected by the organization's founder, Alexander Everett, to take responsibility [...].
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite book
 |last1                = Ankerberg
 |first1               = John
 |author-link1         = John Ankerberg
 |last2                = Weldon
 |first2               = John
 |year                 = 1996
 |chapter              = Est, The Forum, and Related New Age Seminars
 |title                = Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs
 |url                  = https://books.google.com/books?id=SghdYBbMds0C
 |publication-place    = Eugene, Oregon
 |publisher            = Harvest House Publishers
 |page                 = 299
 |isbn                 = 9781565071605
 |access-date          = 10 September 2023
 |quote                = John P. Handley [...], like Erhard, was a teacher in Mind Dynamics [...].
}} 
</ref>
providing a link between Mind Dynamics and several subsequent [[Large-group awareness training]]s (LGATs).<ref>
{{Cite journal
  | last = Langone
  | first = Michael
  | author-link = Michael Langone
  | title = Large Group Awareness Trainings
  | journal = Cult Observer
  | publisher = [[International Cultic Studies Association]]
  | volume = 15
  | issue = 1
  | year=1998
  | url = http://www.csj.org/rg/rgessays/rgessay_lgate.htm
  | issn = 1539-0152
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190907135142/http://www.csj.org:80/rg/rgessays/rgessay_lgate.htm
  | archive-date = 7 September 2019
  | access-date = 10 September 2023
  | quote = In the 1960s the encounter group movement was born.  Advocating enhanced communication and intensified experience, this movement evolved into something that was part psychotherapy, part spirituality, and part business. In some scholarly articles, these groups were referred to as "large group awareness trainings" or LGATs. Erhard Seminars Training (est) was the most successful of these groups, and it has been widely imitated. Even though it no longer officially exists, in the minds of many est is identified with the entire LGAT movement. It is in a sense the progenitor of a myriad of programs that have been marketed to the public and the business community.}}
</ref>

Former MDI President Robert White founded Lifespring and ARC International<ref>
[https://robertchaen.com/2020/04/01/66811/ "[...] Life Dynamics/ ARC International), a pioneer personal growth firm which was established in Tokyo around 1977 by Robert White."]
</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2023}}
which delivered the Life Dynamics seminars in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Sydney.

== References ==
{{reflist|3}}

[[Category:1968 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:1973 disestablishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Business services companies established in 1968]]
[[Category:Self religions]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 1973]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1968]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1960s]]