The Strange Cult of Synanon
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2022
- Synanon: some people will tell you it saved their life, some say it was a social experiment….At its core, it was a self-help rehab program that turned into a religion and then a cult. Today I’m going to tell it’s story; what Synanon is, how it came to be, it’s odd practices and ultimately what led to its downfall.
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This video is for you if you are interested in cults, what makes a cult, the strangest cults ever, the most dangerous cults, the biggest cults in history, the peoples temple, the cult of synanon, cult documentaries, cults in America, cults and extreme beliefs, cults that are still active, heaven's gate cult, cults explained 
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It's mind-boggling how Synanon went from a peaceful, nonviolent rehab to a violent, totalitarian, and dangerous cult, all within 20 years. Many of their abuses and crimes against their neighbors and critics were shocking. Glad to know they disbanded in 1991.
Dederich was absolutely a monster.
Yours is by far the best documentary I've seen about Synanon. Keep up the good work!😊
My mother is a child survivor of Synanon... I've listened to the tragedies forced on her at 15 years old.... witness to rape, murder, beatings, abortion and she escaped and one of the few not recovered by Synanon after escape. Her stories are disheartening and terrifying to imagine and OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM FORCED IT... I hate there is no compensation for putting CHILDREN in to CULTS!!!! No one was there to protect foster children! We are both thankful for the attention brought to such a dark time in her life. Wish she could have gotten it when it was needed! ❤️
My heart breaks for your mom and family, Dee…I sat for a while with what you shared - picturing what she went through and the painful aftermath of having to carry the weight of it all. I’m so sorry she had to experience even a moment of that. 💛
I'm from Synanon. 74-85
I hope she’s managed to find peace and healing.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
@gregoryreese7686 Is one of my daily sayings ❤️💪🏽
You're such an underrated channel, I have ADHD and it's hard for me to concentrate in videos, even if I find them interesting. You kept me engaged and informed! Hope your channel keeps growing :)
Thank you! I’m so glad you found the video interesting. 💛
🙋♀️ A.D.D. here (no "H").
I relate 100pct. Its almost shocking for those of us that stumble across entities that hold our attn.
@@anabaird3835just so you know, as of DSM-V you have ADHD. They classify us all under it with specifications coming after that. ADHD Hyperactive Type, ADHD Inattentive type, combined type etc
Zoomer brain rot
Agree she’s a very talented content creator and documentacist❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
My late wife survived synanon in the early seventies, and from what she told me. It was worse than you described. It was a sick place, run by sick people. Thank God it's gone.
Sorry about what your wife went through🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊
Yes it was way worse than than was described.
I went to an alternative school in LA for 3 years and aprox 1975 we took a field trip to Synanon. I was 12 & here’s what I saw, remember and was traumatized by. I was a hippie kid who had lived in communes in Haight Ashbury, S.F. as a toddler, was given LSD several times as a child so it wasn’t the drug rehab part that freaked me out or was new to see, it was everything combined. Doors were open to the rooms so you could see in, go in, walk around, ask questions, etc. One room had people detoxing on cots, all shaking and very ill. All women had shaved heads, I think everyone did but the women with bald heads really made an impression on me. They said it was to practice non-attachment because people are attached to their hair. Children were running around in a pack, communal parenting. And the whole environment looked and felt absolutely crazy, nuts and like a cult. That was my Synanon experience.
Thank you so much for sharing! It was fascinating to read about your experience. I can definitely see how you would have been troubled and terrified by what you saw, especially at 12 years old. 💛
I am familiar w/Synanon for two reasons. One is that i have a good friend whose brother was a 'square lifestyle member" for many years. He voluntarily got a vasectomy and divorced his wife. The other reason is I worked at a law firm years ago where three of the partners in the firm had been Synanon members. The similarities between Synanon and Scientology are striking. Have you done an expose of them? If not, would love to see it. Keep up the good work.
Oh my gosh, Scientology…. I’ve researched them for years but have not done a piece on them. I should add it to my list!
@@ArmchairInvestigator it would be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison how they are similar and how they are diverse
They are both ugly and at least Scientology is still horrifyingly powerful but at least as far as we know, they have stayed out of the government. Primarily because I think they have no interest in playing ball with anyone not in The cult.
But then of course now we have 1/3 of the government in a whole different cult, so...
@@ArmchairInvestigatorBe careful of backlash from the Scientology goons if you take on exposing them. Seriously.
Having only a vague memory of Synanon from the 70s, I actually thought it was the rehab branch of Scientology.
I searched for feral people and found ur channel
You're definitely highly educated and ur videos are well researched and you're very easy on the ey e
Only problem is you won't get super famous because your content is too educational
I just got so disillusioned when I saw a video of an Asian girl who has 1.8million humans following her and all she does is eats a disgraceful ungodly amount of food. She literally just eats on camera for a living. And apparently she isn't doing that correctly even.
Our society is doomed I swear. No hope
Re: cults you could cover in the future -- one batch of cults that I rarely hear anyone talk about is the whole batch of human potential, self-actualization and neurolinguistic programming organizations that began in the 1960s with EST (Werner Erhard) and that eventually spawned LifeSpring, Avatar, The Landmark Forum and so many more. I think a lot of people don't see these groups as dangerous, or as fitting the definition of a cult, but as someone who's lost MANY previously rational and grounded friends to the all-consuming, wild-eyed brainwashing of these programs, I can say that they are MOST DEFINITELY cult-like in their design and practices, and the results are destructive. I'd really love to see a video or podcast exploring these.
Or, she could just start with Elon Musk.
I second the suggestion 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
EST
I agree. I was in lifespring for a couple of years. All of these organizations like this need to be exposed.
I don’t understand why this video only has 25k views when it’s one of the best on this subject
I appreciate you saying that!
It will more than likely get more views from the HBO documentary, that's why I'm here...
Never heard of Synanon. It started out fun and helpful to people where AA didn't work for them. Chuck went crazy I think. It sounded terrifying at the end. Like Jonestown and Scientology.
I was 13 years old I was flown from New York from the court system to be a member of the punk Squad. I arrived in 1974 until the end of 76 I saw a utopian society when I first got there and when I left it was much much different violence and acts of violence I was commanded to do some good qualities and some also very bad qualities. I came across this podcast and found it very interesting it brought back memories I also I've seen many pictures here that remind me of the place I lived I was in Santa Monica I was in Oakland California I was in San Francisco I lived on the ranch
I'm from Synanon. 74-85...
i'm L.A. born and raised and my mom had a problem with alcohol she went to one synanon meeting and never went back.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Unless you truly are a simple soul with a pure heart, you're going to go bad.
Cults are disgusting. We've never had an honest cult leader for one simple reason.
No truly good and simply pure person would ever want to be a cult leader and they would reject it vehemently.
I only escaped the clutches of a cult almost 4 months ago. So similar to Synanon. Holy crap. It's a group called "The Arch" in Omaha, NE. Mondays and Thursdays are "peer evals" where one is encircled by every peer in the house and one or two staff members. There's an intense initial verbal, mental, and emotional breaking of said person. Non stop for over an hour. Saying that person has no God and any thought that they can conceive is a part of the same process that led them to become alcoholics and addicts and that the ONLY way to be able to succeed in any form in life is to submit to them, join them, "shut up and do what you're told"... I'm done now.
Oh. My. Word! I cannot imagine…I’m so happy you managed to leave. Just the name “Peer Evals” alone is enough to make my skin crawl.
That is absolutely frightening. It is scary that people can still fail for that.
Synanon also paved the way for places like the Elan School
And Walden House
What are these? Im sorry Im not familiar with the names of these.
I missed the connection of synanon and Jonestown. They were both definitely cults which I understand and know, what was the connection? The thing that pisses me of most is the psychological aftershocks of synanon passed on generation after generation. The tactics the groups used were and are practiced at levels within society ,schools, families, rehabs and probably other subgroups in societies which makes for a disturbing society at large. Truly evil. The same might be able to be said for the Jonestown cult which I always took for granted that that ideology died off the day of the massacre. Sad, tragic, unjust , anti-american, uncivil to say the very least. People believe and that will allow for ripple effects, people don't believe but the experience of living through such trauma will also be passed down through ripple effects by perpetuating the same behaviors they lived through. Worst of all is those who can afford this influence most will be the ones most affected by it as they are the ones most at risk of its influence. Society at large will always allow such and flat out miss such as we all are involved in this cult of personality. I hate using the word evil because of its religious tone , but I don't know of a more suitable word to describe the power of this ideology.
As I understood her to say, the Jonestown tragedy shone a spotlight onto Synanon, resulting in the raid and ultimate revocation of their tax exempt status.
I'd heard of Synanon but had no idea what it was. Your videos are so consice and well developed. Just the right balance of facts and human interest elements. I've subscribed and will keep watching!
My grandparents met in Synanon and my dad was actually born there before they left in the late 60s. Crazy watch
Second video, new subscriber. Love your style of reporting the facts and delivering the story. How have I not seen you yet, great job!
Oh my gosh children would be destroyed by the game
So would I tbh! 🫣
I would be so interested in hearing the stories of the kids raised in Synonym.
I was raised in synanon and. I was destroyed. I’m broken. Nobody understand a.
Im so excited to find your channel n am binge watching all your videos. You're awesome n I love the lesser known stories you tell so well.
❤❤
Great job! I had not heard of them before now. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. What a tragedy that some effective tools for helping people were once again twisted into a demented leader’s lashing whip and revenue generator.
Great coverage of this! - so interesting and you really delivered the information perfectly 👌👌
What a compliment! Thank you!
I agree! This is definately an underrated channel!!! I watch a lot of true crime.....You have a soothing energy and voice. Great job. Very easy to listen to. Reminding me of Adrien from Coffehouse Crime. This is my third video and ive subscribed. Thank You so much for all of your work in these videos!
Wow, such a nice compliment! Thank you so much!
I am caught between fascination and horror. Jonestown Massacre I had heard of, Synanon I had not. Seems like there can be a fine line between working for a good cause and creating a cult. 🤔
Omg you’re definitely underrated your just so amazing at bringing these stories to life❤️💯🩵
Syanon imitates alanon?
Brooke you did a tremendous job on explaining this documentary that is on Paramount
What’s the Paramount documentary called? I’ll have the check of out! 👀
Love listening and watching your stories!
That makes me so happy to hear! 💛
Watch the Doc "Born In Synanon" which was done by a woman whose mother and father were members and she was born into the cult. Synanon also shipped goods to Jonestown.
I’ll have to check it out! It looks like it just came out in December of 2023 if I’m seeing it correctly . Thanks for the rec!
You're welcome. Your video actually added some info that was not in the 4 Part doc.@@ArmchairInvestigator
Hmm, you say something against them you report the truth about them and you quite rightfully win a lawsuit against them.. and then you get death threats and violent attacks???
Why does that sounds oddly familiar...🤔
Scientology
Beautiful job Brooke 👏
Great video, this channel deserves more views imo
Thank you so much!
I’m familiar with Synanon. My friend/neighbor had been there, she left and her husband talked into going back, alone because he was in the Navy, and she left again. Her drug of choice? Marijuana! This was in ‘75. She really hated it there. Had nothing nice to say about it!
How have I never heard if this group?!?! I think they were into something in the beginning but as we often see; absolute corruption, corrupts absolutely. That all mighty dollar became Chuck’s replacement addiction.
my god your channel is underrated! I loved this video, it's so interesting and informative and you presented everything so well
I scrolled down to subscribe and expected at least a million subscribers, but I only saw 54.1 k
I hope that changes soon! Great content
Wow! Your comment just made my day! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your kind words. 💛🥺
@@ArmchairInvestigator I'm so glad!! I'm binge watching your videos rn 😆 I've been missing out on this gem of a channel for way too long
Just discovered this channel today and also subscribed. Excellent content!
64k now..good growth in only a month!! Congrats Brooke❤🇦🇺
I'm one of the newbies lol
It's happening again... Fishtank season 2
Horrifyingly fascinating.
A school in a town called Meadville Mississippi, Franklin county high school, has a big problem with same sex molestation of boys And nothing is being done
I was in a rehab in Tucson that was part of Synanon. I was reading a book that talked about this story called Heroin were they even mentioned the rehab I was in. It was weird there was people who had been there for decades upon decades. It was very strange.
I’ve only recently begun watching your channel - love it! If you haven’t already, the David Koresh cult in Waco is one that maybe the younger generation is unaware of. It might take 2 or 3 parts!!
My friend joined Synanon in 1980. Boy, it changed her.
Yikes.
Attack therapy... basically mindfuck. Rattle snakes in mailboxes anyone?🤣
Daytop Village. They were a drug rehabilitation program back in the day..they were based on Synanon.
That’s one I’ve never heard of!
That huge run down brick building on the Santa Monica boardwalk…HUGE!
Similar to the Rajneesh cult.
They came to my school in the 60’s. They talked about how Synanon saved their lives. They were so “la-la” about it, it made me uncomfortable. Kind of creepy. We lived in a medical community and I think they wanted “in.”
Synanon still exists in Germany. I looked on their website. they mention Chuck Dederich but don't say anything about his methods and their history in America. I don't know if they are as dangerous as the original Synaon but I wouldn't trust them. Has anyone had any experience with Synaon in Germany?
I love your videos. They are so well researched. Hope your channel blows up. Your are wonderful. Sending lots of love from Canada. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, your way.
Thank you very much! That means a lot to hear. 💛
12:15 What’s the songs name?
It is a shame you did not include the fact that many of their members moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona in the mid 70’s. They positively contributed to society there. They provided jobs in many sectors. They owned a local hotel with restaurant attached. Their children attended schools (bald heads and all). They had homeopathic doctors who were welcomed in the community. I know these things because I grew up in Lake Havasu City.
This is the first I've heard of Synanon. Is that really where the term "squares" came from referring to uncool people... You know it sounds similar to Scientology.🤔
A new form of karate called synado!?! Wow
🤣🤣🤣
Yep
Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutly. The sinful nature of Man makes this a truism. Only Christ can save us. Put your faith in Him.
Please investigate Scientology....I'm loving your channel and you speak so eloquently.....
Is this any different than the Betty Ford Center?
I always thought it is a German institution,so thanks for sharing 😢 but I definitely know its a bad one 👎 people,are treated like hell in the beginning and are abused psychologically and used to force to work for money for the institution,I watched it by myself when I contacted a Decluttering company too help me,but wasn’t aware it belongs to them. It was a horrible experience and I had to call the police due to the Calculation ,suddenly they wanted 300 instead 100 € like said and the boss Threatened me too pay the bill like he wanted it 🤯
Last not least I would like to say withdraw on cold turkey can kill you 👹👹👹
Great channel,best wishes from Germany ❤️
me the same, I remember Christine F.(we the guys from berlin zoo) mother wanted to send her to their rehabilitation center in berlin
@@samab2982 hopefully you’re doing well,wish you all the best 🥰
A decluttering company in Germany was owned by Synanon? And you were watching the documentary while they were at your home working? Wow that’s bizarre!
Chuck found that Power was the strongest drug of all.
I swear to God some of the people posting here are either bots or batshit crazy.
Trippy
The organization ran commercials on TV back in the mid, late 60's.
That’s interesting
Sounds like Scientology! 🫣
Now that’s a rabbit hole to go down!!
Yes, lots of parallels. But then again all high control cults have many many similarities.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions
Sounds a lot like Scientology
Oh my are you Emmy Rossum!
You’re so sweet, Joey!
How weird that Hollywood back up thhis cult...fast forward tell now an we See Scientology in the driver seat...How despicable
Uau.. que grande notícia, eu me lembro que este culto havia sido bem falado, mas agora era raramente falado. Obrigada por falar mais sobre esse assunto, é bom que as pessoas saibam disso, talvez possa ajudar e saber o quanto foi horrível este culto. 🙂
interesting. how one man can.... get his own way with people and money
Delancey street foundation is an offshoot of synanon that still exists
I like the sound of your voice.
I’m happy to hear that! Thank you. 😊
I agree! Brook(e?), your voice is so easy to listen to! Lovely and mellifluous!
Hypnotic cult leader voice ha
@@gotcha9983 stahpppp!! LOL 🙈
@@ArmchairInvestigator ❤️
*_WHERE IS SHELLEY MISCAVIGE?!_*
Right?!? That’s what I want to know!
Do Natureboy and Melanination.
Omg yes!! It’s crazy because I was searching for a video on them and their beliefs but couldn’t find anything concrete. That would be great. This is only the first video I’ve watched if hers but I like it!
Google: A not so magical holiday with Holiday Magic Cosmetics‼️
No
The General Manager for Baltaire Steakhouse Brentwood is a former member. Total weirdo.
Acid is one hell of a drug 😮
His face is so creepy
Hmmm wonder if he was friends with Crowley or Hubbard
Sounds like Scientology meets Jonestown, with a little Heavens Gate thrown in.
What the fuck, Chuck?
You win! 😂😂😂
Why does thimgs still exist like this in germany😱
False prophets: charles russell,chuck, jim, joseph and helen. Et al..you d think names of grandeur!??? But..no. lol
I worked as an outsider at the Synanon Strip in the 80’s. To compare with Jonestown is a stretch. Despite many similarities this community dissolved as it needed to. The upper echelon seemed to have left with the bulk of assets. Chuck had turned back to alcoholic ways at the end.
The Synanon Game, while it may have been therapeutic for drug addicts and alcoholics, was definitely degrading for a normal person.
Thank you for sharing your experience and history with the group! Not comparing them to Jonestown - just that what happened in Jonestown caused worry over Synanon! Thanks for watching, Cindy! 💛
Drug addicts and alcoholics ARE normal people.
I played the synanon game l am a normal person and it worked for me too bad it got violent and became a cult
The F.. started great then... money is not the root of all evil, greed is. Btw, the game, sounds like ROASTING to the extreme!!!
Money is a tool. It can be used for good or evil. But like you say, greed is another thing. I recently saw an old show from the 70's and they were playing a game something very to the Synanon "game". I had heard of Synanon but this is the first time I heard the whole story. OMG!! I knew it was something like A.A. and let me tell you, I have been to rehab and A.A. , forced to go actually, and that was about 20 yrs ago, both horrible experiences. A.A. is a cult too. It's just been accepted by society as the only place to go if you have addiction problems, though I am not sure why. I was at a meeting, my last meeting,( I have learned to control my drinking of alcohol all by my self, though A.A. members will say that that's not possible. ) when I said to someone there, "this really feels like I'm being brainwashed" and he gave me this creepy look and said, " Well, maybe your brain NEEDS a little washing." That was it , I was done. I admit A.A. is not on the same level of insanity that Synanon was, but it was pretty crazy.
It’s not roasting to the extreme. Roasting people hide behind their true feelings and call it roasting. The game you speak your truth and how you feel
You didn't finish with Synanon. And moved to Jones...
Keep watching 💛
11:09what a striking/angelic looking young woman
WTF a cult..seperation of children is just evil
I played in the syanon game which you don't talk about much l played in it was a good invention l would like to talk about that with you by the way l was not a drug addict
More like talk clean and live dirty.
..
So you basically just lifted your entire script from Behind the Bastards episodes eh?
Absolutely not. I’ve never even heard of Behind the Bastards.
ofc the founder was from Ohio 😭
😆😆😆
Connie Chung!
I have to agree with Chuck's decision to prevent childbirths into a cult. We know what happens to kids in cults and it's not good (e.g. Children of God). It was probably the best decision a cult leader ever made. Marshall Applewhite from Heaven's Gate made the same edict. Good for them.
Synanon? Qanon?
Yes, both Cults.
Thought this was a documentary, but it’s a me video. I want to see more footage.
I’m sorry I couldn’t find more footage.
"mass un-alive-ings"
I don't mean to make it about politics but it clearly seems very based on a socialist collectivist mentality, and if you include the fact that California of all states allowed it to go on for so long, including the abortions and vasectomies, promoting underpopulation... It seems to validate a lot of what the right wing has warned people about.
Nice job but the jumping background when you are speaking or during your frame switches is difficult to watch.
Is that Joe Biden standing next to Jim Jones at 32:20 ???
Symposium? You sure it didn't begin as Synagogue.
LOL! As a Jewish person, every time I heard the word "Synanon," I thought "Is it a treatment program for Jews addicted to Shabbat services? 'Yes, I've had fifteen Bar Mitzvahs, but I can stop any time, I swear! Just one more chorus of Shalom Aleichem and I'll be done, I promise!'" :D
Lol, is Brooke starting a competing cult?
Shes not a very good narrator, she sounds like a robot. Definently reading a scriot , so obvious.
Yeayah drinking the punch baby!
🤣🤣🤣
I'm just learning about this group/cuIt. The started out with me googling Strangers With Cand. I went from Florrie Fisher to this.