Mind Dynamics
Seminar company
title: "Mind Dynamics" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1968-establishments-in-texas", "1973-disestablishments-in-texas", "business-services-companies-established-in-1968", "self-religions", "american-companies-disestablished-in-1973", "american-companies-established-in-1968", "new-religious-movements-established-in-the-1960s"] description: "Seminar company" topic_path: "society/religion" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_Dynamics" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Seminar company ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Mind Dynamics |
| type | For-profit |
| foundation | 1968 |
| founder | Alexander Everett |
| location | Texas, |
| United States | |
| key_people | Alexander Everett |
| William Penn Patrick | |
| Robert White, President | |
| John Hanley, Field Director{{cite news | |
| last | Staff |
| title | 800G AWARD FOR CHANGED PERSONALITY |
| work | Philadelphia Daily News |
| date | July 31, 1984 |
| industry | Self-help, Personal development, Large Group Awareness Training |
| parent | Leadership Dynamics{{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 |
| dissolved | 1973 |
| :: |
| name = Mind Dynamics | logo = | type = For-profit | genre = | foundation = 1968 | founder = Alexander Everett | location_city = | location_country = | location = Texas, United States | key_people = Alexander Everett William Penn Patrick Robert White, President John Hanley, Field Director{{cite news | last = Staff | title = 800G AWARD FOR CHANGED PERSONALITY | work = Philadelphia Daily News | date = July 31, 1984 | area_served = | industry = Self-help, Personal development, Large Group Awareness Training | products = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | parent = Leadership Dynamics{{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 | divisions = | subsid = | owner = | homepage = | dissolved = 1973 | footnotes =
Mind Dynamics was a seminar company, founded by Alexander Everett in Texas in 1968.{{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
Techniques, methodology
Mind Dynamics has been compared to Dale Carnegie, and encounter groups.{{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 Mind Dynamics trained businessmen in personal development techniques, but relied on unique activities rather than academic theories.{{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}} The coursework also utilized techniques that focused on visualization, and meditation.
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. | title = Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility | publisher = Hope Publishing House | year = 1991 | isbn = 0-932727-43-3}} Mind Dynamics has been described as part of the consciousness transformation movement, and has been compared to Scientology, est, Psycho-Cybernetics, and Amway.{{cite book | last = Butterfield | first = Stephen | title = Amway: The Cult of Free Enterprise | publisher = South End Press | year = 1985 | pages = 129 | url = https://archive.org/details/amwaycultoffreee00butt/page/129 | isbn = 0-89608-253-9
Influences
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 | 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}} and Curtiss' Depression is a Choice also cites Silva Mind Control and self-talk as the basis for Mind Dynamics.{{cite book | last = Curtiss | first = Arline B. | title = Depression is a Choice: Winning the Fight Without Drugs | publisher = Hyperion | year = 2001 | pages = 305 | url = https://archive.org/details/depressionischoi00abcu/page/305 | isbn = 0-7868-6629-2 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 | title = New Religions in Global Perspective: a study of religious change in the modern world | publisher = Routledge | year = 2006 | pages = 33 | url =https://archive.org/details/newreligionsglob00clar | url-access = limited | isbn = 0-415-25747-6}} | 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}} | 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 | last = Vahle | first = Neal | title = Alexander Everett and Complete Centering | journal = New Realities Magazine | date = May–June 1987
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 | title = Endless Chain Scheme Suit Hits Cosmetics Co. | work = Star-News, Pasadena, California | date = December 20, 1972 | 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 Every employee in management positions at Holiday Magic was required to participate in the coursework.
Investigated for fraud, practicing medicine without a license
In December 1972,{{cite news | last = Staff | title = The Fresno Bee, Fresno, California | date = June 10, 1973 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 | title = Charleston Daily Mail | date = December 15, 1972 | last = Staff | title = The Modesto Bee and News-Herald, Modesto, California | date = December 14, 1972 | last = Staff | title = Winnipeg Free Press | date = December 15, 1972 The company was also investigated by the state of California for making fraudulent claims.{{cite book | last = Wittebols | first = James H. | title = Watching MAS*H, Watching America: A Social History of the 1972-1983 Television Series | publisher = McFarland & Company | year = 2003 | pages = 95 | isbn = 0-7864-1701-3}} 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.{{cite news | last = Staff | title = Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California | date = February 18, 1973 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 license.{{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}} 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 license.{{cite news | last = Staff | title = The Power Of Positive Eyewash | work = Forbes | pages = Features, Page 22 | date = December 1, 1975
Later groups
Neal Vahle's The Unity Movement lists nine personal growth organizations which grew out of Mind Dynamics, including: est and The Forum, Landmark Education, Lifespring, 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 Actualizations.{{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}} 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 |title = Agit-Pop: : Political Culture and Communication Theory |publisher = Transaction Publishers |year = 1990 |pages = 68 |isbn = 0-88738-315-7}} 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 Quinn (who organized Lifestream/LifeResults/LifeSuccess), and Thomas Wilhite (who founded PSI Seminars).
Werner Erhard, subsequently associated with est (1971–1984), WE&A (1981–1991) and Landmark Education (founded 1991, known as Landmark Worldwide since 2013) taught in the Mind Dynamics organization,{{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 = 978-1-62564-699-6 |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. |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 = 978-0-8431-0409-7 |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 [...]. |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 = 978-1-56507-160-5 |access-date = 10 September 2023 |quote = John P. Handley [...], like Erhard, was a teacher in Mind Dynamics [...]. |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.}}
Former MDI President Robert White founded Lifespring and ARC International which delivered the Life Dynamics seminars in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Sydney.
References
References
- [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."]
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