Dianetics

This article is about the set of ideas and practices. For the 1950 book, see Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. For the article in Astounding Science Fiction, see Dianetics: The Evolution of a Science.
Not to be confused with dialectics or Dynetics.

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Dianetics is a set of ideas and practices, invented in 1950 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, regarding the human mind. Dianetics was originally conceived as a form of psychological treatment, but was rejected by the psychological and medical establishments as pseudoscientific. It was the precursor to Scientology and has since been incorporated into it.[1]: 106–107  It involves a process referred to as "auditing", which utilizes an electrical resistance meter, ostensibly to remove emotional burdens and "cure" people from their troubles.

"Auditing" uses techniques from hypnosis that are intended to create dependency and obedience in the auditing subject.[2] Hubbard eventually decided to present Dianetics as a form of spirituality that is part of the Church of Scientology,[3] after several practitioners had been arrested for practicing medicine without a license, and a prosecution trial was pending against the first Dianetics organization that Hubbard founded in Elizabeth, New Jersey.[4]: 62–68 [5]: 81–83 [6] As well as escaping prosecution, Hubbard also saw the possibility of reducing the tax burden from the sale of dianetics books and methods.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference atack was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference HaSc24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Dericquebourg, R. (2017). Scientology: From the Edges to the Core. Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, 20(4), 5–12. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26417718
  4. ^ Urban, Hugh B. (2011). The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-14608-9.
  5. ^ Westbrook, Donald A. (2019). Among the Scientologists: History, Theology, and Praxis. Oxford Studies in Western Esotericism. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0190664978.
  6. ^ Kent, Stephen A. (1996). "Scientology's Relationship With Eastern Religious Traditions". Journal of Contemporary Religion. 11 (1): 21–36. doi:10.1080/13537909608580753. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
  7. ^ Beit-Hallahmi, Benjamin (September 2003). "Scientology: Religion or Racket?". Marburg Journal of Religion. 8 (1). University of Marburg: 1–56. doi:10.17192/mjr.2003.8.3724. Retrieved June 30, 2006.