Jonestown survivor Tracy Diaz, formerly Tracy Parks, recounts her first-hand experience of the People’s Temple, from California days through her bloody escape from death in Guyana, in a lengthy article in the Ukiah [CA] Daily Journal of 12/13/08. Meanwhile, Jackie Speier, assistant to slain Congressman Leo Ryan who joined him in his ill-fated investigation of the People’s Temple, recounts her experience in a three-part, November, 2008 Los Angeles Times article. [csr 8.1, 2009)
Zimbardo believes that at the heart of the controversy over the existence of mind control is the belief that people can “resist the power of such situational forces.” But he notes in this regard that “examples abound that challenge this person-power misattribution,” and he cites historical examples that give the lie to the assumption, from Stalin’s Moscow show trials and Chinese thought reform during the Korean War era to various CIA projects and the “persuasive bidding” of . . . Peoples Temple cult leader Jim Jones.” In addition, he says, “the power of social institutions to induce ‘ego alien’ behavior over even the best and the brightest of people” has been demonstrated experimentally.[csr 2.1 2003]
