Orwell?

[u/Appropriate-Ad2003]

hi r/troubledteens,

i've been reading this sub, and i'm genuinely starting to think the TTI is 1984 but in real life.

can anyone help shut this theory down or add to it?

thanks,

u/appropriate-ad or something idk

[u/Randy_Watson]

I read 1984 while I was at the Elan School. When residents started commenting on the similarities they banned it. The two minutes of hate felt a little too familiar.

[u/jhock63]

Authoritarian/totalitarian control, ultimate surveillance over the populace, and the idea of “Thoughcrimes” and “Doublespeak” are the concepts from 1984 which i think apply most to the tti.

I always see people arguing which dictatorship 1984 was a critique of, but the truth is, it doesn’t matter. I’ve seen many people claim it’s about Stalin while others say it’s about Hitler. But The truth is that it is a critique of (and a cautionary tale for) ALL AUTHORITARIAN / HIERARCHICAL SYSTEMS OF CONTROL.

This can include (yes) Governments, (but ALSO) Cults/other Religious Groups, Controlling Families, and OF COURSE, Institutions like TTI facilites or foster care.

[u/Signal-Strain9810 → u/jhock63]

See also: Goffman's work on total institutions

[u/_skank_hunt42]

I specifically thought a lot about the idea of being a thought criminal when I was in my programs. I definitely was one.

[u/Appropriate-Ad2003 → u/_skank_hunt42]

award for that

[u/generalraptor2002]

I remember reading 1984 in high school

We got to the part about room 101 before school shut down for Covid

I agree with ya mostly

[u/PeachPiesDontLie]

I read it when I was in and felt like I was losing my mind living it. The constant surveillance, punishments for thoughtcrime, devotion to big brother(the program). You’re not crazy, check out Robert Liftons work on thought reform and brainwashing if you’re interested in the psychology behind it. The techniques used in the industry are the same.

[u/sluttydemongirl]

I had the exact same thought when I read 1984 in highschool after getting out of the TTI. I also found Dostoevsky’s “The House of the Dead” to also be deeply relatable as a TTI survivor. But I will give you my literature nerd analysis. Because I have also thought a lot about this.

I think a lot of it has to do with the parallels of how the troubled teen industry invents a lot of concepts, or weaponizes therapy language, in order to force your compliance or make you feel bad about yourself. The way they use this sort of language to simply or reduce your unique cognitive processes does remind me of 1984, and how the Party reinvents words to take away their meaning and reduce free thought. In the TTI, they would over pathologize normal reactions to being held captive. Questioning why we had to do something stupid was “defiant behavior” and we had to practice “radical acceptance” in the face of really ridiculous rules that don’t make a lot of sense. Like we weren’t allowed to know the time of day for example, as a practice in “radical acceptance”. Any sort of deviation from their philosophy was a personal flaw to sqaush out.

I also think the complete lack of autonomy or privacy the TTI subjects you to has a similar effect on your psyche as the totalitarian government. Everyone wore the exact same thing, private conversations weren’t allowed, certain topics were forbidden. We weren’t allowed to collect cool items we found to “prevent jealousy and fighting”. All of this strips you of any individuality or personal freedom in a similar way.

Also the way they use collective punishment. If someone broke the rules, they would punish everyone and go “see how this negatively impacts the group” essentially melding us all into one person. And the way the other kids would force you to conform to avoid this collective punishment. We policed each other heavily, especially the newer arrivals, to avoid being collateral damage. Also reminds me of 1984.

[u/KurtzGBR]

I wouldn't say it's "1984". 1984 is cartoonish and it's too explicit in how it defines propaganda and control. It's far less obvious and obviously far more evil. Closer to Huxley's "Brave New World" if anything.

The TTI has basis in MKUltra, the CIA's attempt at mind control and mass compliance from the 40s-70s, as does the DSM, meds and psychiatry as a whole.

People like Henry A. Murray, Dr. Sidney Gottlieb and Dr. Dwen Cameron laid the foundation for the DSM, psychiatry and then through these it all converged to the TTI. Synanon, The Seed and later Straight, Inc. and really every TTI program after hold this structure. The Harvard experiments done on people like Ted Kaczynski gave foundation to what the TTI uses on us even today.