20. "SHUT UP AND PAY, THEN WE'LL GIVE YOU THE SECRET KNOWLEDGE"🤡

The "I" of Information Control in the BITE Model, developed by Dr. Steven Hassan, highlights how cult leaders manipulate and restrict access to information to maintain authority and control over members. This involves deliberately withholding critical information, distorting facts, and using propaganda to shape perceptions. Cults often enforce an "us versus them" mindset, isolating members from external sources of information such as media, books, or independent opinions that could contradict the group’s teachings. Leaders may monitor or censor communication, create an environment of secrecy, and discourage questioning or independent thought, ensuring that members remain dependent on the group’s narrative and leadership.