Mind Dynamics

Mind Dynamics, a seminar company, founded by Alexander Everett in Texas in 1968, led to Large Group Awareness Training organizations in the human potential movement, est and Lifespring. According to Navarro and Navarro, both Leadership Dynamics and Mind Dynamics became embroiled in pyramid schemes.

After investigations for fraudulent representations and practicing medicine without a license, the company ceased operating in 1973.

The methodology behind Mind Dynamics was described in the book The Pit: A Group Encounter Defiled, which was later made into the 1983 film, Circle of Power.

Techniques, methodology
Mind Dynamics has been called a major forerunner of large group awareness trainings. The organization's methods and techniques helped to influence an industry of trainings that would follow it. Mind Dynamics has been compared to Dale Carnegie, and encounter groups. Mind Dynamics trained businessmen in managerial techniques, but relied on unique activities rather than academic theories. The coursework also utilized techniques that focused on visualization, and meditation. Snider wrote that Mind Dynamics was intended to prod individuals and goad them to improve upon themselves.

According to Golembiewski's Organization Development, training equipment used by facilitators in the Mind Dynamics coursework included a coffin, a cross, piano wire, boxing gloves, paddles, and an oxygen tank, which was used to revive individuals who had been forcibly restrained until they accepted the learning. Techniques drawn from England's Unity Ministry 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. Mind Dynamics has been described as part of the consciousness transformation movement, and has been compared to Scientology, est, psychocybernetics, and Amway. J. Gordon Melton's Perspectives on the New Age characterized the Mind Dynamics coursework as utilizing "draconian methods", in order to make its participants face their fears. The term coercive persuasion has been used, referring to the techniques employed by the organization.

Influences
Snider wrote that Mind Dynamics was part of the Human Potential Movement. Heelas' The New Age Movement states that Mind Dynamics and Alexander Everett were influenced by Edgar Cayce, Theosophy, and Silva Mind Control, and Curtiss' Depression is a Choice also cites Silva Mind Control and self-talk as the basis for Mind Dynamics. Mind Dynamics has also been described by several authors on religious texts as an offshoot of Silva Mind Control. According to Jose Silva, Alex Everett was a graduate of Silva Mind Control. Everett also drew on principles from the Unity Ministry in England, Egyptology and Rosicrucianism in developing Mind Dynamics.

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, a key manager for Mind Dynamics. Holiday Magic later folded, amidst investigations by authorities and accusations of being a multi-level marketing pyramid scheme. Every employee in management positions at Holiday Magic was required to participate in the coursework.

William Penn Patrick, owner of Leadership Dynamics, bought Mind Dynamics in 1970. All employees in management at Holiday Magic were expected to take the Mind Dynamics coursework.

Ben Gay, a high-level instructor at Leadership Dynamics, was President of Holiday Magic in the United States. Though he claimed Leadership Dynamics was a separate company, "..in no way related to Holiday Magic, Inc.", Gene Church pointed out many inconsistencies in this statement, in his book The Pit: A Group Encounter Defiled.

Investigated for fraud, practicing medicine without a license
In December 1972, Mind Dynamics was investigated for practicing medicine without a license, and fraudulent representation of the potential benefits of participating in their coursework. The company was also investigated by the state of California for making fraudulent claims. . 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. 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. 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.

Later groups
Vahle's The Unity Movement lists nine personal growth organizations which grew out of Mind Dynamics, including: Erhard Seminars Training and The Forum, Lifespring, Lifestream, Context Training, 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. 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. The organizations cited above were founded by prior instructors from Mind Dynamics that had been trained by Alexander Everett, including Stewart Emery who founded Actualizations, Randy Revell, who developed Context Training, James Quinn, who organized Lifestream, and Thomas Wilhite, who founded PSI Seminars.

Werner Erhard was influenced by his experiences at Mind Dynamics, methods of which he later incorporated into est, and this formed the basis for Erhard Seminars Training. Mind Dynamics has also been cited as forming the initial basis for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Manabu wrote in the Japanese Journal of Religious Studies that both Lifespring and Erhard Seminars Training/est had traceable origins in Mind Dynamics, and its developer Alexander Everett.