TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor said Friday it has suspended assigning cases to a large group awareness training group leader following the release of an investigative video by YouTuber Ceylan (錫蘭).
The video, titled “Exposing LGATs: The Dark Side of Personal Growth Seminars,” sheds light on the manipulative tactics and financial risks associated with these programs. LGAT or large-group awareness training is said to improve self-awareness and people’s lives.
After the video gained traction, it was revealed that Lin Yu-cheng (林昱成), the head of an LGAT group, had professional ties to the ministry, per CNA. In response, MOL clarified that Lin is a member of the Talent Quality-management System northern region evaluation committee.
The Ministry has since suspended assignments to Lin while launching an investigation into the controversy. Depending on the findings, MOL will determine whether to continue assigning cases or renew Lin’s appointment.
Ceylan spent two months researching LGATs, consulting psychologists and reviewing academic studies. He also conducted over 10 hours of interviews with former participants.
The YouTuber introduced psychologist Margaret Singer’s theory on “Six Conditions of Thought Reform,” which outlines how groups manipulate individuals through instilling powerlessness and promoting a closed system of logic that discourages criticism.
LGAT model
According to Ceylan, LGATs follow a three-phase structure similar to Lifespring, a now-defunct US-based LGAT founded 50 years ago by former convict John Hanley. Despite Lifespring’s closure due to controversies, its methods continue to influence LGATs in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
Ceylan detailed the LGAT process, which often begins with a five-day “basic course” designed to break down participants emotionally. Activities such as the “Red-Black Game” and “Junkyard” are structured to provoke guilt, regret, and tears.
The video also identified rigid rules within these programs, including:
- Mandatory attendance
- A ban on note-taking
- Strict speaking and seating arrangements
- Limited bathroom breaks
A second stage, or “advanced course,” intensifies the experience with verbal confrontations and heightened psychological pressure. Ceylan noted that both Lifespring and modern LGATs in Taiwan play “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” during timed breaks, suggesting little evolution in the program’s structure over half a century.
The final stage focuses on recruitment. While Lifespring’s third phase was free, Taiwan's LGATs charge additional fees for this stage and require participants to recruit new members.
Emotional highs
Counselors in Taiwan have reported seeing an influx of students who, after completing these courses, seek therapy to cope with the emotional and psychological effects.
A common theme emerges when browsing online discussions about LGAT courses: participants often experience dramatic emotional shifts. Friends describe them as becoming overly excited, intensely “positive,” or even unrecognizably different after attending.
This pattern caught the attention of John Hunter, a researcher who studied the link between emotional highs and altered mental states. In 2022, his research was published, and he released the book “Manufacturing Mania.”
Hunter’s research suggests that LGATs induce transformations by creating a cycle of psychological suffering followed by social rewards, which trigger a dopamine surge.
Ceylan emphasized that his goal was not to change the minds of those already involved in LGATs, but to prevent others from joining.
