The
argument of a Landmark Education
spokeswoman last week that its Forum
is not a “large group awareness training” did nothing to sway the
Forum’s doubters. After Sunday’s stories on personal-transformation
seminars and consumer
protections, I received a couple of emails spelling
out arguments that Landmark is
indeed a large group awareness training.
Here’s how Wikipedia defines a large group awareness training: “The term Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) refers to ‘training’ offered by certain groups sometimes linked with the human potential movement. By using LGAT techniques, these providers claim to (among other things) increase self-awareness and bring about preferred personal changes in individuals’ lives.:
I’ll post one below, along with Landmark spokeswoman Deborah Beroset’s full email. But first, there is a bigger question: Does it really matter whether you use the term “large group awareness training” to describe these group sessions? After all, some of these trainings don’t have particularly large groups, and that’s just one of many quibbles you could make. For my stories, I decided it didn’t matter — that I could call them all “personal transformation seminars” and avoid the argument. I also didn’t name Landmark, because it would have required going into the whole argument of what they are, which would have unnecessarily taken the story off track, and it would have required bringing in other groups or individuals, necessitating even further digressions.
Here’s what I received from someone at this apparently stale blog (last posting is a year old). I’ve condensed a bit.
Landmark Forum / Landmark Education is most definitely an LGAT. Multiple psychologists and scholars have said so. In addition…
One year prior to becoming “Landmark Education”, the same company was called “Werner Erhard and Associates”. The paid a group of psychologists in Connecticut, USA, about $80,000 dollars to study their company and the effects of “The Forum” course. The psychologists that were PAID BY WERNER ERHARD’S COMPANY then published a book on their studies. The title of the book? = “Evaluating a Large Group Awareness Training”. Citation: Fisher, Jeffrey D.; Silver, Chinsky, Goff, Klar (1990). Evaluating a Large Group Awareness Training. Springer-Verlag. pp. 142. ISBN 0387973206 , ISBN 978-0387973203.
Also note, “Page. vii. — “The research reported in this volume was awarded the American Psychological Association, Division 13, National Consultants to Management Award, August 13, 1989.”
Coon, Dennis (2003). Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. Thomson Wadsworth. pp. Pp. 648, 649, 655. ISBN 053461227X.
The skeptic’s dictionary, Page 191
Robert Todd Carroll – Body, Mind & Spirit – 2003
http://www.skepdic.com/landmark.html
“Landmark Forum is a large group awareness training program in which up to 150 people take a seminar together aimed at helping them realize their true potential.”
The culting of brands: when customers become true believers – Page 101 Douglas Atkin – Business & Economics – 2004
“There has been an enormous growth of the phenomenon known as Large Group Awareness Training represented by such companies as Landmark Forum.”
…
So yeah, Landmark Education most certainly IS an LGAT…
Yours,
GuruTruth
So that’s that. And here’s what Deb Beroset of Landmark Education wrote me last week:
Here, per our conversation this afternoon (with Michelle Tennant of Wasabi Publicity also), is the material I promised related to your story about LGATs. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with the facts about us, as I am very concerned about the prospect of being inappropriately included in this article.
Landmark Education is a globally recognized personal training and development company, with approximately 1.2 million people having participated in our programs. While we don’t consider our programs to be “self help,” we do recognize that we are sometimes lumped into that category. However, other categories such as LGATs are totally inappropriate for us to be grouped in (and I’ll address that directly below). The Landmark Forum has been independently observed by numerous top professionals from around the world – including psychiatrists, psychologists, doctors, educators and academicians – who have clearly determined that our programs are professionally delivered, safe and effective.
First, I will address the specific matter of the term “LGAT” and how it relates to Landmark Education:
Regarding Landmark Education being referenced as a “large group awareness training” or LGAT:
a. Landmark Education is not a Large Group Awareness Training or LGAT. Landmark Education’s programs are acknowledged to be some of the most effective programs in the training and development industry. Our programs do not reflect or follow the parameters of this inherently negative psychological term Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) that was coined during the ‘70s era.
b. Numerous top experts have also stated that Landmark Education is not a LGAT, including Dr. Raymond Fowler, PhD, retired CEO of the American Psychological Association, who observed the Landmark Forum and stated in an independent report which reflected his own opinion, “Landmark’s programs are totally distinct from LGATs in their methodology, structure, purpose, design and format.”
In addition to the above information, I am enclosing an addendum and an additional study about Landmark and its programs. If you have any questions or need any further information now or in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me, as I have much more in the way of studies, expert statements and other research to share, should you desire it.
As I said during our conversation a bit ago, Landmark really has no place in a story about LGATs. To characterize Landmark Education as a LGAT would not only be inaccurate, it would also damage the reputation of the company, its programs, and the approximately 1.2 million customers who have participated in Landmark Education’s programs and derived value from them. I trust that once you’ve had the opportunity to examine the material I’ve sent and familiarize yourself with our company and programs, you will agree.
Should you for some reason choose to mention Landmark in any way in this article, then it’s crucial that you also include the fact that top experts have stated that we are not an LGAT, as well as provide some of the facts that point to why Landmark is considered a leader in the personal training and development industry:
· Landmark Education is an employee-owned international company that offers a comprehensive curriculum of more than 50 programs delivered in more than 100 locations throughout 24 countries worldwide.
· Approximately 1.2 million people around the world have participated in The Landmark Forum almost solely on the basis of personal recommendation from others.
· Included in this number are more than 40,000 health professionals and educators. Last year, Harris Interactive®, one of the largest and most respected market research firms in the world, conducted an independent survey of educators and health professionals who have taken Landmark’s programs, and the results show that an overwhelming 94% agree that Landmark Education’s programs are professionally conducted and provide great value.
· The Landmark Forum has been independently observed by numerous top professionals from around the world – including psychiatrists, psychologists, doctors, educators and academicians – and these experts have clearly determined that our programs are professionally delivered, safe and effective.
· Landmark Education executive and senior program leader Steve Zaffron, co-authored with professor and former Associate Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, Dave Logan, a book entitled, THE THREE LAWS OF PERFORMANCE: Rewriting The Future Of Your Organization And Your Life (Jossey-Bass, February 2009). Since its publication, the book has made numerous best selling lists including those of The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and USA Today, and also was the No. 1 bestselling book, and most gifted book, on Amazon.com.
· Landmark Education was named one of the top training and development program providers in the world by HR.com/James McNeil.
· MarketData Industries, in their 2008 report on the personal development industry, stated that “Landmark Education is recognized for having one of the best faculty bodies in the business.”
I noticed your ProfNet query mentioned “est” as well as Landmark Education. Landmark Education is a different company (we were established in 1991), and The Landmark Forum is not the est program (the two programs differ in their focus, material, methodology, and delivery). The person who created est sold the founders of Landmark Education his intellectual property. Est doesn’t belong in the category of LGAT, either. The est program was like no other program in the 70’s. It was cutting edge, extremely popular, and made an enormous difference in people’s lives. It was experiential in nature, the hours were long, and the tone of the program was intense. While the training became controversial, much of what has been said about the program is actually not true, like stories of people not being allowed to go to the bathroom. Given this training hasn’t been offered since 1984 and even when it was offered was not an LGAT, I do not see this as appropriate to include in an article about LGATs either.
In closing, I would like to express to you that we at Landmark Education are as stunned and sorrowful about the tragic outcome of the sweat lodge incident as the rest of the world. However, it is a mistake to taint or make accusations about personal development programs that have been lauded after serious review by highly credentialed experts as not only safe, but effective. We feel strongly that consumers need to have the facts about whatever program or company they are considering doing business with so that they may make informed, wise choices.
Thank you for your consideration – and again, in addition to the addendum and study I’ve attached herein, I am totally available to supply you with additional information about Landmark Education should you require that while making a decision about what to include in your article. Please get back to me and Michelle after you’ve had a chance to review what I’ve sent here.
Sincerely,
Deborah Beroset
Director of Public Relations
Landmark Education
