SPDL Note: SPs and “Covert Hostility”

SPDL Note: Scientology’s “Tone Scale,”¹ invented by cult founder L. Ron Hubbard, is a graduated scale of emotions each of which is given an arbitrary numerical value such as “Enthusiasm” (4.0), “Boredom” (2.5), “Antagonism” (2.0), “Anger” (1.5), “Covert Hostility” (1.1), ” Grief” (.5), and “Apathy” (0.05).  Hubbard and Scientology teach that anything above 2.0 (Antagonism) is positive, or “analytical” and anything below 2.0 is negative or “reactive.”

Hubbard and Scientology teach that each emotion on the Tone Scale corresponds with a definite set of physiological, psychological, moral, political, social and even sexual traits. According to Hubbard , low- toned people are dishonest, immoral, destructive and criminal, and have a negative worth in society.  Hubbard and Scientology assert that only Dianetics and Scientology can elevate people out of their negative chronic tones and conditions.

Scientologists are taught to use the tone scale to make instant psychological evaluations of people around them so as to predict and control their behavior.  By simulating or being a “half tone” above the emotional tone of their human subjects, Scientologists seek to achieve an emotional rapport in order to manipulate and dominate them.

When you’re dealing with a creature as insidious as a suppressive, you’d better know how to spot his 1.1 behavior before he can wreak any havoc. —  Church of Scientology International. Living Issue 351 © 2001²

 Around 1.1, we reach the level of covert hostility.  Here the hatred of the individual has been socially and individually censured to a point where it has been suppressed, and the individual no longer dares demonstrate hate as such. He yet possesses sufficient energy to express some feeling on the matter, and so what hatred he feels comes forth covertly. All manner of subterfuges may be resorted to.  The person may claim to love others and to have the good of others as his foremost interest; yet, at the same moment, he works, unconsciously or otherwise, to injure or destroy the lives and reputations of people and also to destroy property.”   — L. Ron Hubbard, Science of Survival³

Notes