Manufacturing Victims

by Dr. Tana Dineen

(reviewed by Martin & Deidre Bobgan)

Dr. Tana Dineen, a licensed psychologist, has abandoned her clinical practice and written a book titled Manufacturing Victims: What the Psychology Industry is Doing to People. Her book is the result of her extensive knowledge of the research in psycho-therapy as well as her own practical experience in the field.

She says, "Over ten million Americans seek the services of the Psychology Industry each year." In documenting the growth of psychotherapy, Dineen says:

In the early 1960’s, 14% of the U.S. population (25 million of a total 180 million) had ever received psychological services. By 1976, that number had risen to 26%. However by 1990, at least 33% (65 million of 250 million) have been psychological users at some point in their lives and in 1995, the American Psychological Association stated that 46% of the U.S. population (128 million) had seen a mental health professional. Some even predict that by the year 2000 users will be the majority—constituting 80% of the population.

Dineen uses the expression "Psychology Industry" to include a number of individuals. She names "traditional mental health professions of psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis and clinical social work" as well as "psychotherapy." She says:

No longer can clear distinctions be made between them; so, what I call the Psychology Industry comprises all five of these and it encompasses, as well, the ever expanding array of psychotherapists: the counsellors and advisors of all persuasions, whether licensed, credentialed, proclaimed, or self-proclaimed.

Dineen’s main thesis for which she provides extensive support is this:

With degrees in psychology, medicine, social work, nursing or with no academic qualifications at all, the expanding work force of the Psychology Industry relies for its survival and growth on its ability to manufacture victims.

Dineen relates in detail how the psychological manufacturing of victims takes place. She differentiates between real victims and the ones manufactured by the Psychology Industry, which involves a blurring between the two and spreads a net to include virtually everyone. She concludes her book by saying:

The Psychology Industry can neither reform itself from within nor should it be allowed to try. It should be stopped from doing what it is doing to people, from manufacturing victims. And while the Psychology Industry is being dismantled, people can boycott psychological treatment, protest the influence of the Psychology Industry and resist being manufactured into victims.

Manufacturing Victims is a blunt but honest appraisal of what the Psychology Industry is doing to people and will continue to do unless a miracle puts a stop to it. While Christians may describe this book as a "secular book," for a "secular audience," it is even more important for those in the church to read it. The author has accurately described "The Psychology Industry with its false explanations of cause, false statements of fact, false reports of cure and false claims of authority." Christians need to know the information in Dineen’s book, because the church has been overrun with the theories and therapies of the Psychology Industry, which has tentacles into almost every facet of the church through some of the most popular Christian writers.

Manufacturing Victims: What the Psychology Industry is Doing to People is not a Christian book. Dineen is a secular writer who approaches the subject of psychotherapy from a research perspective. However, because Christians need to know the information in Dineen’s book, we have decided to make it available to our readers. Manufacturing Victims retails for $16.99, but is available through this ministry for $15. Call 1-800-216-4696 to order.