The Brain That Helped Me Survive - Leah's Story Part 1
Podcast talk for the Association of Forensic Nurses
Hello, I'm Leah Zitter (PhD)
Cognitive Security Consultant, Journalist, Research Scientist, Public Speaker
Recent Articles
Beyond the Human Firewall: Feature Analysis as a Neurocognitive Tool for Emotion Regulation in Social Engineering Defenses (Academic article)
Your Brain Has Been Hacked — And You Don't Even Know It- With Leah Zittar (Video)
What do startup failure, cult indoctrination, and viral misinformation have in common? According to Dr. Leah Zitter, they all run on the same cognitive hardware.
The As-Is Method in CogSec: Case Studies in Cybersecurity, Deradicalization & Cognitive Warfare
The As-Is method is a cognitive deconditioning technique that reduces emotional triggers to neutral facts, restoring rational control.
A Phenomenological Analysis of Changing Prejudice Among Defectors of Closed Faith
Prejudice research shows that most psychologists focus on moderate prejudice in superficial settings, rather than extreme prejudice in real-life situations. The present study used an interpretive phenomenological analysis guided by social constructivism on 21 biographies to investigate how the authors voluntarily disaffiliated from their groups and altered their prejudice.
Breaking Free: How Dr. Leah Zitter Escaped Mental Programming and Created the As-Is Method — Whereabouts Tales
Have you ever wondered how deeply your upbringing shapes the way you see the world? Not just your opinions or preferences, but the actual way your brain processes information?That's exactly what Dr. Leah Zitter discovered on her remarkable journey from being raised in an isolated religious cult to becoming a behavioral neuroscientist with a revolutionary approach to rewiring the brain.
The As-Is science-based model for deconditioning (UTC; YT interview)
Dr. Leah Zitter is the only woman known to survive ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect, The Neturei Karta. She's starting a podcast to help exxers learn science-based tools for improving yourself and effecting positive change in your old and new communities. To learn more about her podcast: https://unitingthecults.com/the-as-is...
Leah: From Neturei Karta to PhD in Neuroscience
Leah's journey encompasses her education in philosophy, her ventures in different professional roles, and her exploration of neuroscience, all contributing to her healing and growth. Through her story, Leah emphasizes the importance of seeing things as they are and breaking away from indoctrinated beliefs to lead a life of self-determination.
How to Cure a Fanatic: The As-Is Method for Deradicalization. (Article)
Being Free of the Deepest Conditioning. (Article)
The As-Is theory is about seeing things as they really are, without being influenced by past beliefs or biases. It helps you replace old, distorted ways of thinking with new, clearer ones by changing how your brain processes information. This leads to better, more accurate decisions and a deeper understanding of the world.
A little bit about me.
Dr. Leah Zitter, PhD in Research Psychology (behavioral neuroscience), is a CISSP-certified expert in the neuroscience of human hacking. With 10+ years researching and writing for FinTech/cybersecurity leaders like Google, AWS, and Yale Law School, she also authors thought leadership on Cognitive Warfare - another form of "human hacking" - in outlets that include The Iranian and Turkey’s Diplomatic Observer.