Introspection Rundown

<h2 id="overview">Overview</h2>
In Scientology, a rundown is a procedure set out as a series of steps to produce a particular result or phenomenon. Hubbard outlined the Introspection Rundown in three technical bulletins.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a>
The first step of the Introspection Rundown is to "isolate the person wholly with all attendants completely muzzled (no speech)." Auditing sessions are given frequently. Otherwise, the person is not spoken to.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a>
To determine the end of isolation, the supervisor in charge of the person being isolated tests the person's condition by writing a note, such as "Dear Joe. What can you guarantee me if you are let out of isolation?" If Joe's answer shows continued irresponsibility, the supervisor must write back something like, "Dear Joe. I'm sorry but it is no go on coming out of isolation yet," including the reasons why not. When it is obvious the person is out of his psychosis and up to the responsibility of living with others, his isolation is ended.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>
To administer this rundown, a Scientologist requires an education in <a href="/facts/Scientology/6U2NeyaG">Scientology</a> beliefs and practices (which the Church dubbed "technologies"). This education includes all of the technical bulletins (17 large volumes), the many Scientology books, and hundreds of hours of recorded lectures, all of which must be demonstrated as proficiency in them.
The technical bulletin goes on: "This Rundown is very simple but cannot be flubbed, as that will compound the errors and cause further introspection in the <a href="/facts/Preclear/gvpzNKcL">pc</a>". It "is very precise and even touchy business. There must be no mistakes and you cannot be heavy-handed on them."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>
Hubbard declared about the Introspection Rundown: "This means the last reason to have psychiatry around is gone" because "I have made a technical breakthrough which possibly ranks with the major discoveries of the Twentieth Century."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>

<h2 id="lisa-mcpherson-controversy">Lisa McPherson controversy</h2>
Main article: <a href="/facts/Death_of_Lisa_McPherson/ACHRIHgN">Death of Lisa McPherson</a>

<a href="/facts/Scientology/6U2NeyaG">Scientology</a> adherent <a href="/facts/Lisa_McPherson/ACHRIHgN">Lisa McPherson</a> had a car accident in <a href="/facts/Clearwater%2c_Florida/tfxS8QJm">Clearwater, Florida</a>, on 18 November 1995 while studying at Scientology <a href="/facts/Fort_Harrison_Hotel/XTMLlMuc">headquarters</a>. She disrobed by the side of the road in front of the paramedics, who were there for a routine traffic accident report. She was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, but some Scientologists arrived and stated that McPherson did not believe in psychiatry. She checked out after a short evaluation and left with the Scientologists.
McPherson was put on the Introspection Rundown after her accident on 18 November.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a> It was her second time on the rundown, her first time having been in June. Her appearance after death was that of someone who had been denied water and food for quite some time, being both underweight and severely dehydrated. Additionally, her skin was covered with over a hundred insect bites, presumably from cockroaches.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> She was locked in a room for 17 days. The Church has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and now makes members sign a waiver before the Introspection Rundown stating that they (or anyone on their behalf) will not bring any legal action against the organization over injury or death.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Scientology_controversies/LnTnpIYf">Scientology controversies</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Scientology_in_the_United_States/65tpSmDN">Scientology in the United States</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Hubbard, L. Ron (January 23, 1974). "The Technical Breakthrough of 1973! The Introspection RD" (Bulletin). Hubbard Communications Office. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Tobin and Childs (June 21, 2009). "Death in slow motion: Part 2 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171024140222/http://www.tampabay.com:80/news/death-in-slow-motion-part-2-of-3-in-a-special-report-on-the-church-of/1012234" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20171024140222/http://www.tampabay.com:80/news/death-in-slow-motion-part-2-of-3-in-a-special-report-on-the-church-of/1012234</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Hubbard, L. Ron (February 20, 1974). "Introspection RD, Additional Actions" (Bulletin). Hubbard Communications Office. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Hubbard, L. Ron (March 6, 1974). "Introspection RD, Second Addition, Information to C/Ses, Fixated Attention" (Bulletin). Hubbard Communications Office. <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Hubbard, L. Ron (January 23, 1974). "The Technical Breakthrough of 1973! The Introspection RD" (Bulletin). Hubbard Communications Office. <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Hubbard, L. Ron (January 23, 1974). "The Technical Breakthrough of 1973! The Introspection RD" (Bulletin). Hubbard Communications Office. <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Hubbard, L. Ron (February 20, 1974). "Introspection RD, Additional Actions" (Bulletin). Hubbard Communications Office. <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Hubbard, L. Ron (March 6, 1974). "Introspection RD, Second Addition, Information to C/Ses, Fixated Attention" (Bulletin). Hubbard Communications Office. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Hubbard, L. Ron (January 23, 1974). "The Technical Breakthrough of 1973! The Introspection RD" (Bulletin). Hubbard Communications Office. <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Tobin, Thomas C. (March 9, 2000). "Scientologists decry toll of criminal case". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2007. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160609225302/http://www.sptimes.com/News/030900/TampaBay/Scientologists_decry_.shtml" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20160609225302/http://www.sptimes.com/News/030900/TampaBay/Scientologists_decry_.shtml</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Lisa McPherson autopsy(archived) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010313001707/http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/CoS/autopsy.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20010313001707/http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/CoS/autopsy.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">"McPherson Estate's Memorandum on Cockroach Feeding Sites". March 26, 2002. Archived from the original on March 28, 2004. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20040328021627/http://whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/legal/bugs/index.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20040328021627/http://whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/legal/bugs/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Touretzky, David (July 21, 2005). "The Lisa McPherson Clause: Scientology Moving to Secure Its 'Right' to Kill Again". Retrieved December 9, 2009. <a href="http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Scientology/ReleaseForms/Introspection.html" target="_blank">http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Scientology/ReleaseForms/Introspection.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Introspection Rundown open-in-new

Introspection Rundown