Welcome to the Open Minds Foundation
Championing critical thinking to create a world without coercion Our Mission +Donate +About our cause
Imagine a world without human trafficking, domestic abuse, fake news, political propaganda, religious extremism or cults. These are just some of the deep-rooted societal issues we can change if we evolve our education systems to encourage critical thinking, and use it to combat coercive control.
Our mission is to do just that, by giving young people, their educators and their caregivers, practical tools and training in critical thinking. Critical thinking is a primary tool in combatting coercion and coercive control in all its forms, helping to prevent its effects on society.
No one is born with a desire for physical or emotional abuse, to die unnecessarily because of faith-based beliefs, or to injure innocent people for their cause, yet these things happen to millions of people every day.
All are victims of coercion, which uses manipulation techniques to control and command victims, especially young people, to act against their own best interests. Sadly, we live in a world where coercion is rife, but we don’t provide young people with the tools to recognize and resist it. The Open Minds Foundation is a charitable collective, guided by experts and those with personal experience, seeking to change these deep-rooted societal issues.
Please consider supporting us by donating today
A-Z of Coercion
Complete list of everything you need to know about Coercion
From the blog
The latest news and views from the world of coercion.
Stop Mandated Shunning: announcement
As a board member of the "Open Minds Foundation”, I am co-founding the "Stop Mandated...
Developing critical thinking in primary schools, with the Open Minds Foundation
Victoria Petkovic-Short, Executive Director for the Open Minds Foundation leads a short webinar...
Developing critical thinking through play
In the UK, children aged between 4 and 11 typically spend around 32.5 hours a week in school. Much...
How individuals can avoid sharing mis- and disinformation
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024, misinformation and...
The Martyr Complex and Conspiracy Theorists
A narcissistic martyr is motivated in their excessively sacrificial actions by their desire for praise, admiration, and gratitude.
The global risk of misinformation and disinformation
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024, misinformation and...