Editing Auditing (Scientology) (section)

== Description ==

{{more citations needed section|date=July 2023}}
The term "auditing" was coined by [[L. Ron Hubbard]] in 1950.{{r|hubbard-techdict|p=28}} Auditing in Scientology is an activity where a trained Scientologist, known as an auditor, listens and asks various questions to the subject, who is referred to as a "preclear" or "PC".

Auditing involves the use of "processes", which are sets of questions asked or directions given by an auditor. Based on a prior interview looking for "charged" subjects—"charge" being that which prevents the PC from thinking on a subject or getting rid of a subject or approaching a subject—on the E-meter, found by asking questions to the PC in regard to them and their fancied case. When the specific objective of any one "process" is achieved, the process is ended, and another can then be started. Through auditing, the subjects are said to free themselves from barriers that inhibit their natural abilities. Charged areas can be viewed as areas of misinformation or lies. Once uncovered, they dissipate as their truth becomes apparent and the charge is eliminated once viewed for what it really is, an untruth.

The ''Auditor's Code'' outlines a series of 29 promises which an auditor pledges, such as:
* Not to evaluate for the preclear or tell him what he should think about his case in session
* Not to invalidate the preclear's case or gains in or out of session
* Never to use the secrets of a preclear divulged in session for punishment or personal gain

The main intention of an auditing session is to remove "charged incidents" that have caused trauma, which are believed in Scientology to be stored in the "[[reactive mind]]". These incidents must then be eliminated for proper functioning.

In 1952, auditing techniques "began to focus on the goal of [[Exteriorization|exteriorizing]] the [[thetan]]" with the goal of providing complete spiritual awareness.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Roux |first1=Eric |chapter-url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315598086-9/scientology-auditing-eric-roux |title=New Religious Movements and Counselling: Academic, Professional and Personal Perspectives|chapter=Scientology auditing: Pastoral counselling or a religious path to total spiritual freedom|editor-last=Harvey|editor-first=Sarah|editor2-last=Stedinger|editor2-first=Silke |editor3-last=Beckford|editor3-first=James A.|publisher=Routledge|year=2018 |doi=10.4324/9781315598086-9 |isbn=9781315598086}}</ref>

{{anchor|preclear}}
=== Preclear ===

The "preclear" or "PC" is the person who is being audited—the client, formerly called the "patient". At most levels of auditing, there are two people present: the auditor is the one asking questions, and the preclear is the one answering them. In some of the upper levels, a person audits oneself, being both auditor and preclear at the same time. The term was created back when the ultimate goal of auditing was to create a person who had been ''cleared'', ergo the person being audited was pre-Clear. However, even after Hubbard created the upper levels, the term ''preclear'' was still used even if the person had surpassed the state of Clear. The term has continued to represent the role in auditing rather than the level the person has attained.

During an auditing session, the auditor writes down the questions and the preclear's answers, and the papers are stored in the client's PC folder (preclear folder).{{r|lewishellesoy2017|pages=24,57,99}}{{r|malko|pages=124,144}}{{r|miller|page=157}}{{r|wright|page=13}}{{r|hubbard-techdict|pages=294,306}}

=== E-meter ===
{{Main|E-meter}}

[[File:Scientology e meter blue.jpg|thumb|Mark Super VII Quantum E-meter]]
Most auditing sessions involve a device called the Hubbard Electropsychometer or [[E-meter]]. It consists of two handheld electrodes connected to a [[galvanometer]]. It measures changes in electrical resistance in the body (galvanic skin response). Scientology teaches that changes in electrical resistance indicate areas of "charge", meaning topics that contain emotional or spiritual distress.{{r|Ar06|Swe15|www-2.cs.cmu.edu|Gesell|IntroEM}}{{r|miller|pp=201, 239}}

According to L. Ron Hubbard, the E-Meter helps the auditor identify areas that need addressing by indicating which processes should be run and when a process or rundown is complete.{{r|hcob19700527|hcob19710703}} Hubbard clarified how the E-Meter should be used in conjunction with auditing:
{{Blockquote |text=Auditing is aimed at reactivity. You run what reacts on the meter {{em|because}} it reacts and is therefore part of the reactive mind. A read means there is charge present and available to run. Running {{em|reading}} items, flows and questions is the only way to make a pc better. This is our purpose in auditing. —L. Ron Hubbard {{r|hcob19781203}} }}

The device is considered a "religious artifact" with no scientific validity and is not considered a medical or scientific instrument.{{r|urban|pp=62-63}}{{r|bigliardi|p=668}}