They were offering free personality tests. Retrieved from: https://www.insider.com/i-grew-up-in-a-cult-and-i-can-tell-you-why-normal-people-join-them-2018-3, Lalich, J (2017). Lululemon even pushed employees to use their meager retail-job paychecks to purchase expensive self-help seminars called Landmark Forum, with classes that cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars. But influence can be enormously positive and helpful as well as detrimental. We assumed that, as in the case of addiction disorders, former cult members exhibit vulnerability and protective factors for cult commitment and membership. https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/844, Home | There is tremendous research about how joining a cult is far more about manipulation of the leader towards vulnerable people rather than simply the individuals being mentally ill. One thing that could be further explored is the leader themselves. Grand Canyon University ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2019. The types of people who are most susceptible to this sort of manipulation are those who come from broken families and abusive relationships. This paper also investigates the factors commonly found in cult leaders that increase their influence over their members. Additionally, certain personality disorders and characteristics, such as Antisocial Personality Disorder and Dependent Personality Disorder, can increase ones vulnerability to joining and staying in a cult. There are many types of cults: political, religious, self-help, large group awareness trainings, mini-cults (family or one-on-one), multi-level-marketing (MLM), conspiracy theory, commercial, and labor/sex trafficking. 0000112141 00000 n 0000008155 00000 n DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.018, Walsh, Y. endobj 0000008022 00000 n 469 0 obj British Journal of Addiction, 85(11), 1403-1408. 0000045499 00000 n Required fields are marked *. No one joins a cult voluntarily; they are recruited into it. Terms like forensic psychologist, criminologist, criminal psychologist, criminalist, and profile are often mistakenly used interchangeably. Freckelton, I. There is lack of informed consent. <>118 0 R]/P 506 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> Destructive individuals and cults use deception and undue influence to make people dependent and obedient. It would be interesting to see what would have happened had I not had preconceived notions about the situation. 2 . <><>373 0 R]/P 518 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> Cults are beautifully packaged to look like something quite different from the outside (Brown, 2019) 446 0 obj (1998) Cults, calamities and psychological consequences, Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 5:1, 1-46, DOI: 10.1080/13218719809524918 https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719809524918 Rousselet, M. (2017) Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving? endobj No one's able to make a fully educated decision before getting involved in a cult.". %%EOF Why Do So Many Couples Divorce After 8 Years? <><>430 0 R]/P 558 0 R/Pg 556 0 R/S/Link>> For members, happiness comes from "good" performance within the group, along with elitist thinkingbelieving they have the "truth" or the the best way of life. Everyone has vulnerabilities. The answer is simple enough. endobj (2019, June 19). From an outsiders perspective, it is very difficult to imagine why anyone would join a cult of their own free will. As you had mentioned above, some of the characteristics stated about why normal people stay within a cult is because of loneliness and unworthiness. Brainwashing:: Cult leaders are known to repeat various lies and distortions until members find it difficult to distinguish between reality and cult life. Behavioral economics teaches us lessons on how consumers make decisions. Its possible then that cult leaders might prey on these vulnerable people, and potentially use the guise of friendship and compassion to recruit people they may already know. Rather than risk losing her job at Lululemon, she murdered Murray in cold blood and tried to blame it on a robbery. uuid:ae634148-b657-11b2-0a00-b0f99f7efc7f Ever had an experience with a cult or controlling relationship? There are even recent 21st century contributors: If in a vulnerable state, you may fall for one of the many recruitment strategies. Addiction: definition and implications. endobj Not necessarily. <>416 0 R]/P 548 0 R/Pg 543 0 R/S/Link>> But according to therapist Rachel Bernstein, who specializes in treating cult survivors from groups including NXIVM and Scientology, it's not that simple. endobj This thesis investigates the factors that contribute to the increased vulnerability to cult membership. Cult membership and addictive disorders share some characteristics: persistence despite damage, initial psychological relief, occupation of an exclusive place in the thoughts of members, high psychiatric comorbidity prevalence, high accessibility, leading to social precariousness and the importance of familial support when leaving. The death toll exceeded 900, including some 300 who were age 17 and under, making the incident one of the largest mass deaths in American history. 0000007887 00000 n <]/Prev 225954>> Indue influence can, alternatively, be extreme and overt, such as in kidnapping or torture. 0000006886 00000 n http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.018, 0165-1781/ 2017 The Authors. Jones opened his . Psychiatry . 0000043631 00000 n Rather than living independently and being responsible for their own finances, housing, health care, and safety, cult leaders promise to take care of all adult responsibility in exchange for obedience. Groupthink. <>112 0 R]/P 500 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> 459 0 obj Rousselet, M., Duretete, O., Hardouin, J. 0000046337 00000 n E arly in the recruitment process, the new recruit is encouraged to meet other members of the cult, either by attending the meetings or by going to a social gathering. Steven Hassan, Ph.D., is a mental health professional, cult and undue influence expert who has been working in the field of relationship, group, and political cults for over 40 years. Make it a point to visit as often as possible. . 0000112375 00000 n For anyone searching for a Utopian society, or for those who are struggling economically, this can seem like an attractive option. Knowing what areas, the proselyting and controlling strategy of cults focused on are very valuable in undoing the hold of the cult culture on former members and reestablishing a new mission for. Jane said she struggled forming deep relationships with other women throughout her life, so when she heard how close-knit NXIVM members were, and that there was a women-only group she could join, she became interested. Personal Visits. Finding ones identity and purpose in life can sometimes be a struggle, and a cult often gives people a cause that they can fight for. 476 0 obj Behavior modification techniques are employed, such as rewards/punishments, thought-stopping, and control of environment (isolation or restriction of access to others). government site. <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 9 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]>>/StructParents 10/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj model of cult membership would be multifactorial, involving vulner- methodologists, sociologists and experts in the eld of cults. Although there is conflicting evidence in the current literature, some research indicates that factors such as familial dysfunctional patterns (Almendros et al., 2007), preexisting We assumed that, as in the case of addiction disorders, former cult members exhibit vulnerability and protective factors for cult commitment and membership. The founder, Chip Wilson, wanted to spread the ethics of the novel Atlas Shrugged, which teaches that self-interest should be the most important thing in society. <>126 0 R]/P 514 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> A dislike, distrust, or general devaluation of outsiders. Through an analysis of the cult ex-periences of 31 former cult members, we assessed factors involved in cult adhesion, retention and departure. These factors could be individual, en- vironmental and/or linked to the characteristics of the addiction object, 2.3.1. According to multiple psychologists and sociologists, there is no stereotype of the sort of person who would join a cult. 447 0 obj 0000046622 00000 n The leaders orchestrated for her to end up in a relationship with a man in the group, which is what motivated her to stay. potential members who are most likely to join and commit to cult ideals (Singer, 2003; Coates, 2011). endobj Perhaps, depending on the cult and the nature of this process, it could be likely that a person experiencing self-doubt and life dissatisfaction could fall prey to cultic influence. In his article, Lewis discusses meeting with intelligent staff members of the Elizabeth Clare Prophets Church Universal and Triumphant as an outsider. 0000005002 00000 n <> Psychiatry Res. I find it interesting that Rousselet et al., (2017) compare cult membership to addiction, which is supported by Goodman (1990). In her 20s, Dr. Stein began to seek out political organizations who claimed to improve the lives of Americans needing health care and other issues. 0000113691 00000 n <> 6. > endobj endobj They are after your obedience, your time and your money.Cults use sophisticated mind control and recruitment techniques that have been refined over time. That being said, 51% of the former members reported to have had anxiety disorders in the year preceding their membership, and 45% reported mood disorders. <>88 0 R]/P 482 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> Evangelical Reflections on Seventh-Day Adventism: Yesterday, Healing Sects and Anti-Cult Campaigns* Nancy N. Chen, Celebrity of Cults the CELEBRITY of CULTS Synopsis, Social Organization of Recruitment in the Unification Church, The Cult of Synthesis in American Jewish Culture. In the podcast "Escaping NXIVM," Sarah Edmondson, another former member, said she realized in hindsight that the promise of deep human connection subtly drew her to the organization, despite the fact she considered herself a person with many friends. 844. (2017) Why do people join cults? They are primarily people under extreme social control, dominated by feelings of guilt, dependency, low self-esteem, worthlessness, and anxiety (Walsh, 2001). 466 0 obj 0000005958 00000 n When the mind is controlled, a victim may appear happy and willing to suffer for the profit or benefit of the leader/group. The easier it is to leave a cult, the more likely the person will leave, so make your place be easy to access. studies were more widely acknowledged, public perception of cult members would become less negative. Each one has its own lingo, Bernstein said. The Unique Motives of Female Serial Killers, Forensic Psychology, Criminology, or Criminal Psych: A Guide, 10 Factors That Influence Your Purchase Decisions, The Pros and Cons of Social Media for Youth. <> 0000007433 00000 n Cults are for mentally ill people, who get brainwashed and sucked into an evil organization right? 0000112083 00000 n Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-dJaCXAxA. If a cult member considers leaving the group--this may become a vitally important and pivotal point. 0000024305 00000 n endobj 0000113341 00000 n endobj 0000029564 00000 n Professor Arthur Deikman, of the University of California, San Francisco, points out that many people crave the security that a cult will bring, especially if they did not receive enough love and support from their parents. Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law. Social media has both positive and negative benefits on mental health, and the way it impacts teens varies from person to person. You mention that given how blurry the definition of a cult is, modern religions and other organizations could be considered cultic. In an interview with Playboy Magazine, he explains that their family fled the cult in 1977. 2021 Aug 13;12(1):1954776. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1954776. The actor Joaquin Phoenix and his siblings were also born into The Children of God cult. Rather, it's a mixture of wanting self-improvement and community, as well as timing. Some individuals who join cults remain lifelong members. Not all are destructive, some are benign. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. Janis, I. L. (2008). In relatively few cases is there a history of a pre-existing mental . 0000004685 00000 n 452 117 60. Retrieved from: https://www.ted.com/talks/janja_lalich_why_do_people_join_cults?language=en, Yakovleva, M.G (2018). ability and protective factors. general thought and question. That's what cults do. There are specific strategies, patterns, and behaviors used by cultic groups to recruit new members and manipulate and control them. You are not allowed to question and your inner voice is suppressed. After reading Rousselet, Duretete, Hardouin, & Grall-Bronnec (2017), it is clear that there is a sort of indoctrination process that is involved in becoming a part of the cult, and that particular people, such as those who have been previously exposed to cult-like groups, or groups with beliefs that are similar to the cult, may be more vulnerable to this process. general thought and question. Excessive use of hypnosis, meditation, and other activities can induce an altered state of consciousness. I was wondering if you found any research to suggest that, while not everyone who joins a cult has a mental illness, maybe those who do are more susceptible? They look for ways to break people; they want people who will work hard and long hours for little or no pay. Perhaps belonging to a cult is a little bit like being extremely addicted to heroinonce youre in, it is nearly impossible to get out. Human Cloning and the Raelians in the Spanish Newspaper El Pas, Priests and Cults in the Book of the Twelve, Introduction to the ICSA 2007 Annual Conference, Cult Recovery: a ClinicianS Guide to Working with Former Members and Family, Egoism, the 'Cult of Man' and the New Age Movement, Cults and Cosmic Consciousness: Religious Vision in the American 1960S, Challenges in the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Zimbabwe in Intergrating and Evangelising Minority Groups After Independence, Eileen Barker the Cult As a Social Problem, From Seventh-Day Adventism to David Koresh: the British Connection Alberta, The Cases of Church, Sect, Denomination, Cult and New Religious Movements (Nrms) and Their Typologies, After Paris: Why ISIL Is (Also) a Cult by Florence Gaub, The Unification Church: a Kaleidoscopic Introduction Barker, Eileen, I. Apostates Defile the Flesh V-8 Ii. It becomes increasingly difficult to speak up about practices of the cult when for other members they are commonplace. Bookshelf Striving for perfectionism comes into play in many cults. Even under evaluative conditions that are so vague they are considered subjective, organized religions still could be considered cultic in nature. According to an article written for the American Psychological Association by Dr. Philip Zimbardo, there is no type of person who joins a cult. In order to punish anyone who questions authority, they subjected to public humiliation and social isolation. According to Bernstein, people who were recently diagnosed with terminal or chronic illnesses, are living on their own for the first time, experienced the death of a loved one, or had a serious career blunder tend to be in fragile states, and therefore might join a group they might not otherwise acknowledge. As you drive past, you know you have to do something about it, because you know youre the only one that can really help.. Given that the definition of a cult is a little blurry, one could suggest that certain religions, such as Catholicism, appear cultic. More and more, I am seeing clients who have been abused by use of hypnosis and NLP (neurolinguistic programming)especially by unqualified "life coaches." 0000015895 00000 n A group should not be considered a cult merely because of its unorthodox beliefs. Prolonged and intense coercive persuasion can cause identity disturbance. 0000112587 00000 n MeSH 0000013921 00000 n <>110 0 R]/P 498 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> Admittedly, the studies cited by Hunter (1998) and the bulletin by Rudin (1990) are pretty old, to the point Rudin attributes satanic cult-like behavior to Dungeons and Dragons as well as rock music, citing no experts, but saying experts found a definite correlation between DnD/rock music and satanic recruitment (Rudin, 1990). Hearing these disturbing stories of cult-related sexual abuse, branding, and blackmail, it's understandable viewers may think: "I could never be fooled into joining a cult.". In fact, many of these people are well-educated, sensible, and logical. 0000007281 00000 n Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving?. According to statistics Canada, about 8.9% of the population over the age of 12 has been diagnosed with a mood disorder and (Statistics Canada, 2018) upon comparing the two, there is definitely a prevalence of mental illness within cult membership. endobj The company teaches their employees that they are superior to others. Whether it is attaining eternal life in a spiritual realm, or working day and night to change a political issue, a cult can give a purpose in life to people who did not have their own strong goals. 456 0 obj iX$U n';s5$*)f:Hy In Lalichs TedTalk, he talks about how leaders are persuasive with authoritarian and narcissism that are motivated by money, sex, power, or all three (2017). Introduction. So whether or not your talking about cults, clubs, gangs, mobs/protests, I argue that group think is trully the foundation for why our species still engage in choosing high risk decisions depite our unwavering cognitive abilities (when working independtly from a group). Cults also offer a very structured lifestyle, with absolute answers about what is right and wrong. He claims that anyone, under the right conditions, could be convinced to join a cult. Our aim in this paper is to argue that individuals join religious cults as persons, but lose their personhood as their position in the group is solidified, becoming simply humans. Cults and Satanism: Threats to Teens [A Bulletin Special]. I do think generally that having depressive symptoms or anxiety could absolutely play into why someone would find the idea of a cult alluring, but there absolutely needs to be more research! Cult membership and addictive disorders share some characteristics: persistence despite damage, initial psychological relief, occupation of an exclusive place in the thoughts of members, high. Some take place in person, where you may meet someone at work, through a friend or from a community. After she ended her relationship, she wanted to find a future partner who shared her passion for social justice. Chloe Greenidge Retrieved July 12, 2019, from http://www.searo.who.int/entity/child_adolescent/topics/adolescent_health/en/. Beware of thinking that you are immune from cult . 0000004840 00000 n By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Commonly, there are many additional after-effects: In an era when cult mind control is ever present and growing, it is essential to better understand the basics of cults, in order to combat their influence. <>76 0 R]/P 566 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> )@ R5JL[*,}JimhKzeP HDEkl7p)K6`9aB ss>9p DrR\&MK=fRaWamn(5L6XrR(>$z;?~!W;n^C2T>eri\h*@(_e,2E5!yDay Cult leaders are typically malignant narcissists and want people who will be obedient to them. 0000005121 00000 n endobj To someone who has low self-esteem, this is a huge ego boost. The aim of this study was to identify the vulnerability and protec-tive factors for cult membership. endobj He explains that year after year, the world becomes more a complex place to live. endobj 0000020833 00000 n We interviewed 31 former cult members, using semi-structured interviews to evaluate their clinical profile, characteristics of the cultic group and their experience in the group. Janis, I.(1989). 2011;65(4):381-91. doi: 10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2011.65.4.381. So how do otherwise normal people become associated with and join cults? 0000018327 00000 n 0000003715 00000 n From this point, cults employ lots of techniques commonplace to social psychology, such as confirmation bias and cognitive dissonance. Sociodemographic characteristics that is, the cultic group. <>96 0 R]/P 486 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> Stay up to date with what you want to know. Labor trafficking can take several forms, including bonded labor, otherwise known as debt bondage, and forced labor. "Cults are groups that often exploit members psychologically and/or financially, typically by making members comply with leadership's demands through certain types of psychological manipulation, popularly called mind control, and through the inculcation of deep-seated anxious dependency on the group and its leaders." The factors or "motivations" for gang leaving can be classified as pushes or pulls. 0000113494 00000 n <>78 0 R]/P 568 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> The Making of Cults: The Factors that Contribute to Membership and the Leaders' Influence Chloe Greenidge, Eastern Kentucky University Follow Abstract This thesis investigates the factors that contribute to the increased vulnerability to cult membership. Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of 'brainwashing' in China by Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, Combating Cult Mind Control: The Guide to Protection, Rescue and Recovery from Destructive Cults, Opening Our Minds: avoiding abusive relationships and authoritarian groups by Jon Atack. The core concept in cultism is a followership dependent upon someone or something outside itself to assist it in coping with a threatening external environment. endobj 0000003345 00000 n Plus, there are many reputable resources available including websites, books, online courses, and cult experts, that can help. 0000080355 00000 n What exactly is so special about them? %PDF-1.7 % Tully Worron Dr. Greanoff Lakewood High School The issue of cults leads one to question <>stream The majority of these people had no idea that the organization they were entering was, in fact, a cult. startxref 0000010126 00000 n Almost everyone goes through an existential crisis at some point in their lifetime. I did not have much knowledge regarding cults, I like to consider myself uneducated, and thus reading your post made me curious as to how cults relate to social cognition. What exactly is a cult? Psychiatry research 257 pp 27. Hunter, E. (1998). 0000038874 00000 n Certain personality disorders can increase a leaders sphere of influence over followers. These characteristics are commonplace of everyone at one point or another, cults simply pry on those who are in these vulnerable positions. <>stream document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. <>106 0 R]/P 494 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> 443 0 obj Stay stable and safe. Why do people join cults? SP4N6v\B66 ou=qAPAWmV%*P ILsQd#& VFYjx?[kB(`a[)tN+n"VF Ub&7}M WG;"/{nnl shV|Y.8c++rp0-uA\ju*`jUk}kP/,YE* V@~)z(@,@* _m \5 Psychiatry Research, 257, 2733. My Account | This I think is the easiest answered question. While we are at it, let's shatter another myth: people who join cults are not stupid, weird, crazy, weak-willed, or neurotic. 0000035424 00000 n Accessibility Regarding sex and age joining the group as control variables, . <>382 0 R]/P 526 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> endobj It gives them license to do anything . Critics of the athletic apparel company Lululemon Athletica have accused the corporation of being a cult. Thank you! Cults usually exhibit a protective commitment and membership that members feel drawn towards. <><>379 0 R]/P 524 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> The .gov means its official. Brown, F (2019). Not Everybody Agrees, Illegal Missionary Work Lawsuits and Exit Counseling for Unification Church Members, The Reliability of Apostate Testimony About New Religious Movements, CULTS and PUBLIC POLICY PROTECTING the VICTIMS of CULTIC ABUSE in AUSTRALIA Stephen Mutch, CONCLUSION Seventh-Day Adventism in Tanzania Experienced. NXIVM leader Keith Raniere found guilty on all sex-cult charges | CBC News. Therefore, the clinical experiences of a panel of experts, including psychiatrists, model of cult membership would be multifactorial, involving vulner- methodologists, sociologists and experts in the eld of cults. One day as my friend and I were exploring downtown, we came across a recruitment center for The Church of Scientology. 5 0 obj Questioning the cult results in rejection or abuse, and through the same psychological tactic that gets people involved in the first place, feeling the need to belong makes people put aside things they know are wrong. The case examples explored in this paper are Jonestown, The Kentucky Vampire Clan, The Manson Family, and The Source Family. So, would you join a cult? 8600 Rockville Pike Similarly, an article regarding adolescents risks of joining anti-social cults, research has been conducted that young people who suffer from a deep sense of loneliness are vulnerable to being recruited into cults (2018). From the three young women who were convinced to commit murder with Charles Manson, to the more recent three English High School girls who packed their bags to join ISIS, it would seem that women are more likely to join cults than men. Cult is a term, considered pejorative by some, for a relatively small group which is typically led by a charismatic and self-appointed leader, who excessively controls its members, requiring unwavering devotion to a set of acts and practices which are considered deviant (outside the norms of society). endobj Cults, wonderful on the outside, but are on the inside very manipulating. 0000046135 00000 n 0000116153 00000 n 0000015137 00000 n 463 0 obj endobj There are better ways than deprogramming to extricate loved ones from abusive groups. He might also be able to learn the long prayers for the dhikri of a particular sufi group, tariqa, and join in the Friday afternoon recitations, becoming a new member of a young coterie of Sufi students and the pious.
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