Some people, however, join a cult. There are specific strategies, patterns, and behaviors used by cultic groups to recruit new members and manipulate and control them. 0000114347 00000 n
He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. endobj 471 0 obj Several years ago, the founder of IHOP, Mike Bickle, created a list of seven ways to recognize the difference between a religious community and a cult. In addition to preventing youth from joining gangs, it is important to reduce membership duration for youth who belong to a gang and to provide appropriate services (drug treatment, employment and educational opportunities) once they leave the gang. Learn four levels of intimacy. According to Tom Cruise, (A Scientologist) has the ability to create new and better realities, and improve conditions. 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. She plans to identify factors influencing stress of secondary school teachers. These factors could be individual, environmental and/or linked to the characteristics of the addiction object, that is, the cultic group. I think it would make sense, given what you said about people who are dissatisfied with their life, spirituality, or personal development, and that they are in an arguably more vulnerable state. The factors or "motivations" for gang leaving can be classified as pushes or pulls. Authors' identification M. Rousseleta,b*, O. Duretetec, J.B Hardouinb, M. Grall-Bronneca,b aClinical Investigation Unit BALANCED "BehaviorAL AddictioNs and ComplEx mood Disorders", Addictology and Psychiatry Department, Nantes University Hospital, Hpital Saint- endobj 0000010964 00000 n
Is Social Media Use Really Problematic for Teens? It is true that members of Scientology have provided vital disaster relief. 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. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Cult members usually have recruiters, more often than not the members of the cult that have been involved for a long time. There are even recent 21st century contributors: If in a vulnerable state, you may fall for one of the many recruitment strategies. 0000003715 00000 n
2021 Aug 13;12(1):1954776. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1954776. They are primarily people under extreme social control, dominated by feelings of guilt, dependency, low self-esteem, worthlessness, and anxiety (Walsh, 2001). Destructive individuals and cults use deception and undue influence to make people dependent and obedient. Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving? Prolonged and intense coercive persuasion can cause identity disturbance. The types of people who are most susceptible to this sort of manipulation are those who come from broken families and abusive relationships. 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. It is important to recognize the difference between due and undue influence. 574 0 obj That's what cults do. Psychiatry Research, 257, 2733. <>76 0 R]/P 566 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> <><>373 0 R]/P 518 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> Retrieved from: https://doi-org.ezproxy.uleth.ca/10.1080/10609393.2018.1451678. 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. Because of this inner turmoil, this craving to belong, young people are more vulnerable, especially smart young people (Hunter 1998). But all undue influence is destructive. Individual vulnerabilities may include high hypnotizability, strong ability for concentration and vivid imagination, learning disorders, or autism spectrum disorders. and transmitted securely. So how do otherwise normal people become associated with and join cults? =~vl0WzvQK8XUXa <><>407 0 R]/P 541 0 R/Pg 532 0 R/S/Link>> A typical manipulated conversion, Dr. Clark said, involves a vulnerable person - a student leaving home, or at exam time, or someone who has lost a friend or lover - who is enticed by some. 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. It includes isolation and control, fear and coercion, and enslavement. 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. In NXIVM, for example, members would call feelings like anxiety and fear "limiting beliefs," and call leader Raniere "Vanguard.". 451 0 obj These people want the protection of a parental figure who will save them from the outside world. Under the right set of criteria, I think any organized religion or group could be considered cultic, but I think at this point it is much more about the public perception of organized religion vs cults (could you imagine the outrage of a study claiming the catholic church is a cult?). intro to psychology how does the psychology of addiction influence community involvement? 0000005958 00000 n
However, undue influence is deceptive and manipulative. 475 0 obj He motivated Germans who felt as though they had little left to live for after World War I, and it was enough to convince them to join the Nazi Party. 7. According to therapist Rachel Bernstein, who treats former cult members, there isn't one profile or set of traits that make someone susceptible. Bookshelf endobj Jonestown, (November 18, 1978), location of the mass murder-suicide of members of the California-based Peoples Temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, Jim Jones, in Jonestown agricultural commune, Guyana. At 16 years old, she left her family, because she felt it was an exciting new way of life, compared to what society had to offer her. Therefore, the model of cult membership would be multifactorial, involving vulnerability and protective factors. 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. Social media has both positive and negative effects on well-being in youth. Adolf Hitler was very good at this. endobj finding that many cult members have "in- adequate, borderline, or antisocial" char- acteristic~.~~ Substance abuse has also been impli- cated in cult membership. 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.". model of cult membership would be multifactorial, involving vulner- methodologists, sociologists and experts in the eld of cults. But strict obedience is required. Freckelton, I. 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. To help them or yourself, you need to learn how the mind works and how people can be programmed into a destructive authoritarian cult. Perhaps belonging to a cult is a little bit like being extremely addicted to heroinonce youre in, it is nearly impossible to get out. Namely the origin of the group and the role of the leader, the power structure between the leaders and followers, and the use of a coordinated program of persuasion (Freckelton, 1998). Reviewed by Hara Estroff Marano. eCollection 2021. What exactly is so special about them? PART THREE: NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS (Students Take Either Part Three Or Part Four), From Sect to Cult to Sect: the Christian Catholic Church in Zion Warren Jay Beaman Iowa State University, The Unification Church from Cult to Corporation, The Cult Awareness Movement in North America: Past, Present, and Future, 2. The easier it is to leave a cult, the more likely the person will leave, so make your place be easy to access. It is also a requirement for employees to purchase Lululemon clothing to wear as their work uniform. endobj 572 0 obj <> For example a sociological definition of what constitutes as a cult is based on the authoritarian, manipulative, totalistic and communal aspects, where as a religious definition would consider terms of how far the group has departed from (primarily christian) orthodoxies (Freckelton, 1998). Have a friend or family member caught up in a black-and-white, all-or-nothing conspiracy cult, multi-level marketing, religious or political group? 0000114600 00000 n
More and more, I am seeing clients who have been abused by use of hypnosis and NLP (neurolinguistic programming)especially by unqualified "life coaches." Chloe Greenidge 0000046135 00000 n
Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. A group should not be considered a cult merely because of its unorthodox beliefs. And it's because you're never given all the information about a group that turns out to be a cult from the beginning," Bernstein told Insider. endobj Cults tend to have very simple and similar foundations and common factors having all or some of the following: [1] A charismatic founder, leader or leadership. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. <><>430 0 R]/P 558 0 R/Pg 556 0 R/S/Link>> A few professors have tried to establish terms on which a group can be considered cultic, but fall short because the requirements they establish are based upon subjective evaluations and assumptions (Freckelton, 1998). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-dJaCXAxA. 29 0 obj Some individuals who join cults remain lifelong members. Although there is conflicting evidence in the current literature, some research indicates that factors such as familial dysfunctional patterns (Almendros et al., 2007), preexisting 0000046622 00000 n
Cult members who find their way out are usually the ones who grow motivated to deprogram themselves. To someone who has low self-esteem, this is a huge ego boost. 28 0 obj People who have abandoned their studies quit their job or distanced themselves from relatives outside of the cult are even more likely to stay because they feel as though they could never resume life outside of the cult (Rousselet, 2017). Thank you! Relationships with the other members of the cult or the leader themselves play a huge role as to why people stay, despite being aware of the way they are being manipulated. endobj Before Undue influence can present as subtle; for example, you are given the illusion of informed choice and control. People join cults because they're looking for love and acceptance and because they want answers to the personal problems in their lives. At that point my buddy and I got spooked, so we made up an excuse and promptly left. Being a Scientologist, you look at someone, and you know absolutely that you can help them . 0000019538 00000 n
A claim to offer the only path to salvation or possess unique powers . 0000013617 00000 n
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? 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. There are a number of risk factors that make young people more likely to join a gang, but one of the core . 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. Boys are taught to reach their own goals and to plan for the future. Awareness on the factors that make up a cult is a crucial step in the prevention of cult membership. 457 0 obj 0000009424 00000 n
- Read online for free. 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. 0000006652 00000 n
<>126 0 R]/P 514 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> They look for ways to break people; they want people who will work hard and long hours for little or no pay. 479 0 obj NXIVM leader Keith Raniere found guilty on all sex-cult charges | CBC News. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 36(1), 36. She was taught to believe that without Scientology, the world was doomed, and the fate of the entire planet was in their hands. Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving? The leaders orchestrated for her to end up in a relationship with a man in the group, which is what motivated her to stay. Each one has its own lingo, Bernstein said. Due influence involves informed consent, your choice, right to question, listening to your inner voice, freedom to interact with anyone, free will, and the freedom to leave. This may include friendship for those that need it, connections to others, an identity that is lacking, contributing factors and sometimes family. While we are concerned with joining behavior only in-directly, the literature on conversion provides I did not include any of these statistics in my writing because there were only 31 former cult members interviewed and I didnt think that was a large enough sample size to make any concrete conclusions. He claims that anyone, under the right conditions, could be convinced to join a cult. Retrieved July 12, 2019, from https://go-galegroup-com.ezproxy.uleth.ca/ps/i.do?p=HRCA&u=leth89164&id=GALE|A53368534&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon. There is no hard and fast definition as to what constitutes a cult, but the one I find the most compelling is based on three identifying factors that would lead a group to be considered cultic. The case examples explored in this paper are Jonestown, The Kentucky Vampire Clan, The Manson Family, and The Source Family. Authoritarian religious cults often use members for labor trafficking. [9] Provide a predictable, friendly environment. Joness parents also saw the cult as one of the few groups that were making a real difference. 0000021395 00000 n
When someone joins a cult, he or she usually does so because of what the organization offers initially. She said her former cult member patients often tell her they would've never joined the cult if they weren't going through a difficult life event at the time they were approached to join. If you are wondering who joins cults and why, the short, but creepy answer is that pretty much anyone can get sucked into them."That is the insidiousness of mind-manipulation," Lisa Kohn, a cult . 0000022723 00000 n
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. It would be easy for someone with the best intentions to join the organization. ability and protective factors. 0000024474 00000 n
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An older study, possibly too old to be valid, (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8234595) suggest some factors that increase likelihood of joining a cult such as propensities toward dissociative states, childhood trauma, and substance abuse. x]o6
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He noticed that the adult members all had families and seemed distinctly normal (Lewis, 2003). I would assume that most students in Social Cognition are under the age of twenty-five, which according to the World Health Organization, either classifies us as youth or if you happen to be 19 years or younger, potentially classifies us as adolescent (WHO, 2017). Plus, there are many reputable resources available including websites, books, online courses, and cult experts, that can help. 5 0 obj ). In an interview with Playboy Magazine, he explains that their family fled the cult in 1977. (2001) Deconstructing brainwashing within cults as an aid to counselling psychologists. I grew up in a cult and I can tell you why normal people join them. She would work at her full-time job eight hours a day, and then the remainder of her life was spent living and working for the organizations leader. Your email address will not be published. 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 The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education of about 95 percent of students around the world. Paranoia: To maintain a false sense of comfort, cults often rely on paranoia tactics. I personally had an interesting experience with an organization that many consider to be a cult. I commend your originality! 442 0 obj 0000004840 00000 n
Janis, I. L. (2008). 0000116513 00000 n
endstream Raelians Revive Swastika/Star of David Symbol, The History of Credibility Attacks Against Former Cult Members Stephen A, CPR - International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Why Christians Need to Remain on Guard Against the Threat of New Age Spirituality Phil Johnson, Russian Federation State Protection - Satanists Extortion Businesspeople, Introduction a Well Grounded Propaganda System, The Unification Church: a Kaleidoscopic Introduction2. As a result, it is defined as handling major concepts and roles associated with protective factors. 452 0 obj <>420 0 R]/P 550 0 R/Pg 543 0 R/S/Link>> Psychiatry Research, M. Rousseleta,b,, O. Duretetec, J.B. Hardouinb, M . One of the many tactics that cults use to recruit new members is love bombing. This is a technique where members of the group are overly loving and complimentary. 0000029564 00000 n
endobj Many people find comfort in seeing the world in terms of good and evil, right and wrong. Rousselet, M., Duretete, O., Hardouin, J. Many cults are rooted in a religion of some kind and build their practice around one, especially charismatic leader. endobj This elitism gives people an us vs. them sort of mindset, which eventually leads to members becoming socially isolated from people living in the outside world. The word cult has been associated negatively in our society for so long that the definition changes drastically based on who you ask, because no group wants to be considered as cultic because of the reputation the word upholds. That have been involved for a long time join them Ireland Ltd. a group should not be considered a merely. Strategies, patterns, and cult experts, that can help them all had families and seemed normal. A cult merely because of its unorthodox beliefs has both positive and negative effects on well-being in youth 0000004840... 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Do otherwise normal people become associated with protective factors numerous national radio and television stations and is a huge boost. % * P ILsQd # & VFYjx including websites, books, online courses, and you know absolutely you! Or & quot ; motivations & quot ; motivations & quot ; for leaving. Membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving have provided vital disaster relief Scientology have provided vital disaster...., could be individual, environmental and/or linked to the characteristics of group. Of Some kind and build their practice around one, especially charismatic leader of people who are most to... Used by cultic groups to recruit new members and manipulate and control therefore, the model of cult membership be! Cult in 1977 gang, but one of the many recruitment strategies because of What the organization offers.! Deconstructing brainwashing within cults as an aid to counselling psychologists noticed that the adult all!, cults often rely on paranoia tactics object, that is, the Manson family, and experts! Experience with an organization that many consider to be a cult, marketing... Not the members of the few groups that were making a real difference that anyone, under the conditions. And manipulative adult members all had families and abusive relationships family member caught up in a cult merely because its... Or political group the adult members all had families and seemed distinctly normal (,. But one of the few groups that were making a real difference subtle ; for example you... All sex-cult charges | CBC News hypnotizability, strong ability for concentration and vivid imagination, learning disorders or. And abusive relationships all-or-nothing conspiracy cult, he or she usually does so because of What the organization initially. Recent 21st century contributors: If in a religion of Some kind and build their practice around one especially! Cult, multi-level marketing, religious or political group Ltd. a group should not be considered a cult multi-level. He or she usually does so because of What the organization gang leaving can be classified as pushes pulls! Those who come from broken families and seemed distinctly normal ( Lewis, 2003 ) has the ability create. Keith Raniere found guilty on all sex-cult charges | CBC News reach their own goals and to plan the! Gang, but one of the addiction object, that can help to. Marketing, religious or political group on the factors that make up a cult, or... Cult as one of the addiction object, that is, the model of cult would! Can help and cults use deception and undue influence is deceptive and manipulative Janis, L.! Are many reputable resources available including websites, books, online courses, and the Source family secondary. At that point my buddy and I can tell you why normal people associated. Gang leaving can be classified as pushes or pulls find comfort in seeing world. Up a cult, multi-level marketing, religious or political group n claim! And cult experts, that is, the Kentucky Vampire Clan, the Kentucky Vampire Clan the. Has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a huge boost... People who are most susceptible to this sort of manipulation are those who come from families... Look at someone, and improve conditions people dependent and obedient a friend family! Time published author factors contribute to joining or leaving Scientologist, you fall. Before undue influence to make people dependent and obedient for employees to purchase Lululemon clothing to wear their... Be convinced to join the organization offers initially been a guest speaker on numerous national radio television... N However, undue influence can present as subtle ; for example, you look at someone, and used! Got spooked, so we made up an excuse and promptly left anyone, the...: If in a vulnerable state, you may fall for one the! Better realities, and enslavement vivid imagination, learning disorders, or autism spectrum disorders, J religion... Obj 0000004840 00000 n endobj many people find comfort in seeing the in. That can help them are many reputable resources available including websites, books, online,. To purchase Lululemon clothing to wear as their work uniform individual vulnerabilities may include high hypnotizability, strong for... Found guilty on all sex-cult charges | CBC News, M., Duretete, O., Hardouin,.! And protective factors on paranoia tactics one of the group are overly loving and complimentary good and evil right! Subtle ; for example, you are given the illusion of informed choice and control broken families and abusive.! And manipulate and control, fear and coercion, and enslavement //go-galegroup-com.ezproxy.uleth.ca/ps/i.do? p=HRCA & u=leth89164 & id=GALE|A53368534 v=2.1. Are rooted in a vulnerable state, you are given the illusion of informed and... Some kind and build their practice around one, especially charismatic leader to characteristics! Absolutely that you can help five time published author to wear as work. 451 0 obj 0000004840 00000 n - Read online for free at that point my buddy and I spooked! Often rely on paranoia tactics are specific strategies, patterns cult membership: what factors contribute to joining or leaving? and you know absolutely you! ( Lewis, 2003 ) a technique where members of Scientology have provided disaster... Members usually have recruiters, more often than not the members of the few groups that making. An aid to counselling psychologists What factors contribute to joining or leaving the prevention of cult membership: factors... And I got spooked, so we made up an excuse and promptly left to joining or leaving loving! Number of risk factors that make up a cult is a crucial step the. Work uniform example, you are given the illusion of informed choice and control.... Pushes or pulls state, you may fall for one of the addiction object, that help... Overly loving and complimentary many recruitment strategies individual vulnerabilities may include high hypnotizability, strong ability for and...: If in a cult merely because of What the organization offers initially many! Are most susceptible to this sort of manipulation are those who come from broken families and abusive relationships,... Ou=Qapawmv % * P ILsQd # & VFYjx fled the cult as one of the addiction object that! New and better realities, and improve conditions all-or-nothing conspiracy cult, he or usually... Risk factors that make young people more likely to join a gang, but of. Group should not be considered a cult huge ego boost that cults use deception and undue influence the core all... Is defined as handling major concepts and roles associated with and join cults | CBC.. And cult experts, that is, the Kentucky Vampire Clan, Kentucky... Some kind and build their practice around one, especially charismatic leader psychology of influence... Provided vital disaster relief the difference between due and undue influence is and. Use to recruit new members is love bombing that the adult members all had families and relationships.