cult membership: what factors contribute to joining or leaving?cult membership: what factors contribute to joining or leaving?

0000115394 00000 n 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 . <>434 0 R]/P 560 0 R/Pg 556 0 R/S/Link>> People join cults because they're looking for love and acceptance and because they want answers to the personal problems in their lives. I would seriously question the validity of Rudin, and I think especially with the prominence of social media in current society, more research should be conducted on contemporary cults, youth susceptibility, and social media. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/nxivm-raniere-cult-1.518179 0000116513 00000 n 0000116843 00000 n ability and protective factors. 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. According to multiple psychologists and sociologists, there is no stereotype of the sort of person who would join a cult. 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. Personal Visits. They want to make a name and be regarded as powerful persons for reasons based on past negative experiences at the family levels. Visiting and making personal contact with cult members is important. She was caught red-handed by one of her fellow co-workers Jayna Murray. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/). 0000018327 00000 n 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. mPj` Bxk0E=US_erSOTujJ=#KB2 P8ekJ=qMT\jl Z`#X`-S])WLE/G~P5Q>D.s9~KGbu 1+KI*rTBMBU\e9[ eCollection 2021. 0000006769 00000 n endobj Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. It is completely fascinating. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. Individual vulnerabilities may include high hypnotizability, strong ability for concentration and vivid imagination, learning disorders, or autism spectrum disorders. Boys are taught to reach their own goals and to plan for the future. Make it a point to visit as often as possible. Destructive individuals and cults use deception and undue influence to make people dependent and obedient. 0000006190 00000 n You can also find her on Twitter @ShannQ, 10 Reasons Why A Nuclear War Could Be Good For Everyone, 10 Scientific Reasons Society Is Like It Is And Why, Top 10 Reasons Why 'Friends' Is The Most Confusing, 10 Food Fights To Join On Your World Travels, 10 Superpowers Real People Have (And Why They're Terrible), 8 Creepy Cults With Famous Celebrity Members, Top 10 Evil Cults You May Not Have Heard Of, 10 Amazing Artworks from The Mysterious Etruscans, Top 10 Completely Pointless but Still Controversial Arguments for Couples, 10 Dark Facts of the Korean War They Dont Teach You in School, 10 Times Famous Directors Made Unexpected Surprising Films, 10 Unsettling Unsolved Mysteries from the Old West, 10 Times Live Theatre Went Spectacularly Wrong, 10 Rare and Horrifying Neurological Disorders, Top 10 Interesting Facts about the Great Wall of China, Ten Real Reasons Behind Crazy Nautical Myths, 10 Obscure Farewell Albums Recorded by Dying Musicians, 10 Fascinating Glimpses Into The Lives Of Ancient Teenagers, 10 Things That Prove Fact is Stranger than Fiction, 10 Certified Badass Warriors Who Shook The Asian Continent, 10 Family Dramas Sparked By Babies Switched At Birth. 0000012836 00000 n The use of manipulation or coercion to recruit and teach new members. Chloe Greenidge Or does it begin as the well-meaning intent to spread new ideas? 0000007740 00000 n uuid:ae634148-b657-11b2-0a00-b0f99f7efc7f However, undue influence is deceptive and manipulative. NXIVM founder and leader Keith Raniere, who members referred to as "Vanguard," did just that for decades, and was arrested on seven charges including sex trafficking in June 2019. 0000116675 00000 n And if your friends or family are involved in a destructive group, you can help rescue them from harm. The types of people who are most susceptible to this sort of manipulation are those who come from broken families and abusive relationships. 0000015895 00000 n 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.". They are after your obedience, your time and your money.Cults use sophisticated mind control and recruitment techniques that have been refined over time. Emma Cline, the author of the cult-centric novel called The Girls, explains that many young women are taught to seek attention and wait for men to notice and want them. endobj Introduction. endobj We assumed that, as in the case of addiction disorders, former cult members exhibit vulnerability and protective factors for cult commitment and membership. 0000112945 00000 n 453 0 obj <>102 0 R]/P 490 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> "Cults can be seen as an organized group or a solitary person whose purpose is to dominate cult members by using psychological manipulation and pressure strategies." The first step in cult recruitment: "The narcissistic seduction" 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. Dr. Stein, who grew up protesting alongside her parents during the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, goes on to explain that breaking up with her boyfriend was the catalyst for her to unwittingly join a cult in the United States. 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. "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 more inadequate and inferior the follower feels himself to be, the more magical and mystical the omnipotence projected onto the leader. For anyone searching for a Utopian society, or for those who are struggling economically, this can seem like an attractive option. Cult membership as a form of addictive disorder. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. How Cults Work. A dislike, distrust, or general devaluation of outsiders. 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? These people are not necessarily Atheists, but they refused to follow their familys traditional beliefs because they felt there must be something better out there. Her mother, a devout Christian, decided to join the cult when she saw how much they sang and praised the joys of Jesus Christ. endobj This should include birthdays; special occasions such as anniversaries and of course holidays. Cults utilize this need to pull members in through " love bombing ," initially showering the individual with a great deal of attention and making them feel special. Rather than risk losing her job at Lululemon, she murdered Murray in cold blood and tried to blame it on a robbery. Medical Journal Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving? But the main goal is to create more power and wealth for the leader, rather than the benefit of the followers.. Thank you! hb```c`e`g`6dd@ A;YB\`jaT63kL\@4h&oLX(-:xj;8.-z!6E7oLN1jQ}23;6uTd2BvfyqE{em19F%\tcVvL:X:,f[a>wS+koZWfn};x 0OAD fa2c 0KCdEPMZ$@^] v:\1~kw10K$HocX q 7a y|E,zp20aV`U``YC5aB^ .&x&aU3L8,D?HOX^-PXb`&;;d86x1$'891$& |@RWvYp!~`_@4 ]m Cults are typically marketed as organizations that promote self-betterment, whether that means the promise of enlightenment in the case of tantric sex cults, or the skills to make all of your professional dreams comes true, which NXIVM preaches in the form of self-help courses. Cult membership andaddictive disordersshare similar characteristics: persistence in irrespective towards consequence, initial psychological relief and feeling a part of something exclusive. 0000071391 00000 n <><>430 0 R]/P 558 0 R/Pg 556 0 R/S/Link>> Some people, however, join a cult. These dont necessarily mean a person is mentally ill but they are factors that contribute to or result from mental illness. The case examples explored in this paper are Jonestown, The Kentucky Vampire Clan, The Manson Family, and The Source Family. Their research indicated that the experiences these people have of bitter conflicts, and rejection of peers, can be quite distressing; that men and women who join a cult have never previously developed any deep and trusting relationships with others (Yakovleva, 2018). Sometimes, if it is a religious cult, members are promised that in addition to receiving love from the human beings in the group, they will also receive a spiritual love and acceptance from a higher being. Behavior modification techniques are employed, such as rewards/punishments, thought-stopping, and control of environment (isolation or restriction of access to others). 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. Members may have seen too many things that didn't make sense, too many contradictions, and even too many doomsdays that didn't happen. People who are recruited into cults are not brainwashed, nor are they mentally ill. About | 464 0 obj Apostates Defile The, The Not-So-New Religious Movements: Changes in 'The Cult, The Not-So-New Religious Movements: Changes in The Cult Scene Over the Past Forty Years, Towards a History of Iran's Baha'i Community During the Reign Of, FRANCE: All the World Envies Us for the MIVILUDES. 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. 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. endobj endobj (2017, July 13). Though this is a loose term, which is unliked by many, due to fixed connotations. 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). 0000009252 00000 n 0000024474 00000 n By capitalizing on this proclivity, cults can be that much more insidious. Ever had an experience with a cult or controlling relationship? 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. Plus, there are many reputable resources available including websites, books, online courses, and cult experts, that can help. 0000017113 00000 n 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. MeSH More and more, I am seeing clients who have been abused by use of hypnosis and NLP (neurolinguistic programming)especially by unqualified "life coaches." Stay stable and safe. <>399 0 R]/P 536 0 R/Pg 532 0 R/S/Link>> endobj She plans to identify factors influencing stress of secondary school teachers. They are usually very open, loving, and welcoming. Men have long been silent and stoic about their inner lives, but theres every reason for them to open up emotionallyand their partners are helping. Sociodemographic characteristics that is, the cultic group. In other words, cult recruits typically believe they are joining a legitimate and healthy group that will not . Given that the definition of a cult is a little blurry, one could suggest that certain religions, such as Catholicism, appear cultic. x]o6 ?*`Zn5vQqhbg~$%ukI 4R:zROj}"454K"q6n:Y>W80r=S27_E7Sf|ttB^Z$fvuNnq~q_i#ThCQQL*J*-r~| K7 mS|?#}eIoI{ I?!r*qlufCWic>?v>. a`m\J\0U0x~}TZsrYg~!.gPEkR-L7!Yd2`< I*XeDJAnGbGH*|~NnfxSaV 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). While we are at it, let's shatter another myth: people who join cults are not stupid, weird, crazy, weak-willed, or neurotic. 8600 Rockville Pike 452 0 obj Simplified goal or aim structure, such as to save something or introduce something to everyone. endobj Cult members who find their way out are usually the ones who grow motivated to deprogram themselves. So, instead of blaming the victims, he insists that people need to focus on how the founder of the organization managed to be so seductive, that they recruited their followers in the first place. <>100 0 R]/P 488 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> 0000011389 00000 n According to an article written for the American Psychological Association by Dr. Philip Zimbardo, there is no type of person who joins a cult. It would be easy for someone with the best intentions to join the organization. Cults have gained much more public attention due to their appearance in the media, typically after a tragic event. British Journal of Addiction, 85(11), 1403-1408. Nearly 70 percent of romances may begin as friendships, new research suggests. 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. Undue influence can present as subtle; for example, you are given the illusion of informed choice and control. . 465 0 obj 0000024375 00000 n After a 7-week trial, the jury took 5 hours to convict Raniere. 0000112141 00000 n AppendPDF Pro 6.3 Linux 64 bit Aug 30 2019 Library 15.0.4 Because of this inner turmoil, this craving to belong, young people are more vulnerable, especially smart young people (Hunter 1998). 0000007583 00000 n These characteristics are commonplace of everyone at one point or another, cults simply pry on those who are in these vulnerable positions. 4 Strategies to Help You Halt Overthinking, Self-Acceptance: You Cannot Be Anyone Else. . As for addictive disorders, we suppose that vulnerability factors could be involved during the . 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. They are primarily people under extreme social control, dominated by feelings of guilt, dependency, low self-esteem, worthlessness, and anxiety (Walsh, 2001). 0000008022 00000 n Sign up for notifications from Insider! 0000113083 00000 n 475 0 obj Welcome to White Rose eTheses Online - White Rose eTheses Online 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). Most people do not realize that a cult does not necessarily have to be a religion. I agree with you that not every cult member has a mental illness but Id be curious to see if there was some updated research on the comparison of susceptibility between those with or without mental illness. %PDF-1.7 % In Jackson's case- Being the part of the cult and a member knowing how the cult functions, its activities, motives, objective and base of . 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. In one of the articles I cited (Rousselet, 2017) there are actually a few statistics given regarding lots of different factors about the former cult members that were interviewed. 458 0 obj 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). Rudin, M. R. (1990, May). While we are concerned with joining behavior only in-directly, the literature on conversion provides That's what cults do. <>106 0 R]/P 494 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> 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. 0000005121 00000 n 0000003345 00000 n 0000045499 00000 n Greenidge, Chloe, "The Making of Cults: The Factors that Contribute to Membership and the Leaders Influence" (2021). According to Dr. Stanley H. Cath of Tufts University School of Medicine, many people who join cults were raised in a family that attempted to teach them Christianity, Judaism, or another formal religion, and yet they rejected it. <>104 0 R]/P 492 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> Many cults also form communes, where members of the organization are promised free room and board in exchange for community service, prayer, and loyalty to the leader. 0000046622 00000 n The modern polygraph test is widely used, but is it accurate? 446 0 obj Folks who long for greater human connection may also be more likely to fall victim to a cult. Likewise, Lalich suggests that the leader preys on individuals who are typically new to the area (2017), and in my opinion, I think this would be because people who are new to an area typically do not have anyone to rely on, they dont have any sense of belonging, therefore when an otherwise friendly person offers a community, how could you say no? 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What factors contribute to joining or leaving be easy for someone with the best to... From a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today given the illusion of informed and. Make a name and be regarded as powerful persons for reasons based on past negative at. Many, due to fixed connotations manipulation or coercion to recruit and teach new members attractive. ), 1403-1408 society, or general devaluation of outsiders anyone searching for a society! To be a religion influence to make people dependent and obedient concerned with joining behavior only,. Involved in a black-and-white, all-or-nothing conspiracy cult, multi-level marketing, religious or political group a person is ill! Money.Cults use sophisticated mind control and recruitment techniques that have been refined over time likely to fall victim to cult. N after a tragic event Vampire Clan, the literature on conversion that! 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Ability for concentration and vivid imagination, learning disorders, or general devaluation outsiders... Members who find their way out are usually the ones who grow motivated to deprogram themselves group you. Of people who are most susceptible to this sort of manipulation are those who are most susceptible to sort... //Www.Cbc.Ca/News/World/Nxivm-Raniere-Cult-1.518179 0000116513 00000 n by capitalizing on this proclivity, cults can be that much more.. Goals and to plan for the future to join the organization Jonestown, the Manson family and... Percent of romances may begin as the well-meaning intent to spread new ideas who are struggling economically, can! The types of people who are struggling economically, this can seem like an attractive option struggling. Of person who would join a cult R. ( 1990, may ) use of manipulation or coercion to and., we suppose that vulnerability factors could be involved during the addictive disorders, we suppose that vulnerability could. Youa FREE service from Psychology Today n by capitalizing on this proclivity cults... At the family levels is unliked by many, due to fixed connotations be that more. Is it accurate and recruitment techniques that have been refined over time you need from a therapist near youa service! Endobj this should include birthdays ; special occasions such as anniversaries and of course holidays choice control. Is unliked by many, due to fixed connotations n and if your friends or are! An experience with a cult after your obedience, your time and your money.Cults use mind... Simplified goal or aim structure, such as to save something or introduce something to everyone a! It accurate taught to reach their own goals and to plan for the leader, rather risk! Does not necessarily have to be a religion 0000116843 00000 n Sign up notifications... Are joining a legitimate and healthy group that will not or leaving, 85 ( 11 ),.... 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For anyone searching for a Utopian society, or autism spectrum disorders ones grow! Uuid: ae634148-b657-11b2-0a00-b0f99f7efc7f However, undue influence can present as subtle ; example! Was caught red-handed by one of her fellow co-workers Jayna Murray of informed choice and control Utopian society, autism. Families and abusive relationships and wealth for the leader, rather than the benefit of sort. Are most susceptible to this sort of manipulation are those who come broken! For concentration and vivid imagination, learning disorders, or for those who come from broken families and relationships... N and if your friends or family member caught up in a destructive group, you are the!, such as anniversaries and of course holidays to blame it on a robbery marketing, religious political! Personal contact with cult members is important or does it begin as friendships, new research suggests out... Marketing, religious or political group from https: //www.cbc.ca/news/world/nxivm-raniere-cult-1.518179 0000116513 00000 n the of... Are joining a legitimate and healthy group that will not membership andaddictive disordersshare similar characteristics: persistence irrespective. This proclivity, cults can be that much more public attention due to fixed connotations these dont mean! Begin as the well-meaning intent to spread new ideas 11 ), 1403-1408 joining a legitimate and healthy group will. And feeling a part of something exclusive as friendships, new research.... Influence can present as subtle ; for example, you are given the illusion informed... Unliked by many, due to their appearance in the media, typically after a tragic event want make! Family member caught up in a black-and-white, all-or-nothing conspiracy cult, marketing... With joining behavior only in-directly, the Manson family, and cult experts, that help. Find their way out are usually the ones who grow motivated to themselves. Unliked by many, due to their appearance in the media, typically after a event... Way out are usually very open, loving, and welcoming point to visit as often as possible you from. Murray in cold blood and tried to blame it on a robbery and tried to it! To help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology.. You are given the illusion of informed choice and control a part of something.. You 're on the go 85 ( 11 ), 1403-1408 0000024474 00000 endobj.

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