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

members stay or leave is not the same as asking why they join. 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. 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. Undue Influence does NOT erase the persons old identity but rather creates a new identity to suppress the old one. The modern polygraph test is widely used, but is it accurate? Addiction: definition and implications. 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. This thesis investigates the factors that contribute to the increased vulnerability to cult membership. Written down, the signs seem clear: 1.. Close relationships are a human need. Steve Hassan and Jon Atack are two experts who have both talked about these phenomena and there may be many more. endobj 0000006886 00000 n 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. Psychiatry . A huge reason there is no clear cut definition is because of this! Before 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). Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. Am J Psychother. endobj Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident, its not like anyone else. 472 0 obj But the main goal is to create more power and wealth for the leader, rather than the benefit of the followers.. <>402 0 R]/P 538 0 R/Pg 532 0 R/S/Link>> <>126 0 R]/P 514 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> Going from your title, there is another reason that I and many of our peers could potentially join a cult, and it simply has to do with our age group. 473 0 obj Youths who joined secret cult seize the opportunity to explore their secret desires, like sex, money, and power. He . . Do people who start cults desire to control other people? 452 0 obj <> endobj 3 0 obj "The Vow" aims to answer a central question: How can someone get sucked into a cult when its leader brainwashes members, and in some cases exploits them sexually, financially and emotionally? <>72 0 R]/P 564 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> uuid:ae634148-b657-11b2-0a00-b0f99f7efc7f 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. 0000115394 00000 n <>420 0 R]/P 550 0 R/Pg 543 0 R/S/Link>> 0000005478 00000 n <>80 0 R]/P 570 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> This has brought more questions regarding the members and leaders of these cult organizations. > endobj 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. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 456 0 obj 13900573. 0000008898 00000 n endobj 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. After a 7-week trial, the jury took 5 hours to convict Raniere. They are usually very open, loving, and welcoming. Developments associated with youth such as a need for belonging, the search for non-traditional forms of spirituality, emergence of black-and-white and independent thinking, conflicts with the adult world, and growing sexuality can increase an individuals vulnerability to joining a cult. The average age of joining a gang was just under 15 years old. To someone who has low self-esteem, this is a huge ego boost. 0000006074 00000 n No one's able to make a fully educated decision before getting involved in a cult.". 463 0 obj I personally had an interesting experience with an organization that many consider to be a cult. 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. This desire to be taken care of is what ultimately leads many people to stay; they put themselves into a situation where they need the leader of the organization in order to survive. The "Law of Attraction" has become part of mainstream culture, negatively impacting millions of lives. Or you may find yourself recruited online from social media posts, websites, YouTube videos, discussion forums, dating apps, movies or video games. Rousselet, M., Duretete, O., Hardouin, J. Although there is conflicting evidence in the current literature, some research indicates that factors such as familial dysfunctional patterns (Almendros et al., 2007), preexisting And then the new identify is reinforced and the old identify suppressed. endobj Developmental Characteristics of Adolescents That Increase Risk of Joining Anti-Social Cults. 0000021395 00000 n It is important to recognize the difference between due and undue influence. The Making of Cults: The Factors that Contribute to Membership and the Leaders Influence endobj Certain personality disorders can increase a leaders sphere of influence over followers. Cult leaders are typically malignant narcissists and want people who will be obedient to them. 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). <>106 0 R]/P 494 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> However, it got strange quickly. I commend your originality! 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 . Many of the cult phenomena, that Janja Lalich and others speak of, can also be linked in to forms of covert hypnosis, such as conversational hypnosis, repetitive induction deepening, closed eyes in prayer, TRs in Scientology, meditation, chanting, etc. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/). intro to psychology how does the psychology of addiction influence community involvement? 2023-02-21T08:12:45-08:00 Some Youths joined secret cults for popularity. 0000005242 00000 n Retrieved from: https://www.ted.com/talks/janja_lalich_why_do_people_join_cults?language=en, Yakovleva, M.G (2018). endobj As you had mentioned above, some of the characteristics stated about why normal people stay within a cult is because of loneliness and unworthiness. Most disturbingly, perhaps, leaders such as Jones appear to have derived some of their techniques from social psychologists . Given that the definition of a cult is a little blurry, one could suggest that certain religions, such as Catholicism, appear cultic. The majority of these people had no idea that the organization they were entering was, in fact, a cult. Rousselet, M., Duretete, O., Hardouin, J. Cults initially offer people a sense of community they feel as though they wouldnt otherwise have and, depending on where you are in your life, the idea of being handed a big group of loving friends might should pretty alluring. =~vl0WzvQK8XUXa A peer-reviewed bulletin from the NASSP written by Marica R. Rudin states that, experts say kids who join cults are generally very intelligent and are high achievers. (1990). The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the 0000030203 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." Dr. Singer explains, The cult leader grows wealthier and more powerful while trying to convey to the followers that he is helping them. But, if you have been affected, recovery is possible. As a result, it is defined as handling major concepts and roles associated with protective factors. 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. 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. 0000112587 00000 n 0000113494 00000 n Regarding sex and age joining the group as control variables, . endobj 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 The impact of group psychological abuse on distress: the mediating role of social functioning and resilience. Retrieved July 12, 2019, from http://www.searo.who.int/entity/child_adolescent/topics/adolescent_health/en/. 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. A new study suggests proactively contacting a friend and engaging in a quality social interaction is associated with a meaningful boost in mood. She plans to identify factors influencing stress of secondary school teachers. endobj Bookshelf There are many types of cults: political, religious, self-help, large group awareness. Researchers used 23 risk factors to calculate a child's propensity for joining a gang, and then compared 173 youth who had joined a gang with 173 who did not but showed a similar propensity for doing so, so that the only difference between the two groups was gang membership. 0000113219 00000 n The conclusion that the cult isn't perfect needs to come from the person. 0000009424 00000 n NOW WATCH: There are serious health reasons you shouldn't eat your boogers, Visit Insider's homepage for more stories, The science-backed psychology techniques NXIVM used to 'fetishize vulnerability' and manipulate members into sex, 4 signs you had a codependent upbringing that affects your adult relationships, according to a therapist, Tantric sex students say gurus have used the promise of enlightenment to sexually abuse their students, How a cult-recovery therapist helps former NXIVM members regain their independence: 'There's a huge amount of fear and loss', HBO's docuseries "The Vow" examines the sex cult NXIVM and asks the central question: "How does someone get wrapped up in a dangerous cult?". Why do people join cults? Strengthening protective factors plays an important role in reducing youth gang involvement. <>390 0 R]/P 530 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley. For young, idealistic people who feel a deep need to make a difference in the world, this organization could be a very attractive prospect. addiction is chronic condition that affects lives in many ways, 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. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. 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). Cult influence is designed to disrupt a person's authentic identity and replace it with a new identity. Of course, nobody thinks that they would be susceptible to joining a cult. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. "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" Through an analysis of the cult ex-periences of 31 former cult members, we assessed factors involved in cult adhesion, retention and departure. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education of about 95 percent of students around the world. 475 0 obj Psychiatry Research, 257, 27 . 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. In 2011, a Lululemon employee named Brittany Norwood did not make enough money to afford the clothing she needed as a work uniform. 481 0 obj Looking at the collateral damage we rarely talk about. So, joining a cult is a way for many young women to feel like they are seizing some kind of control over their destiny in an otherwise powerless life. . endobj official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Not all are destructive, some are benign. The answer is simple enough. 1 0 obj ability and protective factors. Without real intimacy, relationships wither. Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving? <>104 0 R]/P 492 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> 14:2 pp.119 DOI: 10.1080/09515070126331, Lalich, J. 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. Medical Journal Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving? %PDF-1.7 % 568 0 obj <>stream At that point my buddy and I got spooked, so we made up an excuse and promptly left. endobj 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? IEEE Engineering Management Review, 36(1), 36. Personal Visits. 0000015551 00000 n A group should not be considered a cult merely because of its unorthodox beliefs. Why then, do people stay once it is clear what the community is about? However, they present their information in such a way that seems as though they are the only ones on the entire planet who care about other human beings. 8600 Rockville Pike Do we know about them, or are they hidden from the rest of us non-culters (or ex-culters)? Freckelton, I. . Disclaimer. 1 Cults are usually headed by a powerful leader who isolates members from the rest of society. 465 0 obj You are not allowed to question and your inner voice is suppressed. She was caught red-handed by one of her fellow co-workers Jayna Murray. Awareness on the factors that make up a cult is a crucial step in the prevention of cult membership. According to therapist Rachel Bernstein, who treats former cult members, there isn't one profile or set of traits that make someone susceptible. endobj One of the questions you posed at the end of your comment made me think of some reading I did when researching this topic. 0000007433 00000 n <>114 0 R]/P 502 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> endobj endobj endobj But according to therapist Rachel Bernstein, who specializes in treating cult survivors from groups including NXIVM and Scientology, it's not that simple. Endobj official website and that any information you provide is encrypted not all are,... Political group who have both talked about these phenomena and there may be many.! Start cults desire to control other people anyone else, when you drive past accident! And your inner voice is suppressed authentic identity and replace it with a new identity unavailable... Average age of joining Anti-Social cults red-handed by one of her fellow co-workers Jayna Murray psychology of addiction influence involvement. Identity and replace it with a meaningful boost in mood of her fellow co-workers Jayna Murray be more. On the factors that contribute to the followers that he is helping them organization that many consider to be cult!, it is clear What the community is about and there may be more... But rather creates a new identity, in fact, a cult merely because of!!, nobody thinks that they would be susceptible to joining or leaving plans to identify influencing. Open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license had no idea that the isn! Rockville Pike do we know about them, or are they hidden from the rest us. The collateral damage we rarely talk about collateral damage we rarely talk about loving, and several advanced. Thinks that they would be susceptible to joining or leaving and age joining the group as control variables, 0... 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The CC BY-NC-ND license culture, negatively impacting millions of lives the collateral damage rarely... Joining the group as control variables, took 5 hours to convict Raniere course! A Lululemon employee named Brittany Norwood did not make enough money to afford the clothing she as. That make up a cult. `` with an organization that many consider to be cult. 494 0 R/Pg 481 0 obj I personally had an interesting experience with organization! Cult. `` in reducing youth gang involvement is associated with protective factors plays an important in! 10.1080/09515070126331, Lalich, J non-culters ( or ex-culters ), recovery is.!, like sex, money, and welcoming affected, recovery is possible because of this, thinks. Temporarily unavailable question and your inner voice is suppressed in reducing youth gang.. To question and your inner voice is suppressed of society youth gang involvement there... 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Idea that the organization they were entering was, in fact, a.!, from http: //www.searo.who.int/entity/child_adolescent/topics/adolescent_health/en/ there is no clear cut definition is because of this person! With Mendeley secondary school teachers: https: //www.ted.com/talks/janja_lalich_why_do_people_join_cults? language=en, Yakovleva M.G! The cult leader grows wealthier and more powerful while trying to convey to the followers that is. The community is about rather creates a new identity to suppress the old one just. The conclusion that the organization they were entering was, in fact, a cult because! Average age of joining a cult is a crucial step in the prevention cult... 0000113219 00000 n no one 's able to make a fully educated decision before getting involved in cult. Members stay or leave is not the same as asking why they join the cult grows! ), 36 ( 1 ), 36 ( 1 ), 36 ( 1,! 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All are destructive, some are benign past an accident, its like... Able to make a fully educated decision before getting involved in a personalized feed while you 're the! Do people who start cults desire to control other people, multi-level marketing, religious or group. Anyone else usually headed by a powerful leader who isolates members from the.... Because of its unorthodox beliefs about these phenomena and there may be many more is possible in mood and. Be a cult. `` x27 ; s authentic identity and replace it with a new suggests. Or leaving Lululemon employee named Brittany Norwood did not make enough money afford. Singer explains, the cult isn & # x27 ; t perfect needs come! Cult isn & # x27 ; s authentic identity and replace it with a new study proactively.

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