As promised yesterday, today I am starting a short series on cults. Beginning with The Ways a Cult Works, which is based around the work of Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. and their article “Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups – Revised” as published by the International Cultic Studies Association. Also used in the writing of this article is information from Randall Watters in his blog post Eight Marks of a Mind-Control Cult.
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A cult typically begins with a leader. This leader tends to be someone that claims to have all the answers. This leader also usually uses mind-altering practices (including meditation, self-hypnosis, prayer, and debilitating routines) to help suppress doubts about their group and their own leadership ability. Most leaders will claim to
The leader will then begin to suggest/demand how members should think, act, or feel. It’s also not uncommon for a leader to claim to have a direct tie in with God, a higher power, etc and proclaim such a higher power speaks to them and only to them. This is a form of mind control that focuses on mystical manipulation. Attached to this, according to Watters blog, is the fact that if a member leaves or just happens to have bad things happen to them because they weren’t following the cult, then this is a punishment from God – likewise those that do follow when good things happen they are told that God/angels etc are watching out and over them.
The group by this time has started to become conditioned to not ask questions or think for themselves, as questions and doubts that come up are strongly discouraged and typically punished by the leader. Along with this, the leader will typically induce feelings of shame and guilt to influence and control other members. Peer pressure, by now, is playing a strong part in the cult mentality. This eventually ends with members believing that the group leader and the group leader’s beliefs are law.
More and more dedication to the group is required by the leader. So much so that often times it is suggested that group members cut ties with family members (sometimes in the form of claiming that such members are bad for them anyway and are only trying to hurt them) and devote extra time to group activities. This eventually leads to group members being urged to only associate and communicate with other group members. Some cult leaders take these steps a bit further, by shunning a member when they don’t follow a suggested rule or when they question the leader. Thus they have no-one to communicate with, feel powerless, and ultimately give in to both the leadership and peer pressure of the group. This is a powerful form of brainwashing called, as Watters puts it, “Milieu Control” or “surroundings; environment control” where the cult followers and leader isolate members from society and possible sources of people that can think critically.
As members become more and more loyal they begin to feel that there is no life except life inside the cult. The leader has made it clear that he/she/they are special, with a special mission that others can’t understand. An us versus them mentality begins to develop. Members fully understand that to be part of the “them” group is to risk punishment from a higher power and the wrath of the group they belong to. In order to increase loyalty, members are asked to spy on each other and to notify the leader(s) whenever someone has committed or sin or speaks of plans against the group or leader(s).
Throughout all of this the leader(s) is not accountable to any authority figure and there is usually a preoccupation with making money.
Due to time and money investment, along with all the mental manipulation – it can become very hard for a person to realize they are a part of a cult and break away from it. This is especially true considering most people involved with a cult no longer have access to rational thinking people outside of the group and they find themselves weakened in some cases physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
Did you ever belong to a cult? Did you notice any of these techniques at work? How did you manage to "escape"?
Now, consider checking out my links post connected to "How to Leave a Cult" for great links on understanding cults and helping others to escape a cult.
