(10-Minute read)
In this article, we will not look at the types of cults but rather start with the essential elements that typify a cult. Have you ever wondered how cults began, or why people seem to gravitate towards these isolated groups? Cults could be an isolated group or community that is closed to the general public but open to conformists ready to join their movement. Cults could also be an ambitious group that strives to get more numbers being openly evangelistic about the task. Cults usually work well with enthusiastic and extroverted people driving the agenda of the leader/s.[1]
In this short article, I will share a few dynamics that will answer the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of people joining cults. I have refrained from pointing to a specific cult, but also tried to give some core tenets of these groups and why people choose to join them. Cults could be complex communities thriving on a set system controlled by a person surrounding him/herself with a group of choice people that have access to the Leader and drives his agenda. Alexandra Stein, an associate lecturer in social psychology at Birkbeck, University of London writes;
“As the organisation grows, it develops concentric, onion-like layers with the Leader in the centre, providing the driving movement. There might be several layers – from the Leader, to the lieutenants, to the elite inner circle, to other varying levels of membership, down to mere fellow-travelers or sympathisers… ‘In the centre of the movement, as the motor that swings it into motion, sits the Leader. He is separated from the elite formation by an inner circle of the initiated who spread around him an aura of impenetrable mystery.'” [2]
Here are some reasons why people join a cult.
A dynamic self-centered group or leader/leadership.[3]
There are two intrinsic reasons we are attracted to an individual or a group of people. Austrian Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud was the first to discover what was known as “transference” (German: Übertragung), which is a theoretical phenomenon where there was an unconscious projection of feelings from one entity to another. An individual would subconsciously transfer deep feelings of adulation or reverence onto another person they esteemed (parental, pastoral, paternal, or maternal). Dave Breese writes;
“One of the marks of a cult is that it elevates the person and the words of a human leader to a messianic level. The predictable characteristic of a member of a cult is that he will soon be quoting his Leader… A messianic human leader has used the powers of his intelligence or personality and with them imposed his ideas and directives on the ignorant… All too often converts to a religion stand in inordinate awe of the person who brought them into that faith.”[4]
The other reason members are drawn to a cult group could be their desire to fit in. In a world where the norm is to belong or achieve something higher than ourselves, the cult provides an environment where the individual can accomplish this. In a cult environment, the cult leader seems to ‘have it made’ and offer only themselves and their teachings as the objects through whom anyone can attain mobility.
Have a special revelation or extraordinary power
A cult leader usually claims some external power or potency to legitimize their role. Amongst, Christian cults they can usually refer to an external sign or even claim a special impartation where they have been ‘anointed’. In some instances, when the cult leader/s have been challenged, these subjective experiences would be used against the critic and they would be questioned as to what experience or impartation they had to give them the right to challenge the cult leader/s. “Touch not God anointed” is a phrase usually used to belittle any claims against the cult leader/s. Cults nearly always start with a unique ability, a new technique, a subjective experience, or a liberating act where they can bring utopia to the world. The individual becomes enslaved to the convictions and demands of the leader/s and ultimately lose any sense of individuality in pursuit of these teachings of the leader/s. Scholar David A. De Silva cautions that;
“Once authority becomes located in the teacher’s alleged access to the divine, it is quite difficult to bring external, objective standards to bear on evaluating their claims.”[5]
Follow, don’t question your leader/s
Groupthink or collective thinking drives the aptitude of the people. Socially, a controlled environment allows people to find themselves and to be more secure. As a result, the Leader has a “conform” or be “deformed” policy. You can question to inform yourself concerning the boundaries or teaching of the group, but you should never question or doubt the teacher himself. Cult leaders don’t like questions that would expose them or make them appear vulnerable. They do not tolerate any attachments to anyone inside or on the outside of the group but themselves. Alexandra Stein notes;
“physiologically, the victim is engaged in an effort to manage their cortisol or anxiety levels by seeking proximity to a safe haven, but never succeeding in attaining adequate comfort. It is for this reason that we can predict that cultic systems will attempt to interfere with and control any alternative attachment relationships a person might have. To fail to do so would allow the follower to find a safe haven elsewhere and potentially escape the emotional and cognitive control of the group.”
When challenged, he would ban and even publicly denounce or belittle an individual or group for challenging him/them. They also believe themselves to have a special calling or unique message that should be upheld if the individual is to experience success personally or spiritually. The leader/leadership would even project a supposed humility where they appeal to their adherents’ sensibilities to affirm the notion that they possess the unique message or technique. People are usually told that they are free… if they do what the cult leader/s say. But usually, this emphasis is not added. Because a cult stems from a narcissistic personality or vain mentality, there seems to be an inner group or elect few that become privileged and have direct access to the central Leader or leadership.[6] The cult leader/leadership will always have some dirt on any divergent that left the group and will use it against the individual/s if they dare to denounce the cult.
Be pragmatic (do)
Purpose is an incredible motivator. Cults thrive on giving people a mission or goal to add value to the ideology of the group or vision of the leader/s. One way to control a group is to keep them busy. Cults might have laborious daily duties required from their communities or even prolonged conferences where they affirm the reality of the group and the centrality of the Leader and his message. Routines and consistency are essential! Alexandra Stein, an associate lecturer in social psychology at Birkbeck, University of London, relates her experience and recall:
“As I ‘developed’ over the years (as our groupspeak put it) it was revealed to me that ‘struggling with the practice’ would help us transform ourselves so as to be ready to contribute to some brave new world where we would finally fight for liberation of the oppressed.”[7]
Cults thrive when people are busy. So, the individuals’ liberty is proclaimed but subjectively replaced by the margins of what the cult leader/s have stipulated. A cult leader or group needs to have a prevailing ideology that fuels the cause of the individual group. The leader ‘programs’ the individual members and train their cognitive reflexes to react to the outside world negatively. The group collectively reflects the ideology of the cult leader/s and maintain the status quo from a deduction of the central teachings. Defiance against the group is deviance against the Leader and vice versa. Insubordination is a cardinal sin and should be avoided at all costs. Without the cults assumed creed or teaching, there could be no objective standard by which the cult leader can control his people.
You belong, now conform. [8]
You don’t just belong; you share a dominant ideology. Through prolonged exposure to the demands of the cult leader, adherents cannot make personal an autonomous decision without consulting the cult leader/s. First, this might be a suggestion for the alleged ‘safety’ of the individual but becomes a fact the individual becomes a more integrated member of the group. Alexandra Stein writes;
“Totalism works because ordinary people – at least those without prior knowledge of the controlling methods of totalism – are subject to the coercive manipulations that leaders employ. If the situation is strong and isolating enough, without any clear escape route, then the average person can cave into the traumatising pressures of brainwashing.”[9]
Remember! What is perceived as the normative standard is what has been stated by the group as a result of the teaching of the individual Leader. This goal is achieved through a prolonged period of ‘mind control’ or ‘conditioning’ where the individual is told they belong, and groupthink becomes the norm. Steven Hassan writes that;
“Even if the person gets along through deliberate play-acting at first, the act eventually becomes real. They take on a totalistic ideology that, when internalized, supersedes their prior belief system. Ultimately, the person usually experiences-and shows-a radical change and a drastic interruption of their life course.”[10]
We are right, they are wrong (Us vs. Them)
Collective narcissism is fueled by a strong wish for recognition, collectivism, and a desire to belong. Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London writes:
“The central feature of narcissism is emotional dependence on admiration and recognition by others. When that admiration is sought on behalf of a group, narcissism becomes collective. The two forms of narcissism are not strongly related, however. Individual narcissists are not automatically collective narcissists.”
Cult leaders always appeal to the sensibilities and susceptibilities of the group and manipulate them to affirm everyday reality in the way he has portrayed it. The assumed message usually stems from the nobility of the leader/s message that has the potential to transform the world. In 1952, social psychologist Solomon Asch wrote:
‘The greater man’s ignorance of the principles of his social surroundings, the more subject is he to their control, and the greater his knowledge of their operations and their necessary consequences, the freer he can become with regard to them.’[11]
Anything contra the teaching of the cult leader cannot be actual, because the leader/s assumed access to the Divine merits what should be the conclusive objective standard that predetermines the will of the people. To raise your hand against the decree given by the cults assumed revelation will be interpreted as an attempt against the objective intention of the cult leader and even the Divine. This inevitably creates an “us vs. them” mentality where the individual group pitches themselves against any other individuals or group of people that contradict their claims or deny their cult leader/s. Julia Layton wrote an article, “How cults work” and she says;
“Cults cut off members from the outside world (and even each other) to produce intense introspection, confusion, loss of perspective, and a distorted sense of reality. The members of the cult become the person’s only social contact and feedback mechanism.”[12]
Create your meaning of words
Cults might use a range of words that seem to be defined by the common understanding of its meaning, but they are rather loaded terms that are interpreted considering the cult leaders’ teaching or knowledge of reality. Robert J. Lifton says:
“The language of the totalist environment is characterized by the thought-terminating cliché. The most far-reaching and complex of human problems are compressed into brief, highly selective, definitive-sounding phrases, easily memorized, and easily expressed. They become the start and finish of any ideological analysis.” [13]
The cult’s definition of words could create an assumed unity amongst the group where the revelation of the leader/s stipulate the use of certain words predicts or communicate the reality they try to predicate. Author and Cult expert Steven Hassan writes;
“Mormons use terms like “eternal perspective,” “sealing,” “burning in the bosom,” and “peculiar” in ways that differ from their common meanings. Jehovah’s Witnesses often talk about “pioneers,” “new light,” and “the truth” in their teachings. Sometimes the words are unique to the cult itself, like the “thetans” spoken of by Scientologists– a group that has not one but two dictionaries of terminology that is to be learned by followers. Whether the words are completely new to the follower or unique to the cult itself, loaded language essentially rewires the brain to internalize the ideology of the cult.”[14]
Be profound…. or just weird.
The Cult leader/s should always say enough to be controversial, keeping their people seeking but not thinking. Cults can be weird, and sometimes outright crazy. Some cults can be cautious and even seemingly disciplined. But cults almost always contradict the standards of normative society. They might dress in uniform colors, might renounce families, and reject any typical integration in society. They usually adopt the morality of the Leader and live consistently with the lifestyle that he validated or assumed. Alexandra Stein writes;
“The extreme disconnect leaves the follower helpless to understand what is really happening. ‘If you try to get clarification, they say it’s not something you can understand … Anything you bring up from your own background is deconstructed. […] After a while, things that seemed preposterous seem normal,'”[15]
In some cults, the cult leader could take more than one wife, there could be ‘open relationships’ sexually, and there could even be an illegal activity like drug abuse, abuse of children and even adult members, etc. Whatever is normative is only as a result of the cult leader/s communicated prerogative.
Deny that you are a cult[16]
Cults will usually lament that “we are not like them Jonestown peoples” or, “we are not a sex-cult like that Rajneesh group.” Cults will show how they are different from the other group oblivious of the fact that you never use what is crooked to measure what is straight. Cults will even agree that they might be a cult, and then deny any accusation that this is so. They might also pit themselves against a healthy society and then redefine and water down why it is still ok to be ‘different.’ Cult members usually have a deep-seated victim mentality, and verily accept responsibility or affirm the reality of any delinquent behavior from the group or its leader/s. Denial is simply the inability to see the truth without facing the facts. When an individual denies or even covers-up for the cult or cult leader/s it clearly shows that they are firmly in his grasp. A lack or even any allowance of critical thinking without looking at the facts will lead the adherent to stay solidly placed under the authority of the cult or leader/s.
Validate people’s fears
Cults may be apocalyptical, but any form of distress is a great motivator, and the cult leader/s knows how to use it effectively. Cult leaders will usually exaggerate and even embellish current news events and distinguished issues in normative societies to affirm their exclusive teachings and again state the necessity of the group’s existence. In an interview with Psychology today[17] Alexandria Stein comments that;
“The same dynamic that occurs in domestic violence also applies to cults. First, a person is lured to a group or person who seemingly shares their interests and concerns. They may then be subject to a kind of love-bombing, given extreme amounts of attention, which can feel flattering and seem the sign of having found a safe place. Then begins an attempt to isolate the person from friends and family. The potential recruit becomes engulfed in a new system and out of touch with their old, known network. That paves the way for the group to engage in “terror” tactics, arousing a sense of threat, whether it’s fear of the apocalypse, fear of being criticized, fear of the outside world, or some other group-specific fear. I believe attachment theory provides an excellent theoretical approach for understanding brainwashing, and it holds that people run to a haven when they are afraid. If the group has been successful, the recruit, now having had fear instilled by the group, runs to the only shelter available—the group itself.”[18]
They blend the ideology of the group with these current events and allow for the adherents to make their conclusions. People usually never leave the group because there is the underlying perception that if they leave the group, they will become part of the problem and eventually must face their demise. The only option outside of the cult is the cult itself.
Affirm the Leader often.
For any cult, the epitome of vested authority always revolves around the cult leader/s. The validation of the group and the adorning of an individual clearly defines what the group is about and secures at least a form of consistency, which allows for conformist stability. “Remember why we are here, because of the leader/s and their sacrifice to give up their lives to teach us their great enlightened truths,” or so they are told. Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton wrote a paper titled “Cult Formation” and noted;
“A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship [with] no meaningful accountability… becomes the single most defining element of the group and its source of power and authority.”[19]
Everything stems from the leader/s. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The final authority is always the will of the Leader, and the newest revelation usually affirms the reality of these leaders ‘specialness.’ The group generally assumes that total control should be the leaders. Alexandra Stein makes a critical statement;
“Not all leaders want to get rich, gain sexual favours, or grab political power. But all want utter control over others. Money, sex, free labour, or loyal combatants are all fringe benefits, and certainly, most leaders take advantage of these, some in a big way. But absolute control over their relationships is the key.”[20]
Conclusion:
Well, there you have it. A basic understanding of the ins and outs of cults. If you have been affected by a cult, or even escaped one, please add a comment so that the readers can hear your voice and read your story. Hopefully, this article will see cults as confused humans that need our love and support.
Selah.
Rudolph P. Boshoff.
Sources:
[1] PSY 533. (2017). L09 Five-Factor Model of Personality. Retrieved from: https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1834796/pages/I09-five-factor-model-of-personality?module_item_id=21902247
[2] https://aeon.co/essays/how-cult-leaders-brainwash-followers-for-total-control
[3] https://www.livescience.com/65164-what-cult-leaders-have-in-common.html
[4] Know the marks of cults: “Presumptuous messianic leadership.” Pg.48-49.
[5] An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & ministry formation. Pg.873-874.
[6] Surugue, L. (2017, January 23). Cult leaders: What makes people like David Koresh so successful at getting people to follow them? Retrieved March 23, 2017, from http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/cult-leaders-what-makes-people-like-david-koresh-so-successful-getting-people-follow-them-1555073
[7] https://aeon.co/essays/how-cult-leaders-brainwash-followers-for-total-control
[8] Induced Dependency – Cults demand absolute, unquestioning devotion, loyalty, and submission. A cult member’s sense of self is systematically destroyed. Ultimately, feelings of worthlessness and “evil” become associated with independence and critical thinking, and feelings of warmth and love become associated with unquestioning submission. The Leader typically controls every minute of a member’s waking time. There is no free time to think or analyze. Members are told what to eat, what to wear, how to feed their children when to sleep … the member is removed from all decision-making. Any special talents the member has are immediately devalued and criticized in order to confuse the member’s sense of self-worth. Any doubts, assertiveness, or remaining ties to the outside world are punished by the group through criticism, guilt, and alienation. Questions and doubts are systematically “turned around” so that the doubter feels wrong, worthless, “evil” for questioning. The member is loved again when he renounces those doubts and submits to the will of the Leader. The member may be deprived of adequate sustenance and/or sleep, so the mind becomes muddled. The Leader may randomly alternate praise and love with scorn and punishment to keep the member off-balance and confused and instill immense self-doubt. The Leader may offer occasional gifts and special privileges to encourage continued submission. The member may be pressured to publicly confess sins, after which he is viciously ridiculed by the group for being evil and unworthy. He is loved again when he acknowledges that his devotion to the cult is the only thing that will bring him salvation.
[9] https://aeon.co/essays/how-cult-leaders-brainwash-followers-for-total-control
[10] Combating cult mind control, Pg.108.
[11] https://conwayhall.org.uk/ethicalrecord/cults-and-brainwashing-the-hidden-and-not-so-hidden-epidemic/
[12] https://people.howstuffworks.com/cult4.htm
[13] Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of ‘Brainwashing in China. link: https://www.amazon.com/Thought-Reform-Psychology-Totalism-brainwashing-ebook/dp/B006M9RZQA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
[14] https://freedomofmind.com/use-of-words-loaded-language-and-thought-control-of-believers/
[15] https://aeon.co/essays/how-cult-leaders-brainwash-followers-for-total-control
[16] https://www.ted.com/talks/diane_benscoter_how_cults_rewire_the_brain
[17] https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/blog/the-author-speaks/201702/terror-love-and-brainwashing
[18] Dread – Once complete dependence is established, the member must retain the Leader’s good favor, or else his life falls apart. The Leader may punish doubt or insubordination with physical or emotional trauma. Once all ties to the outside world have been cut, the member feels like his only family is the group, and he has nowhere else to go. Access to necessities depends on the Leader’s favor. The member must “behave,” or he may not get food, water, social interaction, or protection from the outside world. The member may believe that only group members are “saved,” so if he leaves, he will face eternal damnation.
[19] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/27/cults-definition-religion
[20] https://aeon.co/essays/how-cult-leaders-brainwash-followers-for-total-control
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