Though it's difficult to generalize the type of person who'd get wrapped up in a cult, Bernstein said those who want to heal from childhood or other past trauma and those who want to become more productive and successful in their careers might be swayed to join an insidious organization. | According to an article written for the American Psychological Association by Dr. Philip Zimbardo, there is no type of person who joins a cult. 0000005958 00000 n I have to agree with you when you mention that it has become an assumption for people to make regarding people joining a cult being mentally ill. endobj 0000010356 00000 n 0000012565 00000 n > These, in turn, increase susceptibility to being recruited by a cult unless there are strong critical thinking, media literacy and good supportive network, which can help a person stay grounded. <>386 0 R]/P 528 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> 453 0 obj There are thousands of cults in existence, with millions of members all over the world. 0000024474 00000 n Psychiatry Research, 257, 27-33. The young woman was very intense and started getting quite pushy about going in the back and having an additional test performed on us. 0000114347 00000 n An individual's personality and life goals aren't the only things that make them vulnerable to cults, according to Bernstein. endobj Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 8600 Rockville Pike %%EOF <>84 0 R]/P 572 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> Your email address will not be published. Honors Theses. 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. Just about everyone who has ended a romantic relationship can relate to both the positive and negative emotions that go along with a new chapter in life. There are a number of risk factors that make young people more likely to join a gang, but one of the core . To someone who has low self-esteem, this is a huge ego boost. 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). Despite the fact that she witnessed so many atrocities committed by high-ranking church members, she still thought it was for the greater good since they were trying to clear the planet. On Scientologys official website, the organization emphasizes how terrible the world is, with both natural and manmade disasters occurring on a daily basis. Rousselet, M., Duretete, O., Hardouin, J. Russian Education and Society, 60(3) p. 269-277. . Many cults are rooted in a religion of some kind and build their practice around one, especially charismatic leader. > individual. Unlike most people who find . Jones opened his . 461 0 obj What exactly is so special about them? <><>407 0 R]/P 541 0 R/Pg 532 0 R/S/Link>> (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/). Spiritual Abuse Among Cult Ex-members: A Descriptive Phenomenological Psychological Inquiry Glasscock, Deborah Susan . Beware of thinking that you are immune from cult . 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). Personally, I find it very apt. The average age of joining a gang was just under 15 years old. 0000116675 00000 n . After she ended her relationship, she wanted to find a future partner who shared her passion for social justice. 0000005121 00000 n Although there is conflicting evidence in the current literature, some research indicates that factors such as familial dysfunctional patterns (Almendros et al., 2007), preexisting endobj 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. )@ R5JL[*,}JimhKzeP HDEkl7p)K6`9aB ss>9p DrR\&MK=fRaWamn(5L6XrR(>$z;?~!W;n^C2T>eri\h*@(_e,2E5!yDay Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer devoted her lifes work to studying the psychology of brainwashing and cults. Each one has its own lingo, Bernstein said. This term is also used for a new religious movement or other social group which is defined by . 475 0 obj It would be easy for someone with the best intentions to join the organization. She felt that her only option was to steal yoga pants. endobj model of cult membership would be multifactorial, involving vulner- methodologists, sociologists and experts in the eld of cults. 0000010964 00000 n 452 117 450 0 obj 470 0 obj 0000008898 00000 n "Sometimes people are just wanting to connect with people they think they have something in common with, and a cult provides instant community and love-bombing and a language that suddenly you all speak," Bernstein said, referring to the jargon cults often create for their members. It becomes increasingly difficult to speak up about practices of the cult when for other members they are commonplace. I personally had an interesting experience with an organization that many consider to be a cult. Possible situational vulnerabilities include illness, the death of a loved one, breakup of an important relationship, loss of a job, or moving to another city, state or country. endobj %PDF-1.7 % 0000006536 00000 n Dr. Singer explains, The cult leader grows wealthier and more powerful while trying to convey to the followers that he is helping them. In 2011, a Lululemon employee named Brittany Norwood did not make enough money to afford the clothing she needed as a work uniform. How do you think this impacts their own social development? 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- <>416 0 R]/P 548 0 R/Pg 543 0 R/S/Link>> endobj studies were more widely acknowledged, public perception of cult members would become less negative. Cult leaders are desperate to trick you into joining. "A lot of people will say, 'How could you have gotten involved?' Written down, the signs seem clear: 1.. 0000045440 00000 n There are almost never any obvious red flags to warn people that they may unwittingly end up in a cult. 471 0 obj I find it interesting that Rousselet et al., (2017) compare cult membership to addiction, which is supported by Goodman (1990). After a 7-week trial, the jury took 5 hours to convict Raniere. 10 Ways to Tell if Your Relationship Suffers From Burnout, 24 Dimensions of Compatibility in Long-Term Couples, I Cant Live Without Her: When Grieving Men Die, It Is Now 50 Years Since Gay People Were Cured", Key Tips for Blending Families After a Divorce, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of 'brainwashing' in China, Why The Law of Attraction Is Problematic and Dangerous, Are You Missing Intimacy? 13900573. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! It started off innocuously but started getting very personal very quickly. Home Close. 0000007740 00000 n Awareness on the factors that make up a cult is a crucial step in the prevention of cult membership. 445 0 obj as well as other partner offers and accept our. Discover Why and What It Requires, 10 Ways Childhood Trauma Can Manifest in Adult Relationships, Violent Media and Aggressive Behavior in Children, Unloved Daughters and the Elusive Nature of Friendship, Spoiler Alert: Why Some People Need to Know How It Ends, The Benefits of In-Person School vs Remote Learning, Cultivating a Lifelong Love of Learning in the 21st Century. 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. Kristina Jones, a woman born into a cult called The Children of God (Originally named Teens for Christ), wrote for the BBC about why some people decide to join these groups in the first place. 456 0 obj Do we know about them, or are they hidden from the rest of us non-culters (or ex-culters)? The actor Joaquin Phoenix and his siblings were also born into The Children of God cult. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press. <>427 0 R]/P 554 0 R/Pg 543 0 R/S/Link>> 0000020833 00000 n Norwood was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole. The conclusion that the cult isn't perfect needs to come from the person. Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving?. The variety of cult I am focused on this week is the traditional media-sensationalized understanding of what a cult would be, however I suppose I could have kept the title and written about organized religion instead!! According to Tom Cruise, (A Scientologist) has the ability to create new and better realities, and improve conditions. Almost everyone goes through an existential crisis at some point in their lifetime. Pulls are features that attract youth. Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of 'brainwashing' in China by Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, Combating Cult Mind Control: The Guide to Protection, Rescue and Recovery from Destructive Cults, Opening Our Minds: avoiding abusive relationships and authoritarian groups by Jon Atack. Tully Worron Dr. Greanoff Lakewood High School The issue of cults leads one to question PMC Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. It is completely fascinating. That being said, I had my own preconceived impressions before even walking through the doors. While we are at it, let's shatter another myth: people who join cults are not stupid, weird, crazy, weak-willed, or neurotic. Additionally, certain personality disorders and characteristics, such as Antisocial Personality Disorder and Dependent Personality Disorder, can increase ones vulnerability to joining and staying in a cult. <><>373 0 R]/P 518 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> These factors could be individual, en- vironmental and/or linked to the characteristics of the addiction object, 2.3.1. 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. As you drive past, you know you have to do something about it, because you know youre the only one that can really help.. 0000003715 00000 n 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? 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?". endobj 474 0 obj 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. The company teaches their employees that they are superior to others. About | The longer they stay, the more they receive promises for health, wealth, and well-being. 0000115394 00000 n Many people find comfort in seeing the world in terms of good and evil, right and wrong. The use of hypnotic altered trance states, that can covertly make people as suggestable as a fully induced hypnosis patient, are not well understood, researched, peer viewed, etc, as of yet. 0000008155 00000 n 455 0 obj 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. - Read online for free. Jonestown, they say, offers important lessons for psychology, such as the power of situational and social influences and the consequences of a leader using such influences to destructively manipulate others' behavior. 0000035424 00000 n 0000006074 00000 n MeSH 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. 572 0 obj <>420 0 R]/P 550 0 R/Pg 543 0 R/S/Link>> Cult Membership What Factors Contribute to Joining Or Leaving? endobj The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education of about 95 percent of students around the world. 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. "So the adage, 'He or she speaks my language,' it kind of makes you feel like you have some things in common with these people. 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. National Library of Medicine 466 0 obj I found the topic you chose to be very interesting. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the We assumed that, as in the case of addiction disorders, former cult members exhibit vulnerability and protective factors for cult commitment and membership. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/nxivm-raniere-cult-1.518179 0 It gives them license to do anything . Sign up for notifications from Insider! 463 0 obj 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. 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? 1995;23(2):239-48. Retrieved from: https://www.insider.com/i-grew-up-in-a-cult-and-i-can-tell-you-why-normal-people-join-them-2018-3, Lalich, J (2017). He claims that anyone, under the right conditions, could be convinced to join a cult. Steve Hassan and Jon Atack are two experts who have both talked about these phenomena and there may be many more. 0000006190 00000 n 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. 0000005242 00000 n Grand Canyon University ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2019. 0000010298 00000 n People stay for many of the same reasons they join, they enjoy being a part of the group, and they have an inability to question it due to social pressure. This article regarding anti-social cults (religious cults), talked about young people in particular, and how their development into the world impacts their cognitive decisions regarding joining cults. Rousselet, M., Duretete, O., Hardouin, J. In any event, the exit . endobj 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. 0000020860 00000 n (Rousselet, 2017) Of the 45% that reported mood disorders, 32.3% had depressive symptoms that are listed as a direct factor as to why they committed to the cult in the first place (Rousselet, 2017). Retrieved from: https://doi-org.ezproxy.uleth.ca/10.1080/10609393.2018.1451678. 457 0 obj 477 0 obj 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. <>78 0 R]/P 568 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> Dr. Adrian Furnham wrote about the many reasons why people join cults for Psychology Today. 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. 467 0 obj Everyone has vulnerabilities. What made them decide to organize a cult, what kind of influence do they have that makes people so susceptible to joining a cult? http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.018, 0165-1781/ 2017 The Authors. 440 0 obj Brainwashing:: Cult leaders are known to repeat various lies and distortions until members find it difficult to distinguish between reality and cult life. The aim of this study was to identify the vulnerability and protec-tive factors for cult membership. Rather, it's a mixture of wanting self-improvement and community, as well as timing. 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?). Experts who have both talked about these phenomena and there may be many more about them a huge boost... 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