Whenever I speak to groups about Cults, I always begin by asking this question: What kind of person would join a cult? What would your response be? Some of the usual replies are, ‘a vulnerable person’; ‘someone searching for answers’; someone searching for meaning; a loner; a person of low intelligence; or a person with low self-esteem.
After hearing the answers, I will repeat back to the group what has been said. So, a person joining a cult will be a vulnerable loner looking for meaning; someone who is a little bit thick and a ‘billy no-mates’. I then tell them that I once joined a cult! Following my confession comes a nervous laughter, after which I proceed to give a two-fold answer to my question. Question: What kind of person joins a cult? Answer: No one and Anyone.
WHAT SHALL I DO TODAY?
Bucket lists are quite popular these days. People write a list of things they want to do before they ‘kick the bucket’. Strangely, I have never seen a list which had ‘join a cult before I die’ written on it. No one wakes up on a Saturday morning and, not knowing what to do, thinks I know I will join a cult!
I want to suggest that no one joins a cult, rather a person is recruited. This means that anyone could be lured into a cultic group. For sure there are some who may be slightly more predisposed to cult suggestion and techniques but, anyone can be susceptible. Margaret Thaler Singer, who is author of the book Cults in our Midst, and a clinical psychologist says:
“While everyone is influenced and persuaded daily in various ways, vulnerability to influence fluctuates. The ability to fend off persuaders is reduced when one is exhausted, rushed, stressed, uncertain, lonely, indifferent, uninformed, aged, very young, unsophisticated, ill, brain-damaged, drugged, drunk, distracted, fatigued, frightened, or very dependent”[1]What she is saying is that there are times in our lives when we are more inclined to be influenced by cults, but no one is totally safe. Singer goes on to say that anyone can be recruited:
“The public takes care of their fear by thinking only crazies and stupid people wind up in cults. I’ve interviewed over 4000 ex-cult members. There is no one type of person who is vulnerable.”[2]RECRUITING TECHNIQUES
If people are recruited into cults, how does that happen? What are some of the techniques they may use? Here are a few of the more common methods.
It may begin with a simple invite to an event. The event will usually appear appealing and very non-threatening. For example, if it is a cult operating on a University Campus you may receive a flyer inviting you to make new friends at a barbeque. That would sound very appealing to a fresher who has just arrived to take up their study. The problem with this example is that it sounds very much like an event a bona fide group would arrange for students; and that is why cults would use this approach.
Love bombing is another technique these groups would use. The term means to shower with love and attention. We may think that would be nice but be aware that this is not genuine love and concern, it is to draw you into the cult. We should be very wary of those who do not really know us, showering us with praise!
People can find themselves recruited into a cult because the group offer something that you may find attractive. Perhaps you want to change the world or to save the world from environmental disaster. Maybe you have a desire to be financially wealthy, to start a business, to stop smoking, to find true happiness or your purpose in life. Cults will offer an array of things to entrap the unsuspecting.
Peer pressure is also a common technique amongst cultic groups. Once you find yourself within the group, pressure is applied to conform. The pressure employed will be greater or lesser depending on the nature of the cult. This pressure can involve a number of mind controlling techniques.
COERCION
Coercion, threat or use of punitive measures against states, groups, or individuals in order to force them to undertake or desist from specified actions.In his book ‘Combatting Cult Mind Control’[3] former cult member Steve Hassan offers a simple model by which a person can determine whether a group is cultic in its behaviour. He uses the word BITE as an acronym to discuss four main components found within a damaging cult.
B = BEHAVIOUR CONTROL
I = INFORMATION CONTROL
T = THOUGHT CONTROL
E = EMOTIONAL CONTROL
Hassan reasons that if any of these are present within your group, you may well be in a mind-controlling cult. Here are a few of the things he lists under each heading.
Behaviour Control
· Promote dependence and obedience
· Dictate where and with whom you live
· Control what you wear
· Sleep/Food deprivation
· Control your major decisions
Information Control
· Withhold or distort information
· Forbid you to speak to ex-members
· Discourage you from reading any literature against the group
· Encourage you to spy/report on others
Thought Control
· Change your identity/name
· Use loaded language
· Use of hypnosis/trances/chanting to indoctrinate
· Reject critical analysis of the group
Emotional Control
· Instil irrational fears of leaving the group
· Promote feelings of guilt and shame
· Shower with praise and attention
· Threaten family and friends
· Teach that there is no happiness of peace outside the group
All these techniques of mind control are labelled as ‘undue influence’ by Hassan. Sadly, I have had Christian people share with me that they have been involved in churches where they have experienced some of these techniques. It is possible that churches can exhibit some form of cultic behaviour, but they should not necessarily be labelled a destructive cult. Where churches and/or Christian leaders are found to be practising any of the above methods they should be informed with the hope that they will bring these practices to an end. No one should remain in a group that exerts undue influence.
In the next article we will continue to look at the Marks of a Cult.
[1] Undue Influence and Written Documents: Psychological Aspects, Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley, Journal of Questioned Document Examination, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1992, the official publication of the Independent Association of Questioned Document Examiners, Inc.
[2] The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1997, as cited in Margaret Thaler Singer, The Lancet, January 31, 2004
[3] Combatting Cult Mind Control: The Number 1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue and Recovery from Destructive Cults: Amazon.co.uk: Steven Hassan: 9780892813117: Books
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