Buzz
From an outsider's point of view, it's challenging to understand why someone would willingly choose to join a cult. There are countless cults across the world, with millions of followers. Psychologists and sociologists agree that there is no typical profile for those who fall into cults. In reality, it could be anyone, provided they aren't vigilant in recognizing the dangers.
10. The Tempting Recruitment Strategy
In an article for the American Psychological Association, Dr. Philip Zimbardo notes that there is no distinct ‘type’ of person who joins a cult. Many of these individuals are intelligent, rational, and well-educated. Zimbardo argues that anyone, under the right conditions, could be persuaded to join a cult. Instead of blaming the individuals who fall victim to these groups, he suggests we should focus on the seductive tactics of the cult leaders who lure people in.
Cults often present themselves as offering solutions to societal problems that others have failed to address. They provide a highly structured way of life, with clear-cut answers to questions of right and wrong. These groups are typically warm, inclusive, and full of love. There are rarely any visible warning signs that might alert someone to the fact that they are being drawn into a cult. As individuals spend more time within the group, they are promised ever-growing rewards of health, wealth, and happiness.
9. Post-Breakup Emotions
Anyone who has gone through a breakup can relate to the wide range of emotions that come with it. Some people rush into new relationships, while others take the time to enjoy their newly found independence. However, there are also individuals who, during such transitions, end up joining a cult. Dr. Alexandra Stein highlights that a common theme is the period of personal transition people experience after a breakup.
Dr. Stein, who was active in protests alongside her parents during South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, shares how her breakup led her to unknowingly join a cult in the United States. After ending her relationship, she sought a future partner who shared her dedication to social justice causes.
In her 20s, Dr. Stein sought out political groups that promised to address issues such as healthcare and other societal challenges in the United States. The group leaders orchestrated her involvement with a man within the organization, which ultimately encouraged her to remain. She would work her full-time job during the day, and then dedicate the rest of her time living and working under the direction of the organization's leader. Unbeknownst to her, she was being manipulated into isolation from her family in South Africa, becoming trapped in a political cult for many years.
8. The Pursuit of Perfection
Dr. Stanley H. Cath of Tufts University School of Medicine suggests that many individuals who join cults were raised in families that tried to instill traditional religions like Christianity or Judaism, but they rejected these teachings. These individuals are not necessarily atheists, but they refused to follow their family's conventional beliefs, believing there was something better awaiting them.
Perfectionism is a significant factor in many cults. Most cults teach their followers that they are superior to outsiders, fostering a sense of elitism that promotes an “us vs. them” mentality. This mindset often leads members to become socially isolated from the broader society. Dr. Cath observed that many of the individuals she treated had a history of blaming others for their problems rather than accepting responsibility for their own actions. These individuals were driven by a relentless pursuit of perfection, no matter the cost.
7. Searching for Meaning in Life
At some point in life, nearly everyone experiences an existential crisis. The struggle to find one's identity and purpose can be overwhelming, and for some, a cult provides a cause to embrace. Whether it involves seeking eternal life in a spiritual realm or tirelessly fighting for a political change, cults offer a sense of direction for those who may not have strong personal goals.
Dr. Adrian Furnham, in his article for Psychology Today, delves into the reasons why people are drawn to cults. He explains that as the world grows increasingly complex, periods of confusion and uncertainty prompt individuals to seek out extreme groups that provide clear, definitive answers. Many find comfort in seeing the world in black and white—good versus evil, right versus wrong. Cult leaders present these answers in a way that resonates with followers, motivating them to devote their lives to the cause. Adolf Hitler was adept at this, convincing Germans who were struggling after World War I to join the Nazi Party by offering them a sense of purpose.
6. Struggling with Low Self-Worth
One of the common methods cults employ to attract new recruits is known as 'love bombing.' In this practice, members shower individuals with excessive affection and praise. For those struggling with low self-esteem, this overwhelming display of attention can be an uplifting boost. Individuals who aren't accustomed to such adoration find it especially appealing. In religious cults, this may also come with the promise of not only receiving love from fellow members but also spiritual acceptance and affection from a higher power.
However, the moment someone begins to question the group's actions, the tone shifts. The 'love bombing' can quickly be replaced with punishment for dissent. Those who express doubts are often subjected to public shaming and social exclusion. Fearful of losing their newfound friendships and close connections, people start to hold back, refraining from speaking out. Those who are most vulnerable to this form of manipulation often come from dysfunctional families or have a history of abusive relationships.
5. Women Are More Prone to Joining
From the three young women who were persuaded into committing murder alongside Charles Manson, to the more recent case of three high school girls from England who packed their bags to join ISIS, it appears that women may be more predisposed to join cults than men.
Emma Cline, the author of the cult-centered novel *The Girls*, explains that many young women are raised to seek attention and to wait for men to notice them. In contrast, boys are taught to pursue their own ambitions and plan for the future. For many young women, joining a cult provides an opportunity to take control of their lives in a way they feel they cannot otherwise achieve. The fewer opportunities a woman has, the more likely she is to follow a compelling and charismatic cult leader.
Dr. David Bromley from Virginia Commonwealth University points out that women tend to attend religious services more frequently than men, even if it's just going to church on Sundays. Given this pattern, it’s not surprising that women are statistically more likely to join cults than men.
4. They Desire Someone to Care for Them
Many cults also establish communes, where members are promised free accommodation and meals in exchange for community service, prayer, and unwavering loyalty to the leader. For individuals seeking a Utopian society or those facing financial struggles, this may seem like an appealing choice. Professor Arthur Deikman of the University of California, San Francisco, highlights that many people are drawn to the sense of security a cult offers, particularly if they lacked sufficient love and support from their parents.
These individuals desire the protection of a parental figure who can shield them from the outside world. Rather than managing their own finances, housing, healthcare, and safety, cult leaders promise to take on these adult responsibilities in exchange for obedience. If these people have children, their whole family becomes dependent on the cult leader. This need for care and protection is a key reason why many individuals remain in the cult; they essentially find themselves in a position where their survival depends on the leader of the organization.
3. They Don’t Realize It’s a Cult
Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer dedicated her career to studying the psychology of brainwashing and cults. Most of the people who joined these organizations were unaware that they were becoming part of a cult. It’s important to note that a cult doesn’t always take the form of a religion; it can also be a political group, a business, or a lifestyle community. Singer explains that brainwashing often occurs so subtly and gradually that the members don’t even realize what is happening to them.
Dr. Singer explains, "The cult leader grows wealthier and more powerful while trying to convey to the followers that he is helping them. But the main goal is to create more power and wealth for the leader, rather than the benefit of the followers."
Critics of the athletic apparel brand Lululemon Athletica have accused the company of operating like a cult. Founder Chip Wilson sought to promote the principles of the novel Atlas Shrugged, which emphasizes that self-interest should be society's top priority. The company instills a sense of superiority among its employees, pushing them to invest their modest retail earnings in expensive self-help seminars called Landmark Forum, which can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Additionally, employees are required to wear Lululemon clothing as their uniform.
In 2011, a Lululemon employee named Brittany Norwood, unable to afford the company’s required uniform, resorted to stealing yoga pants. When she was caught by her coworker Jayna Murray, Norwood, fearing the loss of her job, murdered Murray in cold blood and tried to cover up the crime by staging a robbery. Norwood was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
2. Disillusioned with Society
Kristina Jones, who was born into a cult known as The Children of God (originally called 'Teens for Christ'), wrote for the BBC about why some people are drawn to join such groups. She explains that after her father witnessed horrific atrocities during the Vietnam War, he felt alienated from society. Her mother, a devout Christian, became attracted to the cult due to their fervent worship and constant praise of Jesus Christ. At just 16 years old, Jones left her family, seeing the cult as a more promising and exciting lifestyle than what society offered. Her parents, too, viewed the cult as a group that was truly making a difference.
The actor Joaquin Phoenix and his siblings were also born into The Children of God cult. In an interview with Playboy Magazine, he revealed that their family escaped the cult in 1977. This is why his parents changed their last name to 'Phoenix,' symbolizing their rebirth from the suppression of their former life.
1. Aiming to Save the World
Actress Leah Remini was raised in the Church of Scientology from the age of nine. She was taught that without Scientology, the world was doomed, and the fate of the planet rested in their hands. Despite witnessing numerous abuses by high-ranking church officials, she believed it was all for the greater good, as they were trying to 'clear the planet.' Scientology's official website stresses the dire state of the world, highlighting daily natural and manmade disasters. They claim that Scientology Spiritual Ministers are ready worldwide to solve any problem at a moment’s notice.
According to Tom Cruise, '(A Scientologist) has the ability to create new and better realities, and improve conditions. Being a Scientologist, you look at someone, and you know absolutely that you can help them... Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident, it’s not like anyone else. As you drive past, you know you have to do something about it, because you know you’re the only one that can really help.'
While it's true that members of Scientology have played a role in disaster relief efforts, their portrayal of this work can make it seem as though they are the only ones in the world genuinely concerned about the welfare of others. For young, idealistic individuals who are eager to make a meaningful impact, this organization can appear to be an appealing choice. With the best of intentions, someone might easily be drawn into joining the group.
