Legitimating New Religions. 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. 0000114347 00000 n <>382 0 R]/P 526 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> 0000112713 00000 n In the summer of 2010, when I had just turned 18, I took a trip to Vancouver. For anyone searching for a Utopian society, or for those who are struggling economically, this can seem like an attractive option. What Makes Someone Join a Cult? For example, some cult members report leaving cults after hospital stays. 0000020771 00000 n 0000116153 00000 n The first step in keeping you and your loved ones safe is learning more about what a cult is, how they work, and the lasting serious after-effects of being involved with one. Close. So, instead of blaming the victims, he insists that people need to focus on how the founder of the organization managed to be so seductive, that they recruited their followers in the first place. <>106 0 R]/P 494 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> The types of people who are most susceptible to this sort of manipulation are those who come from broken families and abusive relationships. ). Alternatively he could sleep in one of the many small mosques, whether attached to big houses or not. Through an analysis of the cult ex-periences of 31 former cult members, we assessed factors involved in cult adhesion, retention and departure. Rousselet, M. (2017) Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving? Honors Theses. Psychiatry Research, 257, 27-33. <> 0000115749 00000 n endobj (1998) Cults, calamities and psychological consequences, Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 5:1, 1-46, DOI: 10.1080/13218719809524918 https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719809524918  Rousselet, M. (2017) Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving? Cult membership: what factors contribute to joining or leaving? 6 0 obj Posted by 1 year ago. This was my initial impression of The Church of Scientology center. Jane said she struggled forming deep relationships with other women throughout her life, so when she heard how close-knit NXIVM members were, and that there was a women-only group she could join, she became interested. endobj In fact, many of these people are well-educated, sensible, and logical. Do we know about them, or are they hidden from the rest of us non-culters (or ex-culters)? Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. 0000046995 00000 n Going from your title, there is another reason that I and many of our peers could potentially join a cult, and it simply has to do with our age group. Cult membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving? 6. HBO's new docuseries "The Vow" about NXIVM, a sex cult covered up as a multi-level marketing company that sold self-improvement courses, has brought conversations about cults to the forefront. 0000002636 00000 n He might also be able to learn the long prayers for the dhikri of a particular sufi group, tariqa, and join in the Friday afternoon recitations, becoming a new member of a young coterie of Sufi students and the pious. Isolation, lack of touch, social distancing, Recruitment into extreme conspiracy theories and cults/scams, Relationships: friends, family, community, Psychosomatic symptoms (headaches, backaches, asthma, skin problems). Bookshelf I would seriously question the validity of Rudin, and I think especially with the prominence of social media in current society, more research should be conducted on contemporary cults, youth susceptibility, and social media. 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. 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. Link to article . endobj Developmental Characteristics of Adolescents That Increase Risk of Joining Anti-Social Cults. 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. 2023-02-21T08:12:45-08:00 Adolescence, 33, 709-714. <> 458 0 obj Jonestown, (November 18, 1978), location of the mass murder-suicide of members of the California-based Peoples Temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, Jim Jones, in Jonestown agricultural commune, Guyana. 0000010434 00000 n More and more, I am seeing clients who have been abused by use of hypnosis and NLP (neurolinguistic programming)especially by unqualified "life coaches." As we know, addiction is complicated, and there are many theories that attempt to explain this phenomenon. <>410 0 R]/P 544 0 R/Pg 543 0 R/S/Link>> https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/844, Home | It could also be a political group, business, or lifestyle cult. 453 0 obj 2 0 obj To someone who has low self-esteem, this is a huge ego boost. I grew up in a cult and I can tell you why normal people join them. 0000116843 00000 n It is completely fascinating. 0000046135 00000 n endstream We signed up for the personality test and began filling out a questionnaire. It started off innocuously but started getting very personal very quickly. Not all are destructive, some are benign. 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. Being a Scientologist, you look at someone, and you know absolutely that you can help them . Disclaimer. But according to therapist Rachel Bernstein, who specializes in treating cult survivors from groups including NXIVM and Scientology, it's not that simple. Developments associated with youth such as a need for belonging, the search for non-traditional forms of spirituality, emergence of black-and-white and independent thinking, conflicts with the adult world, and growing sexuality can increase an individuals vulnerability to joining a cult. 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. We assumed that, as in the case of addiction disorders, former cult members exhibit vulnerability and protective factors for cult commitment and membership. 0000018327 00000 n Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley. The easier it is to leave a cult, the more likely the person will leave, so make your place be easy to access. It is also known as mind control or thought reform. <> Without real intimacy, relationships wither. She was caught red-handed by one of her fellow co-workers Jayna Murray. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.018. endobj The .gov means its official. Sociodemographic characteristics that is, the cultic group. After she ended her relationship, she wanted to find a future partner who shared her passion for social justice. endobj Cult influence is designed to disrupt a person's authentic identity and replace it with a new identity. <>96 0 R]/P 486 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> 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. Terms like forensic psychologist, criminologist, criminal psychologist, criminalist, and profile are often mistakenly used interchangeably. 1 0 obj However, they present their information in such a way that seems as though they are the only ones on the entire planet who care about other human beings. Strengthening protective factors plays an important role in reducing youth gang involvement. 452 0 obj 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. 0000035424 00000 n Table 13-10-0096-18 Mood disorders, by age group (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310009618). Where possible, reach out to former members. Although there is conflicting evidence in the current literature, some research indicates that factors such as familial dysfunctional patterns (Almendros et al., 2007), preexisting x]o6 ?*`Zn5vQqhbg~$%ukI 4R:zROj}"454K"q6n:Y>W80r=S27_E7Sf|ttB^Z$fvuNnq~q_i#ThCQQL*J*-r~| K7 mS|?#}eIoI{ I?!r*qlufCWic>?v>. a`m\J\0U0x~}TZsrYg~!.gPEkR-L7!Yd2`< I*XeDJAnGbGH*|~NnfxSaV 0000006422 00000 n Lewis, J. R. (2003). Accessibility This may include friendship for those that need it, connections to others, an identity that is lacking, contributing factors and sometimes family. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. 465 0 obj Antelo E, Saldaa O, Rodrguez-Carballeira . Eur J Psychotraumatol. Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. endobj 0000023592 00000 n In 2011, a Lululemon employee named Brittany Norwood did not make enough money to afford the clothing she needed as a work uniform. 0000113691 00000 n FOIA endobj To people who are not used to receiving a lot of love and flattery in their life, this is obviously a very seductive thing. Home A number of reports cite heavy drug or alcohol use by cult members before entering the c~lt.~'-~~ Alcohol, marihuana, and hallu- cinogen abuse were particularly common Continue to learn about cults and how they work. endobj trailer 0000024474 00000 n 0000020833 00000 n 31 0 obj Janis, I.(1989). According to Dr. David Bromley from the Virginia Commonwealth University, women statistically attend more religious gatherings than men, even if it is simply going to a Christian church on Sundays. general thought and question. An older study, possibly too old to be valid, (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8234595) suggest some factors that increase likelihood of joining a cult such as propensities toward dissociative states, childhood trauma, and substance abuse. Human Cloning and the Raelians in the Spanish Newspaper El Pas, Priests and Cults in the Book of the Twelve, Introduction to the ICSA 2007 Annual Conference, Cult Recovery: a ClinicianS Guide to Working with Former Members and Family, Egoism, the 'Cult of Man' and the New Age Movement, Cults and Cosmic Consciousness: Religious Vision in the American 1960S, Challenges in the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Zimbabwe in Intergrating and Evangelising Minority Groups After Independence, Eileen Barker the Cult As a Social Problem, From Seventh-Day Adventism to David Koresh: the British Connection Alberta, The Cases of Church, Sect, Denomination, Cult and New Religious Movements (Nrms) and Their Typologies, After Paris: Why ISIL Is (Also) a Cult by Florence Gaub, The Unification Church: a Kaleidoscopic Introduction Barker, Eileen, I. Apostates Defile the Flesh V-8 Ii. 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. This is a super interesting topic to have chosen. Some individuals who join cults remain lifelong members. 461 0 obj Almost everyone goes through an existential crisis at some point in their lifetime. 0000115641 00000 n However, once anyone begins to question or doubt the actions of the organization, this love bombing can quickly turn around. 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. Looking at the collateral damage we rarely talk about. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. Adolescent attraction to cults. endobj Dr. Stein, who grew up protesting alongside her parents during the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, goes on to explain that breaking up with her boyfriend was the catalyst for her to unwittingly join a cult in the United States. Finding ones identity and purpose in life can sometimes be a struggle, and a cult often gives people a cause that they can fight for. 0000112823 00000 n <>386 0 R]/P 528 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> as well as other partner offers and accept our. So, in this respect, the fact that women join cults more often than men is not surprising. Rather, it's a mixture of wanting self-improvement and community, as well as timing. Youths who joined secret cult seize the opportunity to explore their secret desires, like sex, money, and power. Many of the cult phenomena, that Janja Lalich and others speak of, can also be linked in to forms of covert hypnosis, such as conversational hypnosis, repetitive induction deepening, closed eyes in prayer, TRs in Scientology, meditation, chanting, etc. Psychiatry Research, 257, 27 . <>84 0 R]/P 572 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> Cults usually exhibit a protective commitment and membership that members feel drawn towards. Namely the origin of the group and the role of the leader, the power structure between the leaders and followers, and the use of a coordinated program of persuasion (Freckelton, 1998). 439 0 obj <>118 0 R]/P 506 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> 0000045440 00000 n . (2019, June 19). "The Vow" aims to answer a central question: How can someone get sucked into a cult when its leader brainwashes members, and in some cases exploits them sexually, financially and emotionally? It is easier for someone to join a cult they are already familiar with, usually, people are recruited by friends, family members, or coworkers, which can make it harder to say no. <>390 0 R]/P 530 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> World Health Organization, Adolescent health and development. Not necessarily. 445 0 obj That being said, I had my own preconceived impressions before even walking through the doors. p$L; 2(n$i2H^OX# 7ACQ&efiB+46Q=Hem`Y4pM@6o !`ufSM[}2gkh[tq?qM:ajp@*m jVyPamWCpCf(JN[&JIM"ff. Singer explains that brainwashing is something that often happens so gradually, that people have no idea what is going on. They claim that Scientology Spiritual Ministers are prepared all over the globe to help solve any problem at a moments notice. 0000111884 00000 n Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! Men have long been silent and stoic about their inner lives, but theres every reason for them to open up emotionallyand their partners are helping. studies were more widely acknowledged, public perception of cult members would become less negative. 0000009252 00000 n Pat Ryan, another former cult member-turned-deprogrammer or exit counselor, says when a family hires him to meet with a loved one, his first step is to do a kind of intervention on the family. Boys are taught to reach their own goals and to plan for the future. A cult is an organized group whose purpose is to dominate cult members through psychological manipulation and pressure strategies. Simplified goal or aim structure, such as to save something or introduce something to everyone. Cult leaders are desperate to trick you into joining. <>416 0 R]/P 548 0 R/Pg 543 0 R/S/Link>> The first goal in educating yourself is prevention, for yourself and others. > Are cultic environments psychologically harmful? endobj No one joins a cult voluntarily; they are recruited into it. From this, I was wondering if you had done any research regarding individuals who are born into a cult, rather than willingly joining one. Counselling psychology quarterly. %%EOF It would be interesting to see what would have happened had I not had preconceived notions about the situation. Cult leaders offer simple solutions in a way that makes sense, and they know how to motivate people to devote their life to the leaders cause. You are not allowed to question and your inner voice is suppressed. ability and protective factors. I commend your originality! These factors could be individual, en- vironmental and/or linked to the characteristics of the addiction object, 2.3.1. According to statistics Canada, about 8.9% of the population over the age of 12 has been diagnosed with a mood disorder and (Statistics Canada, 2018) upon comparing the two, there is definitely a prevalence of mental illness within cult membership. About | There are many types of cults: political, religious, self-help, large group awareness trainings, mini-cults (family or one-on-one), multi-level-marketing (MLM), conspiracy theory, commercial, and labor/sex trafficking. 844. AppendPDF Pro 6.3 Linux 64 bit Aug 30 2019 Library 15.0.4 Individual vulnerabilities may include high hypnotizability, strong ability for concentration and vivid imagination, learning disorders, or autism spectrum disorders. SP4N6v\B66 ou=qAPAWmV%*P ILsQd#& VFYjx?[kB(`a[)tN+n"VF Ub&7}M WG;"/{nnl shV|Y.8c++rp0-uA\ju*`jUk}kP/,YE* V@~)z(@,@* _m \5 Stay up to date with what you want to know. One day as my friend and I were exploring downtown, we came across a recruitment center for The Church of Scientology. 7. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider A claim to offer the only path to salvation or possess unique powers . But, if you have been affected, recovery is possible. The fewer opportunities a woman has in her life, the more likely she is to follow a charismatic cult leader. These characteristics are commonplace of everyone at one point or another, cults simply pry on those who are in these vulnerable positions. 0000011389 00000 n 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. 472 0 obj 443 0 obj <>88 0 R]/P 482 0 R/Pg 481 0 R/S/Link>> 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. Given that the definition of a cult is a little blurry, one could suggest that certain religions, such as Catholicism, appear cultic. <>stream Rousselet, M., Duretete, O., Hardouin, J. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press. According to Bernstein, community is a hallmark of any cult because it allows the leader to create a pack mentality, building peer pressure. 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). Critics of the athletic apparel company Lululemon Athletica have accused the corporation of being a cult. B., & Grall-Bronnec, M. (2017). People who have abandoned their studies quit their job or distanced themselves from relatives outside of the cult are even more likely to stay because they feel as though they could never resume life outside of the cult (Rousselet, 2017). Similarly, an article regarding adolescents risks of joining anti-social cults, research has been conducted that young people who suffer from a deep sense of loneliness are vulnerable to being recruited into cults (2018). endobj 0000021395 00000 n Hunter, E. (1998). endobj Knowing what areas, the proselyting and controlling strategy of cults focused on are very valuable in undoing the hold of the cult culture on former members and reestablishing a new mission for. <><>373 0 R]/P 518 0 R/Pg 516 0 R/S/Link>> Behavior modification techniques are employed, such as rewards/punishments, thought-stopping, and control of environment (isolation or restriction of access to others). 456 0 obj But the main goal is to create more power and wealth for the leader, rather than the benefit of the followers.. As AI becomes more powerful, it is increasingly important to safeguard individual rights and the locus of control. 0000114493 00000 n 0000112141 00000 n https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719809524918 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-dJaCXAxA, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8234595, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310009618, https://go-galegroup-com.ezproxy.uleth.ca/ps/i.do?p=HRCA&u=leth89164&id=GALE, http://www.searo.who.int/entity/child_adolescent/topics/adolescent_health/en/, https://www.insider.com/i-grew-up-in-a-cult-and-i-can-tell-you-why-normal-people-join-them-2018-3, https://www.ted.com/talks/janja_lalich_why_do_people_join_cults?language=en, https://doi-org.ezproxy.uleth.ca/10.1080/10609393.2018.1451678, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/nxivm-raniere-cult-1.518179, Terrorism and Culty Vibes Social Cognition. So, would you join a cult? 0000024305 00000 n Nurs Stand. <>434 0 R]/P 560 0 R/Pg 556 0 R/S/Link>> The Making of Cults: The Factors that Contribute to Membership and the Leaders' Influence Chloe Greenidge, Eastern Kentucky University Follow Abstract This thesis investigates the factors that contribute to the increased vulnerability to cult membership. Members may have seen too many things that didn't make sense, too many contradictions, and even too many doomsdays that didn't happen. 469 0 obj In fact, it could be any one of us, if we were not on guard to stop it from happening. Does watching violence on TV, in movies, or video games promote aggression? The factors or "motivations" for gang leaving can be classified as pushes or pulls. 0000003586 00000 n endobj 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.