A cult is defined as, “an organized group whose purpose is to dominate cult members through psychological manipulation and pressure strategies.” According to the Cult Education Institute, there are specific warning signs to look out for when considering whether a group might be a cult.
10 Common Traits of Cults
Cults are characterized by:
- Absolute authoritarianism without accountability
- Zero tolerance for criticism or questions
- Lack of meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget
- Unreasonable fears about the outside world that often involve evil conspiracies and persecutions
- A belief that former followers are always wrong for leaving and there is never a legitimate reason for anyone else to leave
- Abuse of members
- Records, books, articles, or programs documenting the abuses of the leader or group
- Followers feeling they are never able to be “good enough”
- A belief that the leader is right at all times
- A belief that the leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or giving validation.
Cults can take the form of religious, social, or political communities that claim to offer a haven from the world, a sense of belonging, the ultimate truth and the key to the wisdom of the universe, as well as a purpose and passion. They prey on the vulnerable and lonely, often love-bombing them to help them feel how magical and special they are. Those who lose themselves in this alternative reality are often prevented from contacting family and friends. They can feel like they are adrift. Because there is a power differential between members and leaders and the ultimate leader, members may allow themselves to be abused, since the leader usually frames the attention as being chosen amongst the group. Instead, it is gross manipulation. Stockholm Syndrome plays a role, as the cult members who are essentially captives, bond with their captors. Loyalty to the collective supersedes personal freedom and choice. Infamous cult figures include Charles Manson, Jim Jones, Warren Jeffs, Keith Raniere, and David Koresh. Many of their dreams for a utopian society turned into ashes as violence and sometimes death, ensued.
A First-Person Account of Cult Indoctrination and Recovery
A Master’s level Psychologist, (who asked not to be identified), also became a deprogrammer. He has helped extricate people from cults following his own deprogramming experience. This is his description of the dynamics of living in a cult:
“I did not realize I was indoctrinated into a cult and believed that I had found my new family, with many people who called me, “brother”. I saw the leaders of the cult as my spiritual mother and father, and in fact told my parents the same. They were quite horrified! I learned that my mind was not trustworthy and that any thoughts I entertained that were contrary to the beliefs, teachings, and drama that took place within the organization were not of any value and were suspect. This led me to devalue my own authentic thoughts and feelings. The risk of giving into those thoughts could potentially cast me into becoming an outsider of the cult where I would become ostracized and potentially lose my valuable connection to the cult. The world view that was foisted upon the cult followers was that there were two worlds, one that is filled with illusion and one that is based upon truth. I believed the world view that I held was the one that was based upon “Truth” with a capital “T”. It wasn’t until I was confronted with deprogramming that I heard the word, “cult” being used to refer to the organization of which I was a member, for the first time.”
“I did not know what the deprogrammer was referring to when he said I had been indoctrinated into a cult. It took some willingness on my part and a lot of nudging from others to participate in a dialogue and to open my mind to the possibility that I had been indoctrinated into a cult. What was most impactful was hearing others share with me their experiences and their stories about their indoctrination into other cults as part of the deprogramming. I learned that all cults operate in a similar fashion through using coercive persuasive tactics to keep a person psychologically hostage. Once I became clear that I wanted to extricate myself from the cult it took a lot of hard work and required the use of many supports including participating in a support group for former cult members that I had started. I also did lots of research on mind control tactics and began to value my independence to form my own personal ideas about spirituality and my connection to a larger universe.”
“I don’t believe I would fall for a cult today given my recognition of the warning signs that are evident to me now that I have gone through the experience.”
“If a spiritual teacher says something that doesn’t make sense to you, you should always listen to yourself and not the teacher. A little common sense would end all cults.”
-Frederick Lenz
If you’re questioning your experience in a high-control group, cult recovery support is available to help you reclaim your voice and your life.