Are you in a cult? We hear the word “cult” thrown around a lot these days, often cynically, but it does beg the question of the nature of cults, and how someone would know if they are a part of one? Scientists with backgrounds from psychology, sociology, and neuroscience study cult behavior, and have developed important theories to help us better understand group dynamics, obedience to authority, and other reasons why people fall victim to cults — and why they find it so difficult to walk away.
Defining cults
The definition of a cult can vary depending on the context, but generally, it refers to a group that exhibits excessive devotion to a leader, ideology, or set of beliefs, often to the point of manipulating and controlling its members. A cult is a social group identified by unquestioning devotion, manipulative influence, and isolation from outside perspectives. Cults often demand absolute loyalty, discourage independent thinking, and may use psychological tactics to maintain control over its members. Other common characteristics of a cult include:
- Authoritarian leadership. A single leader or small elite group holds ultimate authority and is beyond criticism.
- Dogmatic beliefs. Members must accept core beliefs without question, and dissent/critical thought is discouraged or punished.
- Us vs. them mentality. The group sees itself as superior, while outsiders are seen as misguided, evil, bad, or dangerous.
- Mind control and manipulation. Techniques such as fear, guilt, and information control are used to maintain influence.
- Fear-based loyalty. Leaving the group is framed as dangerous, shameful, or even impossible.
It is important to note that not all cults display all of the features mentioned above (though many of the characteristics are experienced), and that being in a cult isn’t something that is always easily recognized. For example, there is a continuum when it comes to group conformity, beginning with innocuous group experiences like being on a sports team together. Where things become troubling occurs when individuals begin losing their independence and critical thinking, blindly follow a leader regardless of circumstances or consequences, and begin turning away from others in order to maintain complete loyalty to the group. It is important to note that being part of a cult is difficult to determine as there are no tests to reveal such status — no blood work, EKG, or MRI’s needed. No, cult status is subjective in nature, and challenging to study as often cults are discrete, and members quickly dismiss such accusations of being in a cult.
Broadly speaking, people use the word “cult” loosely, and apply the term in a variety of ways. For example, we sometimes refer to a cult as a passionate group of followers (like a cult following of a classic movie), and these “cult followers” pose no threat to society. However, cults can turn dangerous quickly, especially when control, manipulation, and abuse are present — as in the cases of notorious American cults including the Branch Davidians, Heavens Gate, Peoples Temple, and the Manson Family.
So, are you in a cult? Probably not, but without any objective test to better determine your status, self-reflective questions can help assess if you might be without realizing it:
- Are you discouraged from questioning leadership?
- Do you feel afraid of leaving or speaking out?
- Is dissent punished rather than debated?
- Are you told that outsiders are dangerous or inferior, especially when there is no objective evidence or proof that they really are?
If you answered yes to the questions above, it might be time to engage in critical thinking, talk to people with opinions different than yours, and begin selecting your news from different and varied sources.
Final thoughts
These days we hear the term “cult” thrown around loosely, but defining the characteristics often seen within cults is no simple process. While it might be easy to call groups “cults” in retrospect after witnessing horrific things like mass suicide (i.e. Branch Davidians), what about other groups with similar characteristics but have yet to induce/commit physical harm? Are they safe, or just a step or two away from catastrophic consequences? While group conformity to a certain extent can be healthy, when individuals begin to lose the ability to think freely for themselves a group can morph into a cult in very little time.
drstankovich.com
