BEWARE OF RECRUITERS
member has been subjected to mind
BEWARE of people who are excessively
friendly
BEWARE of people with invitations to free
meals and retreats
BEWARE of
through guilt
people who recruit you
BEWARE of people who want your name
and phone number but won't give you
theirs
Not all cults are religious groups.
There are also political, social,
psychological and financial groups
that are considered cults. What these
groups have in common are the
characteristics of mind control.
KEEP IN MIND:
Cults deliberately keep their true nature
hidden
Trust your instincts about a group. If you are
uncomfortable at any stage, get out!
Everyone is vulnerable during certain 'low'
periods in his/her life. Don't feel embar-
rassed at having been involved.
GET HELP!
You as a consumer have a right to have
your questions answered. You have a right
to make choices
Any legitimate group will be more than
happy to tell you about the beliefs of the
group
If you feel that you or a friend or family
control or cult recruitment, you may
CULTS
contact:
Office of Student Affairs
103 Central Square
736-5144
*If possible, please provide the name(s) of the
recruiter(s), and the organization on campus
For ongoing help contact:
York Counselling and Development Centre
145 Behavioural Sciences Building
(416)736-5297
York Inter-Faith Council
103 Central Square What to be aware of,
(416)736-5144
What to do
RECOMMENDED READING:
Combatting Cult Mind Control,
Steve Hassan; Park Street Press, 1990
Cults (What Parents Should Know), Joan
Carol Ross and Michael D. Langone;
Carol Publishing
RECOMMENDED VIEWING: “It is possible, given total control of a person's
environment, to turn his/her mind in a very
“What Is A Cult: And How Does It Work?” short time. Coercive persuasion-brainwashing-
can be achieved by removing the recruit from
"Cults: Saying NO Under Pressure” normal routines and beliefs into a controlled
environment.”
"Surrender" -Margaret Singer, Ph.D., University of California
Psychologist
· AII of these are available through the
Office of Student Affairs
This pamphlet was produced by the
Office of Student Affairs
York University
May 1998

what is a cult?
Cults are groups that deceptively recruit
members by using mental, emotional, physical
and financial means to control the actions of
their adherents. They can best be described
as elitist, high demand organizations that
require members to follow the teachings of
their leaders, without question.
WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE?
Those who are:
⇒ recovering from personal trauma
(e.g. death or illness of someone
close)
⇒ average or above average
intelligence
⇒ idealistic and/or intellectually curious
⇒ in a state of transition (relationship,
job, school)
WHY WOULD ANYONE GET
INVOLVED?
• they are recruited while they are in a
vulnerable period of their lives
• they are impressed with the
friendliness of the recruiter
• they fail to trust their first instincts and
doubts about the group
• they are deceived and have been
systematically entrapped by the group
CHARACTERISTICS OF
CULTS
AND MIND CONTROL
• a cult is usually characterized by a
leader who claims a special
relationship with God, or special
knowledge and power
• the leaders demand absolute
obedience and are the sole judges of
members' faith/commitment
• members are exploited by and are pre-
occupied with recruiting, fundraising
and worship to the exclusion of the rest
of their lives
• members put the goals of the cult
ahead of personal concerns, family
interests and career goals
• cults utilize techniques designed to
effect ego-destruction, thought reform
and dependence on the cult
• recruiters are guarded and vague
about the beliefs and goals of the
group until the recruit is hooked
• recruits may display symptoms of
extreme tension and stress, lack of
sleep and proper diet
• cults teach hate and fear of the world:
only their particular group has the
solution
WHAT ARE THE
TECHNIQUES OF MIND
CONTROL AND COERCION?
ISOLATION-you are physically
separated from your social seeing
PEER GROUP PRESSURE-doubt and
resistance are suppressed by exploiting
your need to 'belong'
LOVE BOMBING-a sense of family and
belonging is contrived through hugging,
kissing and frequent telephone calls and
attention
GUILT-cult beliefs are reinforced by
exaggerating the sins of your former life
FEAR-loyalty to the group is maintained
through warnings of serious spiritual or
physical repercussions for not
conforming to the group
RECIPROCITY-guilt is reinforced in the
new recruit. "How can I be having such
negative feelings about the group when
they've been so 'nice' to me?"
FATIGUE-disorientation and vulnerabil-
ity are enhanced by withholding
adequate rest and sleep
REMOVAL OF PRIVACY-your ability to
make decisions is diminished by
preventing you from being alone