CULTS through the psychological perspective

Definition
A small group of people who have extreme religious
beliefs & who are not part of an established religion
( Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, 2020)

A group or movement with a shared pledge to an

extreme ideology that is typically embodied by a
charismatic leader (Lalich, 2017)
 Types of Cults

Racist Cults Religious Cults

Destructive Cults
Doomsday Cults

(Best, 2018), (Palayon et al. 2020)

 General Characteristics Low regard for individuals

Members are encouraged/forc

Ends justify the to socialize only with other
means’’ mentality members of the group

No life outside the

context of group

Authoritarian
figure

Attitude of
moral Rigid
superiority thought
pattern
(Janja Lalich, 2017)
 Cult Leaders
The
Hero

The
The
Narcissist
Outsider

The The Charismatic

Entrepreneur Figure
(Lewis et al., 1992)
 Cult Members
Social Identity Theory

Self esteem is enhanced through identification

with a group

Social
Categorization

(Tajfel H., 2005)

 Cult Members
Profiling
Loss
Loneliness
Desire to feel grandiose
Desire to feel needed

Evolutionary need for cults

(Best, 2020), (Lalich, 2017)

Cult Members
Why are cult members protective of their cult?

Protection of their identity

(Tajfel et al., 2005)

 Cult Members
Profiling
Anxiety Disorder
Mood Disorder
PTSD
Substance Abuse
Eating Disorder
Insecure Attachment
Psychiatric Comorbidity Addictive Disorders

(Rousselet et al., 2017)

Cult Members
Female Dominated

Women are programmed with the urge to

self correct to find acceptance.

(Best, 2020)
 Cult Members
Deindividualization

Following behaviours and

adopting beliefs blindly, losing
all sense of self awareness.

(Best, 2020)
Cult Formation

 The Psychopathy Model

 The Entrepreneur Model

 The Subculture-Evolution Model

(Bainbridge, 2013)
Study Cases
The Manson Family

 Religious Cult
 Charles Manson
 Mid 1960s
 Los Angeles
 Murder of seven people

(Hristova, 2020)
Study Cases
Peoples Temple
 Religious & Destructive Cult
 Jim Jones
 1950s
 British Guyana
 Massacre of 900+ people

(Hristova, 2020)
 Study Cases
Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
 Racist Cult
 Confederate Veterans & William J. Simons

 1870s & 1915

 Tennessee & Georgia
 Restoration of white supremacy through
intimidation & violence

(Etter et al., 2005)

Conclusion
Multidimensional phenomenon

Further research

Evolutionary programmed
Thank you for your
attention
Any questions?
References

Bainbridge, W., & Stack, R., (2013), Cult Foundation: Three Compatible Models.
Best, J., (2018), Cults: A Psychological Perspective.
Etter, G., McElreath, D., & Quarley, C., (2005), The Ku Klux Khan.
Hornby, A. S., (2020), Oxford Learner's Dictionary.
Hrisova, S., (2020)., Charles Mansons: The Language of Cults.
Lalich J., (2017). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-dJaCXAxA&t=9s
Palayon, R., Toll, R., & VungHong, S., (2020),The Language of Destructive Cults.
Richad, L., Noleen, A., Keith, M., Abigail, O., Sally, S., Clyde, S., et al., (1991), Leaders and
Followers.
Rousselet, Durette, Hardouin, & Grall-Bronnec, (2017), Cult Membership:What Factors
contribute to joining or leaving?
Tajfel, H., & Turner, H., (2004), The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior.