As with many things in the world, cults can be quite scary and seemingly insane by the population at large. Often, when we hear of cult activity, we think: “How could anyone fall for that?” or “Why would anyone kill for that?” Of course, if you’re not in a cult now – congratulations! However, for many people who have fallen prey to these brainwashing groups, the pull of a cult is incredibly overwhelming. People who have left cults (often upon threat of death) share what they’ve learned, and why people can actually kill for their beliefs.
Loneliness
Many people who have escaped from cults, or who have been abandoned by a leader who was arrested or escaped law enforcement, share their feelings of severe loneliness prior to “finding support in the group.” Many cult leaders seek out people who have a weak family base, who have no close attachments to friends or family, and people who are desperately seeking direction in their lives. This is why so many cults are composed of younger, “black sheep” individuals, who are not necessarily successful in mainstream environments. The leaders and the group feed into this mentality, telling people in the group they cannot leave because “Who will love you if you leave? No one, we are your family.” This desperation and unhealthy attachment has been notorious in many deadly cases, like the Manson Family who truly believed that Charles Manson would save them.
Saviors and Spirits
One of the biggest “red flags” to locating a cult is to find a person who deems themselves a Messiah, a prophet, a voice of God, a Chosen One, etc. Generally, these individuals seek people who believe similarly (in terms of God, the afterlife, etc.), or who are easily impressionable (see the section on loneliness). From there, these individuals convince their followers that they must follow him or her in order to receive the benefits of a higher power, afterlife, return to the mothership, and so on. While many of the beliefs of cults are considered too drastic and unbelievable for people to understand, the charisma and convincing enthusiasm of the leader is often enough to sway impressionable individuals.
Suicide is Sacrifice
Generally speaking, cults are non-violent towards people not in the group. While some cults break this generalization, most cults are known for being self-abusive and suicidal in many cases. Some of the largest counts of American death involve cult activity, like in Jonestown when the “People’s Temple” committed mass suicide, killing 909 Americans. This is often what leaves people scratching their heads. What is worth dying for? As the leaders are so convincing, these people (who are lonely) believe the leader is the Savior, and the Savior says that suicide is the only way to join whichever higher power or revolution the group seeks. While it seems crazy, understanding the dynamics of social influence and mass hysteria can make it slightly more understandable. Who wants to be the one person who misses out on “eternity” when so many other people (who seemingly love you) are going?
