Quote
rrmoderator
See [www.culteducation.com]
This paper titled "Cult Formation" defines a destructive cult.
Certain psychological themes which recur in these various historical contexts also arise in the study of cults. Cults can be identified by three characteristics:
a charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power;
a process I call coercive persuasion or thought reform;
economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.
The definition is good, but is more suited for academic use. I'm seeking something that is suitable for ordinary folks.
Some of these, like "There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader," are examples of what wouldn't fit into this list, as most cults are hardly known.
What I'm interested in is a concise, well-defined list for public preventive education. This list provides points that are easily remembered, so that people can evaluate if a group is a destructive cult.
Anyway, let me further define the title of the list:
Common Denominators of Destructive Cults that are Absent in Safe GroupsPoints in this list must
* apply to
all destructive cults
* absent in
all safe groups
Example: Use deliberate, unethical means to recruit members; eg, lying, guilt-tripping, peer pressure, love-bombing, etc.
To justify inclusion of this point,
* Safe groups recruit members too, but would not employ unethical means.
* Love-bombing is not be the recruitment method of all destructive cults, but it is one among the other unethical methods to recruit members. So, love-bombing is not a common denominator, but is an example of one.
If this point is not well defined enough, help me. This list requires much careful thought, but would become very useful. I'm thinking of making a computer presentation out of it.