Why do people join cults?

In my two previous articles, I have defined a cult and the mind-control process. Now, I would like to talk about what makes people join a cult and why we should care.

No one joins a cult  

Firstly, people don’t join cults: they join a course, an activity, a personal development workshop, a meditation class, a bible study group, etc. These are deceptive recruitment techniques to draw people in. Usually, the full story and purpose of the group isn’t clear until much further down the line. People find themselves in a cult when it’s too late.

Some course titles include for example:

‘How to scientifically reduce stress’

‘How to get in control of your life’

‘How to become a yoga teacher’

‘How to reach perfect enlightenment/peace’

Vulnerability factors

Certainty and simple solutions to complex problems become attractive offerings in a world that appears unstable. The more polarised, violent, commercialised, corrupt and without structure a society, the more vulnerable people are to being influenced.

It is not about a type of person who joins cults, but a combination of factors in a person’s life occurring at the same time: Some of the vulnerability factors are: being unaffiliated to a community, being in a period of transition, feeling overwhelmed by choices, and seeking direction. I think that we can all relate to some of these factors in life which make us particularly vulnerable and susceptible to joining such groups.

Why does it matter?

• Cults undermine legitimate institutions because some of these cults and their practices end up going mainstream and seeping into the very fabric of society, gaining access to commercial businesses and government policy. Some cults are so rich and powerful that they end up buying vast amounts of land and taking over whole communities. Some register as charities or religious organisations which are then tax exempt.
• Cults claim to offer psychological support, and therapy groups by unskilled members who behave unethically and cause harm to vulnerable people.
• Cults often exploit the loyalty of followers who work long hours and unpaid.
• Many cults separate children and parents and undermine primary attachment bonds in favour of the attachment and loyalty to the leader, with devastating consequences for children.
• Cults escape scrutiny in several ways by hiding behind religious, commercial, psychological and political motives.
• Cults are abusive and destructive to varying degrees. The list of criminal behaviour ranges from tax evasion and fraud to child abuse and murder.

If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is…

The quote below by former member of the People’s Temple, Jeannie Mills summarises the ‘too good to be true’ promises that often draws people into cults:

“When you meet the friendliest people you have ever known, who introduce you to the most loving group of people you’ve ever encountered, and you find the leader to be the most inspired, caring, compassionate and understanding person you’ve ever met, and then you learn the cause of the group is something you never dared hope could be accomplished, and all of this sounds too good to be true – it probably is too good to be true! Don’t give up your education, your hopes and ambitions to follow a rainbow.”

Sam Jahara is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and clinical supervisor. She is experienced in working with the psychological impact of high-control groups and cults on individuals, families and organisations. She has also given public talks and podcast interviews on this topic

Further reading by Sam Jahara –

The psychology of cults: part one – what defines a cult?

The psychological impact on children who grow up in cults

Why do therapists need their own therapy?

What is self care?

What is love? (part two)

Resources –

• Thought reform and the psychology of totalism (Lifton, Robert Jay. 1961)
• Cults in our midst: The hidden menace in our everyday lives (Singer, M.T. and J. Lalich. 1995)
• Combatting cult mind control (Hassan, Steven, 1988)
• Escaping utopia (Lalich & McLaren 2018)
• Traumatic Narcissism: Relational systems of subjugation (Shaw, Daniel. 2013)
• The guru papers, masks of authoritarian power (Kramer & Alstad, 1993)