Cults & Belief System Conflicts

I. Cults vs. Religion A. Cult (1): a group typically characterized by (1) distinctive ritual and beliefs related to its devotion to a god or a person (2) isolation from the surrounding “evil” culture (3) a charismatic leader. B. Cult (2): a religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

C. Cult (3): a group with a limited number of followers and whose practices may be shrouded in mystery and harmful to both members and nonmembers. Harmful acts and characteristics may include, but are not limited to… a) Brainwashing b) Financial exploitation c) Extreme and powerful mind control over members d) Extreme deception used on members and/or nonmembers e) Extreme withdrawal from or overindulgence in corporeal pleasures. f) Animal sacrifices g) Human sacrifices h) Lack of empathy for members and/or nonmembers i) Sex crimes j) Unquestioned belief in the members’ morality (e.g. it’s not murder or suicide… it’s sacrifice!) k) Deceptive and sometimes harsh indoctrination

D. Religion: an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods. E. Pagan: a member of a community that follows a polytheistic (more than 1 god) religion, unlike a Christian, Jew, Muslim, etc. F. Four stages of cult indoctrination 1) Softening-up Stage: victim is showered with affection and praise during moments of weakness. 2) Compliance: victim starts testing the waters of the cult’s practices. 3) Internalization: victim starts to believe the ideas of the cult. 4) Consolidation: victim demonstrates unconditional allegiance to the cult.

What facilitates the movement from stage 1 all the way to stage 4? Key Factors… G. People who are lost in life, looking for meaning, suffered a major loss, etc., are easy targets for cults. H. Individuals are more likely to conform to a cult when their indoctrination into the cult is difficult or intense. I. Using the Foot-in-the-Door tactic: Gradual Induction 1) The Foot in the Door tactic: making a small request first, and, once it is agreed to, following it with a second larger request.

J. Cult leader’s credibility and attractiveness are established. K. Sending members out to proselytize the unredeemed. L. Distracting members from thinking “undesirable” thoughts… counter-arguments. M.Fixating members’ vision on a phantom. N. Successful indoctrination can lead to total devotion.

II. Belief System Conflicts A. Terror Management Theory: asserts that our knowledge of our mortality is the primary motivating force that guides everyday human behavior. Consequently, when a person is primed to think about death, they become observably hostile to people with different beliefs and observably more fond of people with similar beliefs. B. Mortality Salience Hypothesis: when primed to think about death, one’s cultural worldview, religious belief system, or self-esteem, serve a death-denying function. Threatening these constructs produce defenses aimed at restoring psychological equanimity (i.e. returning the individual to a state of feeling invulnerable).

C. Death Anxiety Buffering: positive exposure to one’s cultural worldview, religious belief system, or experiencing self-esteem enhancement can buffer the anxiety that would have been experienced when primed to think about death (mortality salience). D. Inner Conflict: Sigmund Freud 1) Id: the part that is comprised of all of our biological drives that demand immediate gratification. 2) Ego: the rational, negotiating, and decision-making component of the personality. 3) Superego: the internalized values and rules we receive from our parents and society.