Steven Hassan's informative and thought-provoking book Combating Cult Mind Control, his best-selling 'Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults', has inspired a series of posts. The final article, A few points about helping cult leavers, mentions his books Releasing the Bonds and Freedom of Mind as additional resources for people seeking information about cults and how to get members out of them.
These books, which were published after Combating Cult Mind Control, appeared from their online descriptions to be more of the same, with much repetition of key points, advice and useful information and more case histories; I assumed that I wouldn't find anything that I would want to comment on in them.
I have since read through Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs, which is a revised and updated version of Releasing the Bonds, and I came across a small amount of material that I want to highlight.
This article features more of Steve Hassan's wise words on the subject of people who join cults.
Freedom of Mind lists some common cult-related misconceptions and errant beliefs held by many people, including the idea that intelligent people do not join cults.
While this conviction may have come from personal experience - it may be the result of having encountered people from the lower levels of certain religious cults for example – it definitely does not apply in all cases. As Steve Hassan tells us, intelligent people do join cults:
“Many people have a hard time believing that bright, talented people— often educated, and from good homes-—could fall under the control of a cult. They fail to realize that cults intentionally recruit smart people who will work tirelessly for the cause. Many of the former cult members I have met are exceptionally bright and well educated. They have active imaginations and creative minds. They have a capacity to focus their attention and concentrate. Most are idealistic and socially conscious. They want to make a positive contribution to the world.”
All this makes sense. Such people may also be recruited because they are a good advertisement for the cause and may attract others of their kind into the cult.
When it comes to other reasons for joining, Steve Hassan mentions ignorance, situational vulnerability and psychological predisposition as major factors:
“There are three primary reasons why intelligent, educated people with stable backgrounds are drawn to cults.
First, there is a pervasive lack of awareness about cults and destructive influence...
Second, very common life situations make people vulnerable to influence and possible recruitment...
Finally, some individuals have psychological profiles that make recruitment easier.”
This too makes a lot of sense.
Ignorance of classic manipulation techniques and lack of awareness of what to look for in the way of red flags before giving in to pressure to join an organisation are unfortunately still very pervasive despite the publicity given to some destructive cults by the media and the availability of huge amounts of cult-related information in books and on the Internet.
Life situations that make people vulnerable to influence include bereavement, job loss, moving to a new area and family break-ups. These events may leave gaps in an individual's life that they may hope to fill by joining a cult.
When it comes to psychological factors, Steve Hassan says this:
“People-pleasers who seek approval are more vulnerable to peer pressure exerted by cult recruiters. Individuals with good concentration and vivid imaginations are more susceptible to hypnotic suggestion.”
That last sentence is very interesting. It has a wider application.
As for approval seekers, they may be intelligent but acceptance by others is more important than critical thinking. They may trust anyone who approaches them; they may assume that everyone they meet is benevolent and on the level. They may be delighted to meet someone who promises to be their new best friend. This is asking for trouble; it sets them up to be victimised.
Contemptuous dismissal of cult members or potential members is easy:
“How can she be so stupid as to think that he is the new Messiah? He's obviously a conman.”
“Anyone who would fall for all that propaganda and believe all the misleading information must be of very low intelligence. This organisation is obviously a cult.”
These reactions are not very intelligent!
A far better approach is to learn about the manipulative methods used to recruit cult members and the factors that make the targetted people vulnerable to these techniques and determine which elements are relevant to a particular case.
Investigation is much more positive, productive and constructive than condemnation.
