Agree on 1. I would also add that correctness about one part of the world does not necessarily imply that the entire model is correct. Sometimes the mainstream society has a taboo, and it is easy for bad actors to be (more) true about this specific part, and then leverage the gained trust to promote their own falsehoods.
Agree on 2. Knowing that you are doing the right thing. The initial love bombing; and the feeling that you have a “tribe” you belong to. When the guru tells you to do something, you don’t procrastinate on it… and you may pleasantly surprise yourself about how productive you suddenly become. In case of conflicting motivations (e.g. I want to get rid of addiction, but I also have cool friends who are addicts), the cult may force you to cut the knot. I wish I could get many of these things without the obvious costs that the cult membership brings.
Details are important in 3, but yeah, some things require high investment that is lost if the plan fails. Though it is still possible to increase those costs maliciously.
4 -- I would definitely love to read that.
On 5 I have a post that could have been much better written, but the point is that Lifton’s scale of mind control evaluates eight different criteria, so instead of a “yes or no” answer, you get a value on a scale, and obviously the army would score much higher than everyday institutions. (You can even make an excuse for established institutions without having to pretend that their score is low.)
Another thing I would add to the list are abusive relations, which sometimes could be modeled as a cult with 1 leader and 1 follower.
There should be some qualifier on 6, because I don’t see any group of people actively fighting to make me their cult leader; I guess I am not impressive enough. (If someone desires to kiss my shoes and send me 10% of their salary, please send me a private message, so that we don’t debate such holy things in front of the heathens.)
I wonder what is a more precise model. Maybe most people desire to have a leader, and if they decide that you fit the role, then you have to defend yourself. But if they put someone else in that role, you are safe. The danger mostly applies to celebrities; although you probably could become a local celebrity easier than you realize.
EDIT: After reading this comment I think I understand your point on academia better. Now I wonder how many cult experts were grad students; whether they are familiar with the things that you criticize.
Agree on 7.
Mostly agree on 8, with the caveat that if the information about “good” comes from the leader or his followers, it may be exaggerated. Investigating a list of actual heroes turning villains could be interesting.
Agree on 1. I would also add that correctness about one part of the world does not necessarily imply that the entire model is correct. Sometimes the mainstream society has a taboo, and it is easy for bad actors to be (more) true about this specific part, and then leverage the gained trust to promote their own falsehoods.
Agree on 2. Knowing that you are doing the right thing. The initial love bombing; and the feeling that you have a “tribe” you belong to. When the guru tells you to do something, you don’t procrastinate on it… and you may pleasantly surprise yourself about how productive you suddenly become. In case of conflicting motivations (e.g. I want to get rid of addiction, but I also have cool friends who are addicts), the cult may force you to cut the knot. I wish I could get many of these things without the obvious costs that the cult membership brings.
Details are important in 3, but yeah, some things require high investment that is lost if the plan fails. Though it is still possible to increase those costs maliciously.
4 -- I would definitely love to read that.
On 5 I have a post that could have been much better written, but the point is that Lifton’s scale of mind control evaluates eight different criteria, so instead of a “yes or no” answer, you get a value on a scale, and obviously the army would score much higher than everyday institutions. (You can even make an excuse for established institutions without having to pretend that their score is low.)
Another thing I would add to the list are abusive relations, which sometimes could be modeled as a cult with 1 leader and 1 follower.
There should be some qualifier on 6, because I don’t see any group of people actively fighting to make me their cult leader; I guess I am not impressive enough. (If someone desires to kiss my shoes and send me 10% of their salary, please send me a private message, so that we don’t debate such holy things in front of the heathens.)
I wonder what is a more precise model. Maybe most people desire to have a leader, and if they decide that you fit the role, then you have to defend yourself. But if they put someone else in that role, you are safe. The danger mostly applies to celebrities; although you probably could become a local celebrity easier than you realize.
EDIT: After reading this comment I think I understand your point on academia better. Now I wonder how many cult experts were grad students; whether they are familiar with the things that you criticize.
Agree on 7.
Mostly agree on 8, with the caveat that if the information about “good” comes from the leader or his followers, it may be exaggerated. Investigating a list of actual heroes turning villains could be interesting.