Why do people possess cults?

A religious organization that believes in UFOs when the comet of Hale-Bopp appeared in 1997Heavens gate"A group of people who committed suicide by groups of believers, etc. are well known as incidents raised by the cult. However, as of 2017, at first glance there are a lot of cults invisible to the cult, and there is a movie that explains "Why do people get stuck in the cult?" "How can you distinguish from the cult?" It is published on YouTube.

Why do people join cults? - Janja Lalich - YouTube


In 1955,Jim JonesA man named Indiana in AmericaPeople's templeWe launched the religion.


Initially Jim Jones was reported to be an excellent social activist and was supported by many influential politicians.


However, since then, the dictatorship system and forced labor became criticized by the press, and in 1977 Jones joins hundreds of believers and shifts the base to the jungle of South America and Guyana.


In Guyana, a commune called "Jonestown" was made. Although it was a reality that Joanstown was Utopia ... ...


In fact, residents of the commune were handled like prisoners.


Later, in 1978, Congressman Leo Ryan of the US Congress visits to investigate the state of Jonestown. Originally it was Ryan 's Congressman who was looking at Jonestown with friendly eyes, but gradually to discover various evidence of abuse. Proposal by the House of Representatives of Ryan Representative of the Republic of Korea to "return home applicants to the US" was accepted by the People's Temple side, but when actually trying to return home, the inspectors such as Ryan's House of Councilors were killed by believers I will.


And after the killing of the visiting team, more than 900 devotees of the group will commit group suicide by drinking cyanide compounded drinking water.


This incident created an image that "people belonging to the cult are lazy and drink poisoned water".


As of 2017, there are thousands of cults around the world, but the thing I would like to remember is that not all of them are religious. There are various forms of cults such as political things, things in the form of therapy, self-development, etc.


On the other hand, not all religions are cults. So what is the definition of a monocult? And why do people get into cults?


In the broad meaning, cult is strongideologyIt refers to a movement by a group with a connection by. It is common for this group to have a charismatic leader embodying ideology.


And many cults have common features such as "deep devotion" "strict hierarchy" "to distinguish between supporters who do not know suspicion and persons who move inside".


It also features the answer to the big question of life. Furthermore, at this time, I will also present a way to followers "How can I change the situation?"


Cult transforms newcomers into true believers and winds up money with these systems.


On the other hand, the people inside the cult have "official face" and "informal face" to keep obedience of believers.


Suspected believers and ... ...


I do strict rebuke for outside people trying to investigate the cult.


Some people think that these features apply to the launch of all religions. In fact, the cult origin "cultus" refers to people who worship certain gods by performing ceremonies and building temples.


However, the word Cartath gradually comes to mean "seeking strong devotion."


Many of religion might begin as a cult, but as the organization increases, will continue to be integrated with the larger society organizations.


On the one hand the modern so-called "cult" separates people inside the organization from the people inside. Rather than giving guidelines to live well by believers, we will try to control more directly the connection with family, economic things, choice of life, etc.


In addition, the cult leader forces obedience to followers to raise their persuasive power.


Factors behaving leaders in authoritarianism are money, sex, power, or all of them.


The cult leader uses his charisma to draw the first few people and then increases believers in pyramid style. Cult understands "Who should be targeted"?


The target is a person who has no knowledge at all in that field ...


People who have just lost someone and have sadness. Those who are seeking "meaning" of sorrow and loneliness are more likely to accept friendly people who solicit to the community.


Invitation is very casual, and in some cases it seems to be done after getting acquainted in a few months. Two-thirds of the members of the cult are said to be invited by friends, family members and colleagues. It is because it is difficult to refuse invitation from close friends.


Once entering the cult, for new membersEdificationIs done. Education has a simple thing that orders "act in this way", but in some cases it may skillfully use guilt, shame, fear and others. And the believers say that they will listen to orders from the desire to "get promised reward" or the desire to "belong to somewhere".


In addition, the cult does not allow critical thinking, making it difficult to raise doubts.


If you do internal conflict in this situation,Cognitive dissonanceThe condition occurs. Cognitive dissonance is the "Aesop's story"Sour grapesIn many cases it is often told as an example, to change their attitudes and behaviors to resolve conflicts of their own cognition. People who enter the cults will suffer if they admit that they are being cheated and will keep themselves in the cult.


Although cults rarely try to cause believers to die, we deny psychological / emotional growth by neglecting believers' free ideas and speech.


This is particularly harmful for children growing by experiencing many things.


However, most people realize that they are "funny", and finally can escape from cults with the help of family members and friends.


In the world there are cults that can not be seen as cults at first glance, but in terms of "believing in something", you should not compensate for family and friends. If someone ordered you to sacrifice someone's relationship, or if you forced to sacrifice morality for "bigger good", in many cases that person is trying to exploit you Let's keep in mind.