Lifton defined "thought reform" based upon those eight criteria.
See [www.culteducation.com]
Lifton also wrote a paper published at Harvard specifically about destructive cults.
See [www.culteducation.com]
Lifton stated that destructive cults can be identified by three primary characteristics.
1. A charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power.
2. A process I call coercive persuasion or thought reform.
3. Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.
See [www.culteducation.com]
Lifton also wrote a paper published at Harvard specifically about destructive cults.
See [www.culteducation.com]
Lifton stated that destructive cults can be identified by three primary characteristics.
1. A charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power.
2. A process I call coercive persuasion or thought reform.
3. Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.