To whom it may concern:
Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton wrote a paper published at Harvard titled "Cult Formation" within which he defined a destructive cult. In my experience almost all definitions of destructive cults intersect with Lifton's three criteria or core characteristics. In my book "Cults Inside Out" I propose that Lifton identified the nucleus for the definition of a destructive cult.
See [www.culteducation.com]
Lifton explains:
"Certain psychological themes which recur in these various historical contexts also arise in the study of cults. Cults can be identified by three 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."
Here are the questions that must be asked to determine if a leader and his or her group has become a destructive cult.
Has the leader become an object of worship?
Is the leader meaningfully and legally accountable to anyone through bylaws, an elected board, etc.?
Or is he or she essentially a totalitarian dictator who actually rules over the group?
Does the leader have undue influence over his or her followers? This can be seen objectively when followers act consistently against their own best interests, but consistently in the best interest of the group and its leader.
Does the leader use his or her undue influence to exploit people?
Has the leader hurt people?
It's not about what the group believes, but rather about how the group behaves.
It's about its structure regarding checks and balances that provide for meaningful accountability and financial transparency.
It's about the group dynamics that systemically produce harm and/or abuse, which then subsequently generate a repeated pattern of complaints.
Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton wrote a paper published at Harvard titled "Cult Formation" within which he defined a destructive cult. In my experience almost all definitions of destructive cults intersect with Lifton's three criteria or core characteristics. In my book "Cults Inside Out" I propose that Lifton identified the nucleus for the definition of a destructive cult.
See [www.culteducation.com]
Lifton explains:
"Certain psychological themes which recur in these various historical contexts also arise in the study of cults. Cults can be identified by three 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."
Here are the questions that must be asked to determine if a leader and his or her group has become a destructive cult.
Has the leader become an object of worship?
Is the leader meaningfully and legally accountable to anyone through bylaws, an elected board, etc.?
Or is he or she essentially a totalitarian dictator who actually rules over the group?
Does the leader have undue influence over his or her followers? This can be seen objectively when followers act consistently against their own best interests, but consistently in the best interest of the group and its leader.
Does the leader use his or her undue influence to exploit people?
Has the leader hurt people?
It's not about what the group believes, but rather about how the group behaves.
It's about its structure regarding checks and balances that provide for meaningful accountability and financial transparency.
It's about the group dynamics that systemically produce harm and/or abuse, which then subsequently generate a repeated pattern of complaints.