Understanding Behavior. Warm up Activity Switch Seats Switch Seats Rub tummy & pat head simultaneously Rub tummy & pat head simultaneously Remove Shoes.

Understanding BehaviorUnderstanding Behavior

Warm up ActivityWarm up Activity

Switch SeatsSwitch SeatsRub tummy & pat head simultaneouslyRub tummy & pat head simultaneouslyRemove Shoes and pile them up next to Remove Shoes and pile them up next to

the doorthe doorDo the waveDo the waveExchange cell phones with another personExchange cell phones with another personMake your favorite animal soundMake your favorite animal soundClass cheerClass cheer

CultsCults

What is a cult?What is a cult?

Every cult can be defined as a group having all of Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics:the following five characteristics:

1.It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate 1.It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its membersand retain its members

2.It forms an elitist totalitarian society.2.It forms an elitist totalitarian society. 3.Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, 3.Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic,

messianic, not accountable and has charisma.messianic, not accountable and has charisma. 4.It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to 4.It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to

solicit funds recruit people.solicit funds recruit people. 5.Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.5.Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.

Religious Religious CultsCults Communal living common.Communal living common.

Members may leave or not Members may leave or not join society's workforce.join society's workforce.

Average age at the point of Average age at the point of recruitment is in the 20's.recruitment is in the 20's.

Registered as religious Registered as religious groups.groups.

Appear to offer association Appear to offer association with a group interested in with a group interested in making the world a better making the world a better place via political, spiritual place via political, spiritual or other means.or other means.

Therapy CultsTherapy Cults

Communal Living rare.Communal Living rare.Members usually stay in society's workforce.Members usually stay in society's workforce.Average age at the point of recruitment is in the Average age at the point of recruitment is in the

mid 30'smid 30'sRegistered as 'non profit making' groups..Registered as 'non profit making' groups..Appear to offer association with a group giving Appear to offer association with a group giving

courses in some kind of self improvement or courses in some kind of self improvement or self help technique or therapy.self help technique or therapy.

Possible effects of cultsPossible effects of cults Loss of choice and free will. Loss of choice and free will. Diminished intellectual ability, vocabulary and sense of Diminished intellectual ability, vocabulary and sense of

humor. humor. Reduced use of irony, abstractions and metaphors. Reduced use of irony, abstractions and metaphors. Reduced capacity to form flexible and intimate Reduced capacity to form flexible and intimate

relationships. relationships. Poor judgment. Poor judgment. Physical deterioration. Physical deterioration. Malnutrition. Malnutrition. Hallucinations, panic, dissociation, guilt, identity Hallucinations, panic, dissociation, guilt, identity

diffusion and paranoia. diffusion and paranoia. Neurotic, psychotic or suicidal tendencies. Neurotic, psychotic or suicidal tendencies.

"When you meet the "When you meet the friendliest people you have friendliest people you have ever known, who introduce ever known, who introduce you to the most loving group you to the most loving group of people you've ever of people you've ever encountered, and you find encountered, and you find the leader to be the most the leader to be the most inspired, caring, inspired, caring, compassionate and compassionate and understanding person you've understanding person you've ever met, and then you learn ever met, and then you learn the cause of the group is the cause of the group is something you never dared something you never dared hope could be accomplished, hope could be accomplished, and all of this sounds too and all of this sounds too good to be true-it probably is good to be true-it probably is too good to be true! Don't too good to be true! Don't give up your education, your give up your education, your hopes and ambitions to hopes and ambitions to follow a rainbow."follow a rainbow."

Jeannie MillsJeannie MillsEx - member of The People's Ex - member of The People's Temple, later found murdered.Temple, later found murdered.

Forms of “Mind Control”Forms of “Mind Control” Hypnosis Hypnosis

Inducing a state of high Inducing a state of high suggestibility by hypnosis, suggestibility by hypnosis, often thinly disguised as often thinly disguised as relaxation or meditation.relaxation or meditation.

Peer Group PressurePeer Group Pressure Suppressing doubt and Suppressing doubt and

resistance to new ideas by resistance to new ideas by exploiting the need to exploiting the need to belong.belong.

Love Bombing Love Bombing Creating a sense of family Creating a sense of family

and belonging through and belonging through hugging, kissing, touching hugging, kissing, touching and flattery.and flattery.

Forms of “Mind Control”Forms of “Mind Control” Rejection of Old ValuesRejection of Old Values

Accelerating acceptance of Accelerating acceptance of new life style by constantly new life style by constantly denouncing former values denouncing former values and beliefs.and beliefs.

Confusing DoctrineConfusing Doctrine Encouraging blind Encouraging blind

acceptance and rejection of acceptance and rejection of logic through complex logic through complex lectures on an lectures on an incomprehensible doctrine.incomprehensible doctrine.

MetacommunicationMetacommunication Implanting subliminal Implanting subliminal

messages by stressing messages by stressing certain key words or phrases certain key words or phrases in long, confusing lectures.in long, confusing lectures.

Forms of “Mind Control”Forms of “Mind Control” Removal of PrivacyRemoval of Privacy

Achieving loss of ability to Achieving loss of ability to evaluate logically by evaluate logically by preventing private preventing private contemplation.contemplation.

Time Sense DeprivationTime Sense Deprivation Destroying ability to evaluate Destroying ability to evaluate

information, personal information, personal reactions, and body functions reactions, and body functions in relation to passage of time in relation to passage of time by removing all clocks and by removing all clocks and watches.watches.

DisinhibitionDisinhibition Encouraging child-like Encouraging child-like

obedience by orchestrating obedience by orchestrating child-like behavior.child-like behavior.

Forms of “Mind Control”Forms of “Mind Control” Uncompromising Rules Uncompromising Rules

Inducing regression and Inducing regression and disorientation by soliciting disorientation by soliciting agreement to seemingly agreement to seemingly simple rules which regulate simple rules which regulate mealtimes, bathroom breaks mealtimes, bathroom breaks and use of medications.and use of medications.

Verbal Abuse Verbal Abuse Desensitizing through Desensitizing through

bombardment with foul and bombardment with foul and abusive language.abusive language.

Sleep Deprivation and Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue Fatigue Creating disorientation and Creating disorientation and

vulnerability by prolonging vulnerability by prolonging mental an physical activity mental an physical activity and withholding adequate rest and withholding adequate rest and sleep.and sleep.

Forms of “Mind Control”Forms of “Mind Control” Dress Codes Dress Codes

Removing individuality by Removing individuality by demanding conformity to the demanding conformity to the group dress code.group dress code.

Chanting and SingingChanting and Singing Eliminating non-cult ideas Eliminating non-cult ideas

through group repetition of through group repetition of mind-narrowing chants or mind-narrowing chants or phrases.phrases.

Confession Confession Encouraging the destruction Encouraging the destruction

of individual ego through of individual ego through confession of personal confession of personal weaknesses and innermost weaknesses and innermost feelings of doubt.feelings of doubt.

Forms of “Mind Control”Forms of “Mind Control” Financial Commitment Financial Commitment

Achieving increased Achieving increased dependence on the group by dependence on the group by 'burning bridges' to the past, 'burning bridges' to the past, through the donation of assets.through the donation of assets.

Finger Pointing Finger Pointing Creating a false sense of Creating a false sense of

righteousness by pointing to the righteousness by pointing to the shortcomings of the outside shortcomings of the outside world and other cults.world and other cults.

Flaunting Hierarch Flaunting Hierarch Promoting acceptance of cult Promoting acceptance of cult

authority by promising authority by promising advancement, power and advancement, power and salvation.salvation.

Isolation Isolation Inducing loss of reality by Inducing loss of reality by

physical separation from family, physical separation from family, friends, society and rational friends, society and rational references.references.

Forms of “Mind Control”Forms of “Mind Control” Controlled ApprovalControlled Approval

Maintaining vulnerability and Maintaining vulnerability and confusion by alternately confusion by alternately rewarding and punishing rewarding and punishing similar actions.similar actions.

Change of Diet Change of Diet Creating disorientation and Creating disorientation and

increased susceptibility to increased susceptibility to emotional arousal by emotional arousal by depriving the nervous system depriving the nervous system of necessary nutrients of necessary nutrients through the use of special through the use of special diets and/or fasting.diets and/or fasting.

Games Games Inducing dependence on the Inducing dependence on the

group by introducing games group by introducing games with obscure rules.with obscure rules.

Forms of “Mind Control”Forms of “Mind Control” No Questions No Questions

Accomplishing automatic Accomplishing automatic acceptance of beliefs by acceptance of beliefs by discouraging questions.discouraging questions.

Guilt Guilt Reinforcing the need for Reinforcing the need for

'salvation' by exaggerating the 'salvation' by exaggerating the sins of the former lifestyles.sins of the former lifestyles.

Fear Fear Maintaining loyalty and Maintaining loyalty and

obedience to the group by obedience to the group by threatening soul, life or limb for threatening soul, life or limb for the slightest 'negative' thought, the slightest 'negative' thought, word or deed.word or deed.

Replacement of RelationshipsReplacement of Relationships Destroying pre-cult families by Destroying pre-cult families by

arranging cult marriages and arranging cult marriages and 'families'.'families'.

ReflectionReflection

What are the similarities and differences What are the similarities and differences between cults and the Milgram shock between cults and the Milgram shock experiment?experiment?