1. Cults – An Overview

2. What is a cult…Are the following images examples?

9. What is a Cult? Hard to define Not always a pejorative term Focal point is on leader and/or mission Semi-spiritual or spiritual oriented language

10. Are Religions and Cults the Same? Argument for: Religions are simply larger and older Argument against: Religions tend to be more metaphysical oriented Religions tend to point to something beyond themselves

11. David Koresh American cult leader Leader of the Branch Davidians Went to churches looking to start “bible study groups” Used highly manipulative psychological techniques Had many spiritual wives ranging in age from 10- 68 Killed during a fire in 1993 along with 75 of his other followers

12. Jim Jones Founder of The People’s Temple Began in the late 1950s Over 923 were mass murdered by this cult in 1978 Cult began as an agricultural project, Jonestown

13. Appeal of Cults Seduce people into believing they’ll fulfil unmet needs Cults often masked behind alibi Manipulate spiritual, emotional, or even sexual needs of people

14. Psychology of Cults

15. Why Care? Important implications of psychology Provides insight into how the brain functions Further augments knowledge of persuasion techniques

16. Post Cult Experience Depression Guilt Fear Paranoia Slow Speech Rigidity of facial expression and body posture Indifference to physical appearance Passivity and memory impairment

17. How Cults Break People Results drastically change person Target vulnerable people Manufacture a crisis “Reidentification”

18. Physiological Impact on the Brain Same symptoms of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy “Cult-Conversion Syndrome” Overloading of brain’s ability to process information Induce a trancelike state In such a state, one is far more suggestable