WEB DESK: Ever wondered who joins cults and why? The unsettling answer is that nearly anyone can fall into their grasp. “That is the insidiousness of mind-manipulation,” says Lisa Kohn, a cult survivor and author of the upcoming memoir ‘To the Moon and Back’. “Nearly anyone can be manipulated by the promise of a better tomorrow or the answers to their questions or a sense of their inherent rightness (or sinfulness).” However, certain personality traits can make someone more susceptible to joining a cult, and these organizations often exploit these traits.
“Cults prey on vulnerability to facilitate their cause,” explains Dr Michele Barton, a psychologist and director of Psychology Life Well. “They seek out the disenfranchised and outcasts. People most in need of support are lured in by the prospect of belonging somewhere or to something meaningful.”
This is why cults can initially seem appealing and why recognising them can be difficult. “Every right-minded person would most likely say, ‘I am not susceptible to a cult,'” Kohn points out. “And every person I know who was in a cult would tell you that they were not in a cult.” This denial is part of the brainwashing process. “Once you’re in, you know it’s right, and therefore it’s not a cult,” Kohn adds.
Leaving a cult is possible, but recognising it as such can be challenging. Understanding which personality traits cults target can help avoid getting drawn in. Here are a few traits cults look for when recruiting:
Those who want to feel validated
We all seek approval to some degree, whether from friends or at work. However, those with a dire need for approval, often due to neglect, may find the acceptance a cult provides especially appealing. “If someone has a lot of unmet approval needs, a cult may seem like this welcoming group that makes them feel good about themselves,” says Dr. Perpetua Neo, a psychologist and executive coach. Cult members exploit this trait when recruiting new members. “When you feel validated, safe, and important, this ups your sense of membership and wedded-ness to the group,” Dr. Neo explains.
Those who are seeking identity
People searching for their identity may be more likely to join a cult, seeking a sense of belonging. “When you feel your identity isn’t stable, or you’re not really sure of who you are, then a cult makes it simple,” Dr. Neo notes. For those who feel like drifters or suffer from loneliness, a cult may offer a sense of family never experienced before. “Many years ago, when I spent a summer proselytizing, we were told to look for loners, for students, for people who seemed to be searching or questioning… because we had the answers,” Kohn recalls.
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Those who are followers, not leaders
Cults often have a dynamic and inspiring leader, which can be attractive to those who prefer following rather than leading. “Cult leaders can be captivating and dynamic — they suck you in, you admire them, and you think, ‘This is someone I want to be associated with!'” says Dr. Neo. This appeal is especially strong for those who enjoy a predictable daily schedule and like being told what to do.
Those who are seeking meaning
Everyone seeks the “meaning of life,” but those desperate for answers may be more susceptible to cults offering simplistic explanations and a promising future. “Cults, with simplistic explanations coupled with a charismatic leader who has perfected the modus operandi to manipulate you, play on this,” Dr. Neo explains.
Those who have schizotypal thinking
Individuals with schizotypal thinking, who have odd beliefs and behaviors but do not fully disconnect from reality, may align with the strange doctrines propagated by many cults. “Most cults propagate strange ideas, doctrines, and beliefs, which may align with someone higher in schizotypy,” Dr. Neo notes.
Those who are highly suggestible
Brainwashing is a core tactic of cults, making highly suggestible or gullible individuals prime targets. Those desperate for meaning in life might try anything, making them more vulnerable to cult manipulation. “Cults can simply subsume everything to a supernatural otherworldly reason,” Dr. Neo says. This way of thinking makes it hard for cult members to leave, as they feel increasingly invested in the group.
Those who constantly blame others
People who deflect personal responsibility and defer to a higher power are also more likely to join cults. “Blamers are prime-time, high-season game for cult mentality,” says Dr. Barton. They easily follow others and have no moral issues with doing so, regardless of consequences.
Those who are always angry
Individuals filled with anger may be drawn to extremist groups, which offer a sense of belonging and an “us versus them” mentality. “If someone is angry or discontented, they are potentially more susceptible to cults or other extremist groups,” Kohn says. These groups provide an outlet for their anger and a sense of being “right.”
Those who have very low self-worth
Cults prey on those who feel like outsiders, making low self-worth a significant risk factor. “If someone has a low sense of self-worth, they can be susceptible to a cult,” Kohn explains. Cults either confirm this low self-worth and offer a path to “salvation” or falsely raise their self-worth by making them feel part of a chosen group.
While having these traits does not guarantee someone will join a cult, understanding how cults operate and the mind games they play is crucial. We all seek belonging and community, but there are far better ways to find them than through cults.
