What Are Cults?

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When people hear the word cult a certain image tends to burst into their brain. Brainwashed devotees worshipping a crazed narcissist and ready to sacrifice anything for them.

While Jonestown, Heaven’s Gate, and the Solar Temple have given cults a violent reputation, most cults keep a much lower profile.

Cults are everywhere. There's probably a cult in your town. And the tricks they use to lure people in aren’t complicated but rather tried and tested social manipulation tactics that anyone can fall for.

So what is a cult, how do they trap people, and how do people end up believing that volcano alien ghosts are living on their bodies? Well Let’s Find Out.

I'd like to thank the Associated Press for providing me with footage for this video

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Sources:

Losing RealityOn Cults, Cultism, and the Mindset of Political and Religious Zealotry Robert Jay Lifton |

Terror, Love and BrainwashingAttachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems Alexandra Stein |

Cults in Our Midst Janja Lalich and Margaret Singer |

Misunderstanding CultsSearching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field Benjamin Zablocki and Thomas Robbins |

CULTS A Reference Handbook James R. Lewis |

Bounded Choice True Believers and Charismatic Cults Janja A. Lalich |

Cults and New Religious MovementsA Reader Lorne L. Dawson |