Social Key Question Flashcards
What is the social key question?
How can psychology explain cult behaviour?
What is a cult?
Group of individuals who follow a strong living leader, accepting their claims of spiritual authority
Why are cults a key issue?
They have extreme behaviours which makes it a concern to society
What is an example of a cult?
People’s Temple of San Francisco - members committed mass suicide in Guyana
What do members of a cult do?
Dependent on cult and break off ties with everyone
- easier to manipulate and exploit members
How does agency theory explain cult behaviour?
Cult members are in an agentic state
Cult members obey the leader because they view them as an authority figure
Cult members give up their free will to avoid moral strain of going against their conscience
How does social impact theory explain cult behaviour?
Strength: view cult leader as an authority figure with diviine links
Immediacy: all living together
Number: surrounded by same believers
How does social identity theory explain cult behaviour?
Cult categorise themselves as in-group and cut off ties with everyone else (out-group)
They dress the same as each other and have the same fringe beliefs which become part of their identity
Cults behave negatively towards outsiders (social comparison)
How does Bromley conflict the social key question?
Found only 5% were still working with the unification church 1 year later
How does Saliba conflict the social key question?
Found 90% of unification church recruits dropped out before the end of the training program so perhaps cults aren’t an issue that we need to worry about
Milgram and Milgram’s variations support Agency theory and Social impact theory
Sherif supports Social identity theory
Sherif supports Social identity theory
