The appeal today's cults

Question 1

After members of Heaven’s gate cult committed suicide, Zimbardo (1991) wrote an essay on the messages behind todays cults. There are five propositions.
1. Individuals do not join cults. Explain.

Answer 1

1. Individuals do not join “cults”. They join groups that promise to meet their most pressing needs. Groups are only cults when = dangerous, deceptive and challenging society’s basic values. They remise instant friendship, indignity, security, healthy lifestyle and daily schedule. No crime or violence.

Question 2

After members of Heaven’s gate cult committed suicide, Zimbardo (1991) wrote an essay on the messages behind todays cults. There are five propositions.
2. Cults reflect society’s default values, filling its missing functions?

Answer 2

• cults tell us how society is failing us
• people find themselves isolated and alienated
• solution to cults is for our society to find ways to deliver on many of the cults promise without deception, distortion and potential for destruction

Question 3

After members of Heaven’s gate cult committed suicide, Zimbardo (1991) wrote an essay on the messages behind todays cults. There are five propositions.
3. If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.

Answer 3

• the distortion and even loss of basic human values has made it difficult for many people to believe in anything or trust anyone.
• people in transitional phases of life are susceptible to a cult appeal.

Question 4

After members of Heaven’s gate cult committed suicide, Zimbardo (1991) wrote an essay on the messages behind todays cults. There are five propositions.
4. All of us are vulnerable under the right or wrong conditions.

Answer 4

• this can occur when manipulated situational conditions exert their power over individual dispositions

Question 5

After members of Heaven’s gate cult committed suicide, Zimbardo (1991) wrote an essay on the messages behind todays cults. There are five propositions.
5. Cult methods of recruitment are not different forms of mind control from those sued by other compliance agents?

Answer 5

• they show greater intensity and persistence in using tactics of social influence
• greater efforts to block any attempt by cult members to leave the group = difference