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PSYC3142b > Week 12 - Cults > Flashcards

Week 12 - Cults Flashcards

1
Q

Define cults (x3)

A

From the emotionally neutral
*“a system of religious worship and ritual”
*“a devoted attachment to, or extravagant admiration for, a person, group, or principle”
To the highly judgmental …
*“A group/movement exhibiting great/excessive devotion/dedication to some person, idea, thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion/control … designed to advance goals of group’s leaders to actual/possible detriment of members, families, community”

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2
Q

How does academia approach cults? (x4, x3)

A

Split between “cult sympathizers”

  • Believe merely alternative culture
  • “new religious movements”
  • Negativity toward cults as reflection of prejudice/symptom of “moral panic”

And “cult critics” …

  • Maintain cults are psychologically harmful
  • Cults use unethical “mind control” procedures to influence members for personal gain
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3
Q

Describe the Heaven’s Gate cult/outcomes (x4)

A

1997, leader Marshall Applewhite convinced 39 followers to commit suicide
So souls could ride spaceship they thought was hiding behind comet Hale-Bopp
Male members were castrated and drank citrus juices to ritually cleanse their bodies of impurities
Bodies found covered with purple blankets/wearing brand new Nike sneakers

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4
Q

Describe the Solar Temple cult/outcomes (x4)

A

Secret society based on new age myth of continuing existence of 14h C Knights Templar
*Founders Joseph diMambro and Luc Jouvet - members in previous life
Mission to save spiritual heritages of Earth, take it to planet Sirius
Mass murder-suicides of cult members in Quebec, Switzerland occurred around equinoxes/solstices

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5
Q

Describe the Aum Supreme Truthcult/outcomes (x6)

A

Shoko Asohara, blind straw mat maker, claimed visions of apocalypse (Nostradamus)/supernatural powers.
*That he’d travelled to 2006 and spoken to survivors of WWIII.
Dissenters/traitors - extreme punishment, in one case family was abducted/murdered
Chemical attacks on symbols of aggression, corruption, materialism
*Death of 12 Japanese in sarin subway attacks.
Had 20 000 followers … still has 7 000

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6
Q

Describe the Moonies cult/outcomes (x5)

A

Unification Church established by Korean minister Sun Myung Moon
*“new messiah”
Moonie marriages arranged by Moon - famous “mass weddings” in US
Reputation for high-pressure recruitment/corruption of youth (Moon and wife banned from Germany).
Strong political influence in US (own/fund Washington Times; allied with George W. Bush)

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7
Q

Describe the Branch Davidian’s cult/outcomes (x5)

A

Religious group from 7th Day Adventist
Apocalyptic beliefs (final divine judgment)
David Koresh, openly advocated polygamy for himself/selected cult members
Branch Davidian compound in Texas burned down following government raids for illegal weapons
(around 86 dead, including Koresh).

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8
Q

Describe the People’s Temple cult/outcomes (x5)

A

Christian group advocating social justice, Reverend Jim Jones 1953
Town in Guyana for 1000+ followers (Jonestown) to avoid outside intervention
Deviant members severely punished (e.g. imprisoned in a small plywood box)
1978, inhabitants committed mass suicide at Jones’ instruction by drinking poisoned soft drink.
Those who resisted were shot (914 followers died).

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9
Q

What are the pre-cult characteristics of joiners? (x3)

But research is difficult to interpret given that… (x1)

A

No poorer, stupider, sicker than those who do not.
Ltd evidence of unsatisfactory family environment
Often described as “seekers” - disillusioned by traditional religions.

Accounts of pre-cult life are retrospective.

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10
Q

What were the findings of Levine and Salter (1976) interviews of members of 9 cults about why they joined? (x5)

A

43% - loneliness, rejection, sadness
41% - drifting / life was meaningless
34% - personal crisis/unpleasant situation
30% met someone who actively converted them/became concerned with person’s happiness.
Majority reported “average” to “good” relationships with parents

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11
Q

What does evidence suggest as effect of cult membership on current members? (x2)
But studies difficult to interpret as… (x2)

A

Mixed:
*Majority of studies using standard clinical measures suggest current cult members are psychologically well-adjusted.

Situational demands, response biases, mistrust of outsiders.
*Transparent tests without subtle items may provide misleading, unduly optimistic clinical profile

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12
Q

How did Levine (1984) sum up his time spent with the Moonies/impressions of them? (x4)

A

Felt they were performing -
Although professing great satisfaction,
Not brainwashed, but not quite whole either
Not representing themselves accurately

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13
Q

How did Martin (1992) find that people left cults? (x3)

With the final method…(x2)

A

23% walked away,
44% received exit counseling,
25% “deprogrammed”.

(holding cult member against their will/submitting them to long lectures about group) is losing popularity.

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14
Q

What are the psychopathology risks for former cult members? (Conway and Seligman) (x7)

A

“Floating” or dissociation (52%),
Nightmares (40%),
Inability to break mental rhythms of chanting (35%), Amnesia, (21%),
Suicidal/self-destructive tendencies (21%),
Hallucinations/delusions (14%),
Violent outbursts (14%).

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15
Q

What additional symptoms were found in further studies of former cult members? (x5)

A

Anxiety
Guilt,
Difficulty making decisions, Depression,
Loss of identity.

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16
Q

What other life events cause similar symptomatology to leaving/cults? (x1)

A

Loss of any critical identity/group

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17
Q

What % of former cult members display pathology? (x1)

But… (x2)

A

27-95%
Potential for response bias -
*Exaggerating negativity due to anger over experiences

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18
Q

What are 4 drivers of desire to join a cult? (x3, x2, x2, x1)

A

Unresolved psychic needs:
*Freud says religious belief based on regression to childhood dependency
*And transference of feelings to an ultimate father figure (God or cult leader).
Sense of meaning:
*Useful for those who are seeking a meaning/cause in life
Uncertainty reduction:
*Clear guidelines for how we should think/behave
Companionship and belonging

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19
Q

What are common cult recruiting techniques? (x2, x2, x2, x2, x3)

A

Invitation to “open your mind”
*Refrain form judging, bath in the belonging/meaning
Promise of answers
*Quick/easy life solutions
Love-bombing
*Unconditional love and service by old-timers = guilt/reciprocation
Sense of similarity
*Same as salespeople…
Group activity/participation
*Creates emotional ties
*Esp. public - I behaved like one, so I must be

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20
Q

What are Zimbardos tips for resisting the allure of cults? (x9)

A

Practice deviancy
Cut your losses
Don’t make forced, immediate changes
Demand explanations/no double-speak
Awareness of being made to feel like a guest
No such thing as unconditional love from strangers
Ensure psych/physical exits from unfamiliar situations
Critical evaluation
Don’t ease guilt by other’s instructed means

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21
Q

What is the aim of ‘brainwashing’ (according to Edward Hunter, CIA)? (x4)

A

To “radically change a mind, so that he individual becomes a living puppet,
Without atrocity being visible on exterior, objective being
To create tool in flesh and blood,
Furnished with new beliefs/thought processes inserted into captive body”

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22
Q

According to the CIA, what strategies did communists use to brainwash POWs? (x4)

A

Prisoners placed in altered state of consciousness through hypnosis/physical debilitation (sleep deprivation, beating, starvation)
Resulting in becoming highly suggestible (change attitudes/behaviour)
“Conditioning” - punished for maintaining original attitudes/rewarded for taking on communist propaganda

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23
Q

According to the CIA, what was the effect of communists use of brainwashing on POWs? (x2)

A

Captors assume a new personality that governs their actions and decisions,
And persists indefinitely, even when removed from the brainwashing situation.

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24
Q

Was the CIA perspective on brainwashing supported by evidence? (x3)

A

No evidence of hypnosis or forced dissociative state - CIA tried/failed to replicate
Often communists used severe physical coercion/threats of death, plus intense propaganda
Only effective in short term

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25
Q

What was established as the most effective brainwashing technique used in Korea on American POWs? (x3)

A

Gentle questioning of anti-US sentiments/intro of Communist cause
With commitment reinforced by commitment to paper, elaborated by captors
Until ‘betrayal’ sinister and large

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26
Q

What is demonstrated by the success of Korean brainwashing methods? (x2)

A

Power of commitment in gaining compliance

Need for people to feel they have CHOSEN to change attitudes.

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27
Q

What conditions did Lifton (1961) outline as resulting in mind control in communist China? (x7)

A 
Milieu control
Mystical manipulation
Demand for purity
Use of confession
Sacred science
Loading of language
Dispensing of existence
28
Q

What is milieu control? (x2)

A

Limiting all forms of communication with outside world.

Difficult to “reality test” when stripped of contact

29
Q

What is mystical manipulation (mind control technique)? (x4)

A

Potential convert is convinced that group is working toward “higher purpose”
And that she/he will be instrumental in attainment
Manipulators cast themselves as agents “chosen”
Any questioning of higher purpose framed as backward/selfish/petty

30
Q

What is the demand for purity (mind control technique)? (x4)

A

World sharply divided into pure/impure; good/evil.
Philosophical assumption is that absolute purity is attainable,
*Anything done to anyone in the name of this purity is ultimately moral.
Manipulator = ultimate judge of good/evil, uses guilt/shame to control captor

31
Q

What is use of confession (mind control technique)? (x4)

A

Ultimate purity/absolve self of shame/guilt by making confessions … even to crimes never committed.
*Establishing closeness with fellow confessors,
*And surrendering self to environment.
Private ownership of mind/contents viewed as immoral/unnecessary.

32
Q

What is sacred science (mind control technique)? (x5)

A

Aura of sacredness built around group dogma – ultimate moral vision for humanity.
Prohibition against questioning basic assumptions
*Reverence demanded for the Word, and its originators
Results in illusion of logic/precision.
*Dissent immoral, but also “unscientific”

33
Q

What is loading the language (mind control technique)? (x4)

A

Relentless use of the “thought-terminating” cliché.
Language reduced to “god terms” - ultimate good (progressive, liberation)
And “devil terms” - ultimate evil (capitalist, imperialist, exploiting, bourgeois).
Complex human problems reduced to easily expressed, definitive phrases

34
Q

What is dispensing of existence (mind control technique)? (x3)

A

Sharp line between those whose right to existence can be recognized (e.g., “working/peasant class”)
And those that cannot (e.g., “reactionaries”, “imperialists”).
Non-people can become people if they reform

35
Q

What is propaganda? (x2)

A

Info presented as accurate portrait of reality,

But skewed to advance a political cause

36
Q

What drove the emergence of study into attitudes and persuasion in social psychology?

A

Fear of communist propaganda

37
Q

How can propaganda be perpetuated? (x4)

A

Presenting only 1 point of view - selective presentation of facts
Presenting 2 points of view, but characterizing one in simplistic way (“straw man argument”)
Screening/publication of images
Telling lies / failing to present truths

38
Q

What notion has pretty much taken over from propaganda? (x2)

A

Media bias

*In 2000, showed people’s belief in honesty/ethics of reporters was 1/5 that of nursing (most trusted)

39
Q

What was involved in Vallone (1985) study of perceptions of media bias? (x1)
Finding? (x2)

A

Showed pro-Arab and pro-Israeli students identical extracts from news reports on the Beirut massacre.
Both groups reported footage biased against their side
And produced by people who were hostile to their group’s cause

40
Q

What is hostile media bias?

Which has been shown robustly in…(x3)

A 
Tendency for people to think news is biased against their side) 
Conflict in Middle East and Serbia, 
Political reporting in Australia, 
Reports of US abortion issue
Muslim/Christian conflict in Indonesia
41
Q

What is the cognitive explanation for hostile media bias? (x2)

A

Partisans selectively attend to/recall items of news that reflect poorly on opposite side
And selectively ignore/forget items of news that reflect poorly on own

42
Q

How did Vallone find support for the cognitive explanation of hostile media bias? (x2)

A

Pro-Arab Ps who witnessed standardized news footage reported 42% of references to Israel were favourable,
Pro-Israeli Ps reported only 16% were.

43
Q

What is the prior beliefs explanation for hostile media bias? (x3)

A

Prior beliefs about bias might operate as heuristic when exposed to media.
If believe media is generally biased against their side,
Need not closely scrutinize footage for bias; simply assume it must be there.

44
Q

How has prior beliefs explanation for hostile media bias been evidenced? (x3)

A

If told that article came from Muslim paper,
Ps stated bias against Christians
If told from Christian, then biased against Muslim
While unidentified papers were judged as non-biased

45
Q

What is the different standards explanation for hostile media bias? (x2)

A

Host of biased perceptions regarding own groups’ values/behaviours.
*When presented with objective view, feel aggrieved because does not converge with own biased perception of group’s superiority

46
Q

Give an e.g. of extreme group behaviour from WWII (x2)

A

American bomber, with glass shooters cage

Know they’re going down, shooter gets stuck, the rest decide to stay too

47
Q

What psychological state should best predict extreme behaviour? (x1, plus explain x3)

A

Fusion - I am the group, the group is me

  • High identifiers display ingroup bias
  • Highly fused will stop at nothing
48
Q

What is identity fusion? (x3)

And results in… (x1)

A

Powerful, visceral bond to group
Fused feel that they strengthen/draw strength from group, resulting in elevated personal agency
View the group as “family”, and believe family membership requires sacrifices
Strongly fused people will make extreme sacrifices for the group

49
Q

How have researchers measured identity fusion? (x2)

A

Pictorial method - choose the pair of (overlapping) dots the best represents relationship with the group
Verbal, eg ‘I am one wiht my country

50
Q

How did researchers modify the ‘trolley problem’ to study identity fusion effects? (x2)

A

Intro’d a suicide option -

Save 5 ingroup members by jumping off bridge in front of trolley

51
Q

What were the results of ‘trolley’ studies into identity fusion?

A

Total reversal from 75% letting others die if non-fused

To 75% ‘suiciding’ if fused

52
Q

How did effects of identity fusion on the ‘trolley problem’ affect willingness to scarce the self for ingroup (Europeans)/outgroup (Americans) members? (x3)

A

No offers to self-sacrifice for the outgroup, regardless of fusion level
But replicated reversal of 90% non-fused not sacrificing for ingroup either
While 90% of highly fused would

53
Q

How did researchers modify trolley problem to test people’s willingness to die/kill? (x2)

A

Ps decided whether to let ingroup member jump from bridge to kill 5 terrorists,
Or push him/her aside to kill 5 terrorists

54
Q

What were results of trolley problem experiment into whether identity fusion impacted willingness to kill/die to save others? (x2)

A

Nearly all non-fused elected to let another ingroup member (Spaniard) die to kill terrorists
60% of fused sacrificed self

55
Q

What forms can identify fusion take?

A

Local fusion - specific small group, e.g. military brothers

Extended - broader, e.g. nation

56
Q

What 2 types of ties have been observed as key to people making extreme sacrifices for the group?

A

Family-like

Collective

57
Q

How does identity fusion theory integrate familial and collective ties to account for extreme behaviour? (x2)

A

Key is projecting family ties onto a large collective.

This causes people who are strongly fused to group to react to threats to members of collective as if they were family.

58
Q

What was involved into study assessing potency of extended vs local identity fusion? (x3)

A

Measured willingness to fight/die for country,
And which of 10 groups most willing to die for (e.g. friends, family, political)
In 11 Asian, American, European countries

59
Q

What were findings of study assessing potency of extended vs local identity fusion? (x2, x2)

A

Extended fusion predicts pervasive willingness to fight/die for country
Descending from India, China, Oz, Chile, Germany/Spain/Japan
But local fusion more powerful -
*86% willing to die for family

60
Q

Given the findings of study assessing potency of extended vs local identity fusion, extreme behaviour could be encouraged if…(x1)

A

Induce people to think of large/extended groups as if they were small/local ones

61
Q

What was involved in study of impact of creating sense of ‘shared family essence’? (x2)
Findig? (x2)

A

Chinese/Indian Ps read article claiming to have found genetic underpinnings of race
Or that they’d found there wasn’t one
No difference in willingness to fight/die for country among those weakly fused with identity
But big effect for shared genes condition in strongly fused

62
Q

What was involved in Whitehouse (2014) study of identity fusion in revolutionary Libya? (x4)

A

Developed relationships with local during fighting in 2011 - gained access to pro-revolution groups
Ps indicated whether logistical or fighter (24%
And level of fusion to:
*Kin (family)
*Fighting unit (Katiba)
*Kin VERSUS Katiba

63
Q

What was found in Whitehouse (2014) study of identity fusion in revolutionary Libya? (x3)

A

Overall, 70/30 split of fusion with kin/unit
But when logistics/fighters looked at separately,
Split became 55/45 for fighters

64
Q

How do we tend to view violence? (x1)
But… (x1)
Eg… (x2)

A

As perpetrated by a-/anti-social or immoral people
Not due to mental disorders…
One of ISIS leaders explained that organization was his family, more important than own family
(cf., Libyan rebels, soldiers in Iraq…)

65
Q

What is important to remember in understanding violence? (x3)

A

Often, motives are basic human motives such as protecting one’s “family”
Rather than psychologically distance ourselves from inhumanity of others,
We lean in closer to find the very human qualities that sometimes foment tragedy

PSYC3142b (5 decks)

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