It's A Mystery To Me
People are often confused when it comes to understanding why someone might join a cult. I know I am.
Given the current political
arena, there have been many news articles and television programs that the MAGA
followers are a cult. Is it that many people join cults because they seek a
sense of purpose in their lives or because they want to belong?
It is generally accepted that cults have a
leader, ie. Donald Trump.
Is
he able to recognize people who have trouble fitting into society and use that
knowledge to manipulate them, typically exploiting underlying issues such as
insecurities, mental health issues, or substance abuse problems? They package
their belief systems to make followers feel part of something bigger. People who long for
greater human connection may also be more likely to fall victim to a cult.
Close relationships are a human need. By capitalizing on this proclivity, cults
can be that much more insidious. I think so.
I'm
not a psychologist. I am guessing that cult members lower their defenses and
are more likely to accept the aspects of their new communities and that they
are cut off from other forms of social support. This probably strengthens the
us-vs- you mentality, making it hard for them to leave.
Many, or perhaps even a majority of people, think that people get
sucked into cults because they're "stupid,” "brainwashed,” "insane,”
"weak-minded,” "types who need to be told what to do,” "or
people who are too lazy to think for themselves" to name a few mentally.
In all fairness to the people holding these misconceptions, it is
understandable why these misinformed judgments are so widely spread, as media
coverage tends to emphasize this. I'm not sure I agree with any of these
theories.
"Members of a cult may be obsessed with a cult figure or leader, who they
believe speaks unrivaled wisdom and consequently hang on to every word. Many
join cults simply out of a desire to be a part of something. Cult members often
prey on people with few friends or family of their own and offer them the
chance to become part of a group that will grant them all the friendship they
could ever need. Cult members will go to no end to compliment and be friendly
to you, and if you're not used to such attention, you won't want it to stop.
Some people will knowingly join cults simply because their members make them
feel good. People who haven't achieved their life goals or are looking for an
explanation for their failures latch onto the mantra of a cult because it gives
them a new purpose in life, even if it's often false—suffering from a lack of
self-confidence. They struggle to find purpose in their life." Anon
I have many friends who I consider intelligent and successful in their
lives who are ardent Trump supporters. There are many reasons why someone might
join a cult. I can't believe that most of them fit into those reasons.
It remains a mystery to me.
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