Topic 8: Cults

What are the three symptoms of groupthink?

1) Overestimate group's abilities Illusion of invulnerability - couldn't possibly fail Belief in group's morality - we could do no harm and we are always right E.g. Bay of Pigs incident 2) Believe that the group has the best solution/ideas Being closed-minded Rationalization (defending group's actions no matter what) Stereotypes view of opponent/outgroup (justifies our actions) 3)Pressures toward uniformity Conformity pressures because we want people to like and accept us Self-censorship because we don't think it is appropriate to speak up

What is the APA definition of cults?

A religious or quasi-religious group characterized by unusual or atypical beliefs, seclusion from the outside world, and an authoritarian structure.

What are the five characteristics of cults discussed in class?

1) Psychological coercion (manipulation) to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members. 2) It forms an elitist society (totalitarian) - In other words, cult leaders are all powerful and require that their members listen to them no matter what. 3) The leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic and very charismatic. - Cult leaders are characterized as being dogmatic (inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true), messianic (fervent or passionate - inspired by hope or belief in a messiah), and very charismatic. 4) The cult believes that "the end justifies the means" when working to get money and recruit people. - Al-Qaeda members willing becoming suicide bombers and a complete lack of concern for civilian life in their terrorist attacks. 5) Its wealth does not benefit its members or society. - Usually the wealth just benefits the cult leader or leaders.

What are the three effects of crowds discussed in lecture?

1) The presence of others can increase arousal and can diffuse responsibility 2) People in large groups feel anonymous, as if they won't be identified or picked out of a crowd 3) Deindividuation: the loss of self-awareness and lack of evaluation apprehension in groups Explains negative behavior like rioting May conform to some norms like group violence

What is the need hierarchy theory as it relates to cults?

All the activities and efforts to meet our needs can be divided into two parts Low level (psychological and basic needs) High level (self-actualization) One theory that can help explain why people join and stay in cults is based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Low-level needs include our basic needs like food, water, safety and our psychological needs for belonging and feeling good about ourselves. High-level needs are hard to obtain because they require self-actualization Cult leaders and recruiters prey on both low and high level needs of individuals. Many cult leaders claim that they can heal the sick and dying. It is one of the most popular ways that cults draw people in. (placebo effect with a pill for example) Another common way cults draw people in is through pyramid scams where the cult leader serves as some type of self-help coach that recruits people and then makes it so they have to recruit other people in order to stay in the group. The more people they recruit they higher up in the cult hierarchy they move and the closer to self-actualization they are.

How do cults take advantage of people's needs to recruit and retain them?

Cults meet people's low level needs by preying on people whose low level needs are not being met - like outcasts, low self-esteem, homeless people, etc. Cults will often form small communities living in a certain neighborhood, sharing a house, or living on a compound of some sort. This physically separates cult members from the real world and allows cult leaders to make them dependent on them to meet their basic needs. This type of environment is ideal for meeting people's need to belong. Meets social needs/belongingness and basic needs such as water/food Cults meet people's esteem needs in multiple ways. By giving them a sense of purpose, rewarding them for good behavior like recruiting others, etc. Feel loved by the cult leader and become dependent.

How do people recruit and retain cult members?

Cults say that can help you reach self-actualization by meeting your low level needs (Need Hierarchy Theory) Psychological frustration Hypnosis Have to want to be hypnotized for it to work or be predisposed to it People with low self-esteem are more vulnerable to hypnosis Not just anyone can be hypnotized Peer group pressure We want others to like us, we want to belong Love bombing Removal of privacy Sleep deprivation Chanting and singing Dress codes Confession Financial control Illusions

What do cults tend to be?

Cults tend to be highly cohesive, well organized, secretive and hostile to nonmembers.

What is deindividuation?

Deindividuation can be defined as the loosening of normal constraints on behaviour when people are in a group, leading to an increase in impulsive (and deviant) acts Groups promote deindividuation by making people feel less accountable for their actions and decreasing self-awareness

What are the methods, predictor variable(s), outcome variable(s), and results of the Myers & Bishop, 1970 study on group polarization?

High school students Predictor variable: Measured prejudice Talk about racial topics in a group Measured prejudice again Outcome variable: change in prejudice Results: the students initial attitudes were strengthened by the group discussion Low in prejudice at the beginning, attitude was strengthened

What is the illusion of unanimity?

Illusion of unanimity (i.e., thinking the whole group agrees)

What are informal groups and how are they maintained?

Informal group members have similar social backgrounds, personal experiences and mutual needs and emotional ties, informal group members have strong cohesion. Naturally selected leader of the informal group. The existence of informal groups is mainly maintained by mutual needs and emotions, and obvious emotional colors make its internal information exchange having a smooth channel and delivering fast.

What is informational influence and what part of it creates group polarization?

Informational influence: discussion elicits pooling of ideas that favor stance Just hearing arguments (not direction of opinion) creates shift So if I'm hearing general arguments about a candidate for political office, my opinion may become more polarized regardless of whether the arguments are for or against the candidate.

What is conformity?

It is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group. AKA following along with the group to not stand out.

What is obedience?

It is a type of social influence involving performing an action under the orders of an authority figure.

What is love bombing?

It is the display of affection toward new and potential converts, which might be interpreted as a kindness or an idealistic manifestation of devotees' belief that their relationship to spiritual truth and divine love enables them to radiate love and win others to truth. The action or practice of lavishing someone with attention or affection, especially in order to influence or manipulate them.

What are the possible effects of cults discussed in lecture?

Loss of choice and free will Dependency on cult leader, hard to balance one's life so can't make choices Diminished intellectual ability, vocabulary, and sense of humor. Watching videos for hours, chanting for hours, etc. Hallucinations, panic, identity issues and paranoia. Reduced capacity to form intimate relationships Poor judgement Potential to dissociate

Who are mindguards and what is their function in cults?

Mindguards: members of the group who protect the group from information that disagrees with original group stance

What is normative influence and what part of it creates group polarization?

Normative influence: wanting people to like us, we will express stronger opinions after hearing others share our views Just hearing stances (not arguments) creates shifts So if you're telling me how much you like Breaking Bad, then it's going to influence my opinion, and I'll express that I like it even more.

What is compliance?

Refers to changing one's behavior due to the request or direction of another person. This person does not need to be in a position of authority.

What is self-actualization and what are some ways that cults convince people they can reach it?

Self-actualization = achieving one's full potential including creative activities Cults say that can help people achieve self-actualization Meet low level needs first, then person becomes dependent on cult Want to get to the top of the hierarchy in the cult to reach self actualization Cults will also convince people to sell off their worldly belongings to reach self-actualization, which each cult phrases differently, but is usually described as some state of enlightenment or true religious knowledge. Other times self-actualization is only met through the recruitment of so many individuals, through participation in sex acts with the cult leader, or through the use of drugs.

What is group polarization?

Tendency for group discussion to strengthen initial leanings

What is groupthink?

The type of thinking that occurs in a group where concurrence-seeking becomes so dominant that it overrides realistic appraisal of alternative courses of action Don't want to feel like an outcast, all want to agree on the decision Even if people have a different view, they won't express it to go along with the group

What is the psychological-frustration tactic used by cults and what are some things it can make cult members do?

Use of obstacles and setbacks to control people's behavior (e.g., you did not recruit enough new people and must spend the night outdoors) Degeneration can occur (regression to childish behavior) Regressive, childish behavior, not commensurate with knowledge level Being in this state makes people more susceptible to coercion and keeps them in line. Makes cult members want to atone for their wrongdoings Want people to admire the cult leader so much so that they don't want to displease them They feel bad when they don't live up to their leader's desires or expectations

When is the baiting of suicidal jumpers less likely to occur?

When there are factors that break up what deindividuation us (e.g., smaller crowd, less likely to be anonymous), we tend to act much more responsibly. When crowd was small and exposed to daylight - baiting much less likely Because they were less anonymous and more responsible