Arak Journal

Vulnerability: The Bait for Cult Leaders

By Kayla Tucker

The topic of cults has always been an intriguing field of study to me. My curiosity certainly increased after learning about the Jonestown Massacre in my high school sociology class. The Jonestown Massacre occurred in 1978, when nine-hundred individuals from the People’s Temple committed suicide in the South American country of Guyana. I watched a documentary on these former cult members as they shared their painful, personal stories. In addition, my teacher assigned a research project for which I had to analyze five different cults and present my information to the class. I found this assignment extremely interesting and thought-provoking. Hearing and learning about such terrifying groups made me that much more intrigued. As a teenage girl from central New Jersey, I could never fathom the appeal of these social groups. Accordingly, I want to explore the similarities amongst cult members and delve into the types of people who join and their reasons for doing so.

  A cult is a social group that identifies by its unusual beliefs or common interests. But more recently, cults have been defined as groups that use manipulative techniques to brainwash their followers to achieve particular goals. These are two vastly different definitions of cults, suggesting the controversy of this subject. However, cults are much more common than most would think: up to three million young adults have affiliated with these devious circles in the last two decades. The topic of cults started gaining attention during the 1930s as sociologists began examining religion-based cults. Researchers began to look very broadly at the causes for joining. Some argue it’s simply just a combination of being isolated, mentally unstable, and having connections with cult members. Though I agree with these assertions, I believe vulnerability is the most dominant factor among all others. This is because susceptibility and weakness allow cult leaders to easily take advantage of their victims and employ their devious tactics. Additionally, most remain in these groups due to dependency on their leaders, resulting in a complete personality change. Above all, it is crucial to recognize the role emotional vulnerability has on these dangerous cults, before the damage is done.

People who exhibit vulnerability are “able to be physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt, influenced or attacked” according to Fiona Parley (2). But how does one become vulnerable? Even though everyone has their own unique personalities, there are certainly factors that make some more vulnerable than others. For example, those who are lonely, neglected, and discouraged all tend to display vulnerable personalities. To back up this claim, a story of a seventeen year old boy that ran away from home to join a cult discusses several different aspects. This case study, written by Michael Jellinek, professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, follows the boy’s psychiatric treatment, studying perhaps why he had joined the cult. This article delves into his early-life, noting the boy’s learning disabilities and issues in social-life. His grades fell into the C-D range and his parents even sought neurological consultation for their son’s difficulty in school. Also, he continuously ranted to the doctors about his parents, claiming they’re never satisfied with him and always cause fights (Jellinek 976).  While having a hard time at home, he spent the majority of his free time involved in the Evangelistic Free Church, isolated from his peers and family. Feeling lonely and neglected heightens one’s vulnerability “because he/she feels assistance may not be available if required” (Parley 267). Although this is just one case study, it suggests how minimal connections with others, severe learning conditions, and an unstable family life can have a huge impact on an individual’s vulnerability. This combination of traits can be seen as weakness, thus making them easier victims for devious cult leaders.

    Currently, cult leaders manipulate others to recruit their members. Cults tend to isolate their followers from former friends and family, ultimately implementing a new system of beliefs and values. This is highly detrimental, since people soon lose their own way of thinking and abide by the cult’s ideas. In order to achieve complete control over their victims, cult leaders “aim to promote total dependence on the group” (Farber, 8). Although all cults have different, unique methods to gain their following, one of the most common techniques is showing a possible member attention, love, and support. Those who are vulnerable and feel lonely, lost, or hopeless tend to feed off this care. Additionally, leaders work to bring their circle into a dissociated state in order to achieve mind control. This is an altered state of consciousness where the mind and body are disconnected from each other. It’s achieved through “sleep and food deprivation, drumming, chanting, lecturing on and on for hours, flashing lights, spinning around in circles, all of which assault the senses and break down a person’s ability to think,” says Ph.D. psychologist, Sharon Farber. (10). Through these methods, cults are able to fill the members’ dissociated mind with their own ideology.

Additionally, sociologist Robin Perrin concludes that cult leaders’ “manipulation left disoriented and malleable victims vulnerable to a new identity created by their captors” (5). Surely enough, as time progresses, many members undergo a complete personality change and soon regard their leader as a powerful god. Not to mention, according to a study conducted by Rousellet on former cult members, 90.3% of people conclude that the personality of their cult leader heavily contributed to their involvement in the cult (Rousellet, 30). This data is incredibly useful in discussing why people join, and it provides researchers with information on leaders’ seemingly charismatic persona. 

Understanding the characteristics of cult leaders is extremely important. These narcissistic individuals seem charismatic and charming on the outside but have severe mental and personality disorders within. They also have self-esteem issues and feed off of their following’s adoration, obedience, and attachment to them. Furthermore, these influential leaders “usually have political, economic, spiritual, and personal power over the followers–sometimes directly, and sometimes through a pyramidal hierarchy?.They tend to exploit the individual as a worker and/or as a source of funds” (Schwartz, 2). In other words, these types of people are controlling and use their power to gain financial benefits and emotional compensation. For example, as shown in the documentary Jonestown Massacre: Paradise Lost, Jim Jones regarded himself as “a profit, a savior who would guide and protect and watch over his followers.” His devoted members even referred to him as father, marking his powerful influence. Due to his negative reputation in the United States, Jim Jones and roughly 150 members from the People’s Temple moved to Guyana to build a community of their own called Jonestown. This idea was perfect for Jim Jones, since the town was inclusive and could not be interfered with by people from the outside. In one of his sermons, Jim Jones says, “I want you to be like I am, I want you to become what I am. I want you to enjoy the fearlessness that I have, the courage that I have, the compassion that I have, the love that I have…I want you to be what I am and something greater.” These words Jim Jones preached gave his group a sense of belonging and aspiration. His son even says, “once you get hooked by that it’s really hard to get unhooked.” Jones would mask his own internal problems and portray happiness and comfort to his cult members. His son, Stephan Jones says “He knew he was a bad guy. He knew he was a sick guy. He just didn’t want anybody else to know.” However, at the end of the day, this evil man led over nine-hundred of his followers to mass suicide by drinking Kool-Aid laced with poison. His power over that many people is both alarming and terrifying. This example is important for understanding other cult leaders, since most exhibit similar personality traits to Jim Jones. Yet, not everyone is an easy target for people like him. Those who exhibit vulnerability are much more likely to fall into these traps. Vulnerable people are extremely common and all among us.

As previously mentioned, there are a variety of different ways an individual can become vulnerable. Building off Michael Jellink’s point, in her article, “Family Therapists and Families of Cult Members” psychologist and author Lita Schwartz provides an overview of cults and draws attention to cult leaders and their recruitment process. From her research in this field, she claims that “vulnerable youths are most frequently eighteen to twenty five years old…idealistic, and at an emotional low point and/or a critical juncture in their lives”(4). This information confirms the findings from Michael Jellinek’s article on the possible teen cult member. Therefore, the common thread is that  loneliness and emotional suffering can cause one to be susceptible and easily persuaded. Additionally, the information gathered from Jellinek and Schwartz help to explain the bizarre ending in the movie Midsommar. This film focused on the main character, Dani, as she visited a midsummer festival in Sweden with her friends. The group soon realized they were staying with a cult whose members participated in insane, violent rituals and suicides. Nevertheless, the final scene of the movie ends with the protagonist, Dani deciding to remain in Sweden and join the cult forever. Although this is a fictional account, the research I have already presented, shows the truths of this scenario. Dani probably felt solace and comfort in this new group of people. Because she had lost her entire family just days before the trip, joining this cult gave her purpose and ease. The film reminds us that feeling hopeless and abandoned can take a great toll on a person’s mental health, which certainly can cloud their sound judgment. As such, I argue that cult leaders prey mainly on vulnerable people, since they are the most accessible victims.

 As previously discussed, a cult leader’s dishonesty can easily be masked by their external charisma. Connecting back to the documentary on Jonestown, Jim Jones would preach, “I am the greatest friend you will ever have and I’ll try on every level to protect this community”. Similarly, Schwartz notes that “the cult member is repeatedly told that he/she has found a new family, a very loving one, and has no further need for the family of origin” (3). It is clear that devious cult leaders aim to appear as family figures to trick their followers. This gives the possible members a feeling of comfort and reassurance. Therefore, it’s logical that people join these cults because of their desire for purpose and love from others. For instance, those coming from unstable households tend to treasure such affection that they may not receive at home. This argument ties directly back to the seventeen year old boy who ran away from home to join a cult. As already mentioned, he had family troubles and would continuously fight with his parents. Thus, in his case and others like it, the promise of a new family interests possible members and adds to their reasoning for enlisting. 

Cult leaders maintain a strong control over their following by creating a sense of dependency in their followers. Rousellet emphasizes this point in his article “Cult Membership: What Factors Contribute to Joining or Leaving?” He notes that cult leaders expect their group to have complete and utter reliance on them. Additionally, Rousellet concludes that “effective dependence on the cult leader or on the group… explains why people stay despite threats to their physical and psychological integrity” (27). In other words, cult members remain in these terrifying groups because they lack their own thought process and rely on the group to think and form opinions. They eventually become completely different people and lose all the personality and thoughts they once had. 

Nevertheless, some challenge the brainwashing theory and claim that cult leaders don’t go out of their way to gain their followers. Instead, these researchers claim people are drawn to them. They even argue that “most conversations are voluntary and occur in the absence of physical confinements” (Perrin, 6). Although this research is probably valid, I believe it is only true due to external factors. As stated already, those who are lonely and vulnerable are more likely to join cults. Therefore, it is not surprising that they were drawn to the specified cult, ultimately seeking attention and purpose. Perrin’s information doesn’t account for what happens once the cult leaders first engage with a possible member. Once they converse, cult leaders use their manipulative techniques to ensure their target stays. In other words, Perrin’s statement is accurate, but underestimates the force of other factors.

Lastly, it is crucial to mention the lack of media attention to cults. Robin Perrin argues that “the media does not necessarily have an anti-cult agenda. However, faced with time and space restrictions and obviously drawn to sensationalistic and controversial topics, media accounts sometimes ignore the mundane, non-newsworthy elements” of cult life (Perrin, 10). Because this topic may not seem like the most interesting and pressing story, reporters and news stations tend to disregard information on cults. I think this is absurd and dangerous since it allows society to remain ignorant on important topics. Their lack of knowledge ultimately “manipulates public perception of cults” (Perrin 10) and fails to warn society of their danger. It is important that we educate the public about these threatening groups in hopes to prevent others from joining.

Overall, cults are still prominent in today’s world as cult leaders continue to use brainwashing techniques to gain their susceptible following. These confused, defenseless members remain in these groups for a family and a sense of belonging. In addition, they undergo a personality change that results in complete dependency on the cult. Vulnerable people are the most common victims since they feed off of attention and care. I believe this topic is extremely interesting to study and learn about, I think there are valuable lessons to take away from the research gathered. Understanding the characteristics of both cult members and cult leaders can hopefully prevent others from joining. I hope that the information presented makes people recognize its harm. Most importantly, I believe it is important to identify the indications of a vulnerable person, since vulnerable people are more susceptible to harm due to a lack of logical judgment and a desire for belonging. I believe we can all work collectively to educate others and make our community a safer one for all.

Works Cited

Farber, Sharon K. “Cults and the Mind-Body Connection.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 19 July 2014,  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mind-   body-  connection/201407/cults-and-the-mind-body-connection

Jellinek, Michael. “Ethical, Legal, and Psychodynamic Considerations in Intervention of a Possible Cult Member” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 29, 1990, pp. 975-981

Parley, Fiona. “What Does Vulnerability Mean?” British Journal of Learning Disabilities, vol. 39, issue 4

Perrin, Robin D. “When Religion Becomes Deviance: Introducing Religion in Deviance and Social Problems Courses” American Sociological Association, vol. 29, 2001,pp. 134-152

Rousellet, M. “Cult Membership: What Factors Contribute to Joining or Leaving?” Psychiatry Research, vol. 257, 2017, pp. 27-33

Schwartz, Lita Linzer. “Family Therapists and Families of Cult Members.” International Journal of Family Therapy, vol. 5, 1983, pp. 168-178

Wolochatiuk, Tim, director. The Jonestown Massacre: Paradise Lost (Cult Documentary). Real Stories, 27 Mar. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWqACvTknls&t=248s

Paper Prompt

The Other? Paper

ENGL110 ? Spring 2020

40 points

BACKGROUND

This paper follows in the vein of the Disruptive Narrative, but this time, you have the opportunity to explore lives and identities outside of your own. In considering people different from us, we are engaging with the philosophical concept of the Other.? This term was coined by famed philosophers Edmund Husserl and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. These men were associated with the field of phenomenology, which studies the way we process and react to things that we encounter in the world. Their conception of the Other? describes a person or thing that is alien or foreign to a certain person given their unique background and identity. 

ASSIGNMENT FRAMEWORK

Following the concept of the Other,? I therefore want you use this paper to study a phenomenon or issue unique to a community you deem Other.? In doing so, it should be your goal to uncover issues specific to people of certain identities and form an argument about this form of identification for an audience of people like yourself, who are similarly unfamiliar with these issues. 

To successfully complete this assignment, it is again essential that you narrow the scope of your project and adopt a particular focus rather than writing on broad topics. You won?t want to start from the question, What is it like to be a woman Rather, you might study the role of women in the film industry or the historic barriers to the publication of black women?s writing. The range of topics is truly endless, just as it was in your disruptive narratives. Just as was the case with the previous paper: If you can provide justification for studying any community that you want to know more about, use your proposal to defend your choice.

REQUIREMENTS & SOURCE USE

Since your topic will be largely unfamiliar to you, extensive research will be necessary. For this paper, you need at least three scholarly, peer-reviewed academic sources, although you will likely want to incorporate a few more texts as well. In that vein, after you?ve satisfied the scholarly research requirement, feel free to consult an array of nonscholarly sources, ranging from newspaper articles to credible blogposts or tweets. I would dissuade you from using more than ten sources in this paper. After all, you should be engaging meaningfully with each source, and an extensive bibliography of outside voices can be difficult to incorporate without distracting from your original argument.

Other than the change in prompt and number of required sources, the other major requirement for this paper is that you use secondary sources more strategically and synthesize them throughout your writing, a practice we will explore at length in class. Therefore, academic synthesis?in addition to argumentation, organization, and source use?will be the fourth major component of your grade with this paper. As you will see, it is incredibly important to use a range of sources that support, complicate, and even expand your main idea. For more information, a loose grading rubric can be found below.

As always, while your sources should inform your argument, they should not dominate. I understand the balance between asserting your voice and allowing your sources to take over is difficult. For that reason, your papers will undergo several stages of drafting and even a week of in-class revision stations to ensure your sources are being used in service of your point of view. This time will be productive, and I hope you use these opportunities to collaborate with both me and your peers to create truly exciting research papers. Consider these papers to be your entry point into academic writing. They will prove challenging, but I encourage you to use them to explore and expand both your interests and worldview.

    Below, you can find a breakdown of the final grade, a checklist of requirements for this assignment, and a basic rubric laying out my expectations.

Grade Breakdown:

Final Draft            30 points

Peer Letters            10 points

                40 points

Checklist of Requirements:

• A paper proposal describing a paper topic that explores an issue relevant to a community or category of identity with which you do not identify

• A narrowly framed argument pertaining to an issue or concern associated with the group being addressed as part of the topic

• Two drafts submitted through Canvas

• One round of peer letters completed in response to your peers? first drafts

• One scheduled conference with your instructor to discuss your progress and second draft

• Three scholarly, peer-reviewed secondary sources

• Additional scholarly or nonscholarly sources will likely be needed in addition to this basic requirement. (No more than ten sources.)

• Meaningful synthesis of sources throughout the paper

Grading Criteria

A? Paper

• Incorporates and responds to a range of sources

• Sources speak to each other consistently and productively without impeding writer?s voice

• An original, clearly-stated, and focused central argument or claim

• Organized creatively and effectively

• Clear demonstration of intensive revision between drafts

• Polished, concise, and engaging style

B? Paper

• Strong use of sources in service of main argument

• Sources frequently speak to each other and only occasionally overshadow the writer?s voice

• Clearly-stated and focused central argument or claim guiding paper

• Organized sensibly and deliberately

• Revised according to class comments

• Occasional mechanical errors but consistent voice

C? Paper

• Lack of meaningful engagement with sources

• Sources irregularly speak to each other and suggest a haphazard attempt at synthesis

• Use of a central claim but lacking in specificity

• Disjointed organization

• Halfhearted attempt at revision

• Prevalent and careless mechanical errors and inconsistent voice

D? Paper

• Fails to meet required number of sources or engages little with the ones chosen

• No coherent level of synthesis

• No detectable central claim

• Incoherent organization

• Little to no revision

• Ridden with senseless errors and lacking in any distinctive voice