Helpline: Cults
This week I have been asked to write about the topic of involvement in cults.
Statistically, college students are at a much greater risk for falling victim to cults. We know that the majority of those who get involved with cults are between 18 and 24 years of age, are single, and have an unsettled lifestyle. It's obvious that college students would be highly represented in this demographic group. We also know that freshmen and seniors in college are especially vulnerable to cults.
Now you may be somewhat skeptical about this since college students, especially seniors, should be pretty intelligent individuals. Well the fact is, falling victim to cults is not necessarily related to intelligence. Often people who get involved with cults are not viewed by others as any less intelligent, less well-adjusted, or more religiously involved than anybody else, and frankly there is a lot we don't know about why some people fall victim to cults
Overall, however, these are people who are particularly vulnerable, and who, often due to being in a state of life transition, may be uncertain about the future. (Now does the freshman/senior thing make more sense?) They may be feeling lonely and isolated. They may also be people who are naive, idealistic, and tend to look for "black and white" answers to life's questions.
Cults operate on a fascinating psychological principle. You may not realize it, but our view of reality is defined by certain "anchors" that we then use as points of reference in "mapping out" our individual model of reality. Cult leaders are experts at removing these anchors, leaving a person in a state of confusion and distress. They then "insert" new anchors to which the person clings in order to reestablish their sense of reality orientation. They now need the tenets of the cult to feel safe, and even "sane".
Some of the intensive indoctrination techniques they employ (and consequently things to look out for) include
- removing people from their normal surroundings and friends, often with weekend "trips" and "retreats"
- sleep and sensory deprivation
- development of a deep emotional debt
- public confessionals
- low-risk relationships (unconditional acceptance)
- fear of punishment or damnation for even thinking about leaving the new "family"
- viewing all of the outside world as evil or satanic so that any desire to return to it is also evil.
Other things to be on the lookout for are:
- leaders who claim divinity or special relationships with God and insist on being the sole judge of a member's actions or faith
- demands for total control over members' daily lives (one of the hardest to recognize once involved)
- isolation and exclusion from the surrounding community
- demands for control of members' finances
- absolutist views toward difficult life problems and spiritual questions
- special (exclusive) promises of salvation or keys to spiritual understanding (i.e.: "It is only through adherence to our beliefs and our rules that you can be saved").
Ways to avoid becoming a victim of cult recruitment basically center around one theme. Recognize, as Scott Peck writes in "The Road Less Traveled", that "life is difficult." So if you believe that you fully understand the Scriptures or that the Bible is absolutely clear on questions of moral decision-making, divine will, or inner peace, you are at risk because cults tend to be able to "tip over your boat" of spiritual understanding by appearing to be more familiar with scripture than you.
And finally there are some common sense bits of advice. Develop a clear understanding of the basic tenets of the group, why they want you to be a member, and what they expect of you. Don't be lured by unconditional acceptance, initial provision of food, shelter, and money, or other things that would contribute to feeling indebted to the group. Before going away for a weekend or longer with a stranger or strange group, be sure you are familiar with the organization, where the activity is going to be, what is going to happen at the activity, and what will be expected of you. Most important, be certain that you will be able to leave and to go home at any time. If you do not feel comfortable with the answers you get when you ask these questions, then say no. Cults prey on people who feel unable to say no.
If you believe you are being targeted by a cult, or have other questions, contact the Counseling and Career Planning Center or one of the ministers of the Campus Ministry Association.
Some of the information in this article was taken directly from the brochure Cult Awareness published by the student counseling center at Purdue University. Appreciation is extended to them. This brochure and a wide variety of information on topics common to college students are accessible on the Internet.
Helpline is a series of biweekly articles on successful adjustment and performance in college provided by the Counseling and Career Planning Center.
Ed Smith
Counseling and Career Planning Center
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Thu, Apr 17, 1997 10:14:16
http://counseling.uchicago.edu/vpc/utc/cults.html
