The central public misconception about the cult phenomenon is that only "sick" people from troubled families would join "weird" groups. Tragedies, such as the Heavens' Gate or Jonestown murder- suicides, are brushed off as deviant events that may make for interesting news but don't affect average people. Few persons realize that the psychological dynamics of control found in extreme groups, such as Jim Jones's Peoples Temple, are very similar to what is found in cultic groups that, though less destructive that the extreme examples, nonetheless may cause considerable harm to many of their members. Many people do not realize that cults, when conceptualized as highly manipulative and exploitative groups, may be political, psychotherapeutic, and even commercial, as well as religious. And few people realize that research studies indicate that several million Americans have had at least a transient involvement with a cultic group, although many, buying into common misconceptions, may not recognize the cultic nature of the involvement.
Most people who contact Info-Cult are interested in a specific group.
Often, we can provide them with useful information
(Services: In House Research).
But there are so many thousands of groups which people have
inquired about over the years that sometimes we do not have information
on the group in question
(Services: Investigative Research).
Nevertheless, because the psychological dynamics of control is the key
factor in evaluating the "cultishness" and potential harmfulness of a
group, we can often help even these inquirers by directing them to
resources that explain these dynamics. Moreover, even when information
on specific groups is available, this information usually needs to be
supplemented by explanations of how cultic groups gain power over their
members.
* Adapted from "General Inquirers", in the AFF's Cults and Psychological Abuse: A Resource Guide, with the permission of the American Family Foundation (AFF).
Info-Cult
5655 avenue du Parc, Suite 208
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2V 4H2
(514) 274-2333, Fax: (514) 274-7576