Evolutionary psychology gives us good insight into cult-like behavior. It's the herd instinct. People are naturally afraid to get kicked out of their social group. In Paleolithic times, social ostracism was a death sentence. Interesting article!
Hello, Katherine! I'm so excited to be on your site with you. This topic is one I have studied for many years. The question is about the way people think, and how people can have a mob-mentality.
First, are we thinking about the brain? What? Can the brain think about itself? For kicks, yes we can! How can an organ(?) with trillions of parts, brain cells which I have lost and are no longer there, be understood? Ha! That is a huge thing. Even Mr. Musk might admit that. We don't have anything close to self-driving cars. Yet?
People, out of fear and safety, join groups. We need each other. But it is dangerous to be in any group that acts as separatists and elite. Some are called cults. The French Revolution is a good example. Nazi Germany is the worst example so far. I would consider the D&D groups 'cult-like.' Mr. Musk played this game in his youth. So did my fanatical sisters, who became so righteous the whole town burned down in 2020. They are at this time City Mothers in Kenosha. Ironically, they have no children and sleep with animals.
The knowledge I live by now comes from the Bible. Something about whole groups of people, who are blind to the truth of matters, can be worth the time to study. All that I wrote above never made any sense to me until I turned 60. I don't know why God kept it from me.
I don't think I could take what is happening now without God's help. Children are being tortured and killed. I saw a boy recently-about 9 or 10. His mother kept him under a counter where she worked, when I heard her tell the boy he would get a 'throat-punch' if he did not be still. I asked her "What did you say?" The boy came out and I saw his eyes stare a whole in the back of my head. For 2 or 3 nights I woke up with chills with his eyes. I waited too long to call authorities. When I did, I told them I blame govt for hurting this boy. I don't blame the mother.
What has this to do with cults? The fanatical Left, in govt and everywhere since the govt took over everything, created the problems. Ask Chairman Mao (Xi) if he is a problem.
This brings to mind a fairly large group of people that appear to be trapped by confirmed biases from birth by a web of strictures fed to them by their family, schools and charismatic authority figures. This group is bound up in societies that are marked by centrally controlled economies that result in stagnant growth and limited opportunities for personal growth.
I think all of these are valud points. I also think the word 'cult' is often used to dismiss valid concerns and dissenting to the status quo which is a neoliberal 'cult' - I find nationalism a particularly scary cult.
But there are really dangerous cults. And yes, we can be aware and taught manipulation tactics and what to look out for etc. But usually leaders of cults are extremely strong and clever and usually you are well-embedded before you realise what has happened.
I think the greater lesson is to be taught from a young age about cognitive dissonance. We should learn this at school and it should be a vital part of education. In essence, we need to be taught that:
1) humans get things wrong all the time
2) it is ok to be wrong
3) it is normal to admit you are wrong when you are wrong
4) you can change your mind and it does not make you 'stupid', nor is it shameful
5) it is great strength to recognise you are wrong and change your mind
I always say, "The fish rots from the head." With that, I mean we take our lead from our leaders. Our leaders are psychopathic - as such, they do anything but admit they are wrong, when they are so blatantly wrong. They slip, slide, evade or just say their mispelt tweet was not mispelt. As such, their populations do the same. (One could even argue that colonial powers will never admit their wrongs as then they cannot continue colonial looting and oppression, but that is an essay for another day!)
Saying, "I'm wrong about this." Is SO poweful. It helps destroy cognitive dissonance. But it is something - as a society - we have to teach ourselves and our children. When we know we can be wrong, then we can live a full life and escape malignant forces when we start to realise their harm.
I honestly feel like I could easily be indoctrinated into a cult. I fit all the criteria. Although I would probably ask too many “upsetting” questions. The biggest cult to me is the cult of society. Cult and culture are similar, no?
I think it's important to promote skepticism. I think the danger is for skepticism to devolve into cynicism. Perhaps skeptic movements need to be more clear with their messaging.
"The one cult you can never spot is the cult you're in." ~ Michael Yon, War Reporter. It's a pithy way to note our reasoning, perceptions, and conclusions are highly affected by our affinities for one group verses another. It's an inescapable human condition, and I sense the only way to mitigate this effect is to hold only loose connections to the various, competing groups that surround us.
Multiple relationships were frayed during the covid lockdowns
The amount of uncertain information is only and will only increase (SM, internet), a guru or group who align with you is a simple and seductive heuristic to outsource your thought process
(a true bipartisan issue)
Trust continues to be eroded
My guess is soon we hit a breaking point and start talking to each other instead of at each other.
Evolutionary psychology gives us good insight into cult-like behavior. It's the herd instinct. People are naturally afraid to get kicked out of their social group. In Paleolithic times, social ostracism was a death sentence. Interesting article!
Hello, Katherine! I'm so excited to be on your site with you. This topic is one I have studied for many years. The question is about the way people think, and how people can have a mob-mentality.
First, are we thinking about the brain? What? Can the brain think about itself? For kicks, yes we can! How can an organ(?) with trillions of parts, brain cells which I have lost and are no longer there, be understood? Ha! That is a huge thing. Even Mr. Musk might admit that. We don't have anything close to self-driving cars. Yet?
People, out of fear and safety, join groups. We need each other. But it is dangerous to be in any group that acts as separatists and elite. Some are called cults. The French Revolution is a good example. Nazi Germany is the worst example so far. I would consider the D&D groups 'cult-like.' Mr. Musk played this game in his youth. So did my fanatical sisters, who became so righteous the whole town burned down in 2020. They are at this time City Mothers in Kenosha. Ironically, they have no children and sleep with animals.
The knowledge I live by now comes from the Bible. Something about whole groups of people, who are blind to the truth of matters, can be worth the time to study. All that I wrote above never made any sense to me until I turned 60. I don't know why God kept it from me.
I don't think I could take what is happening now without God's help. Children are being tortured and killed. I saw a boy recently-about 9 or 10. His mother kept him under a counter where she worked, when I heard her tell the boy he would get a 'throat-punch' if he did not be still. I asked her "What did you say?" The boy came out and I saw his eyes stare a whole in the back of my head. For 2 or 3 nights I woke up with chills with his eyes. I waited too long to call authorities. When I did, I told them I blame govt for hurting this boy. I don't blame the mother.
What has this to do with cults? The fanatical Left, in govt and everywhere since the govt took over everything, created the problems. Ask Chairman Mao (Xi) if he is a problem.
JK
This brings to mind a fairly large group of people that appear to be trapped by confirmed biases from birth by a web of strictures fed to them by their family, schools and charismatic authority figures. This group is bound up in societies that are marked by centrally controlled economies that result in stagnant growth and limited opportunities for personal growth.
This group is the world of Islam.
I think all of these are valud points. I also think the word 'cult' is often used to dismiss valid concerns and dissenting to the status quo which is a neoliberal 'cult' - I find nationalism a particularly scary cult.
But there are really dangerous cults. And yes, we can be aware and taught manipulation tactics and what to look out for etc. But usually leaders of cults are extremely strong and clever and usually you are well-embedded before you realise what has happened.
I think the greater lesson is to be taught from a young age about cognitive dissonance. We should learn this at school and it should be a vital part of education. In essence, we need to be taught that:
1) humans get things wrong all the time
2) it is ok to be wrong
3) it is normal to admit you are wrong when you are wrong
4) you can change your mind and it does not make you 'stupid', nor is it shameful
5) it is great strength to recognise you are wrong and change your mind
I always say, "The fish rots from the head." With that, I mean we take our lead from our leaders. Our leaders are psychopathic - as such, they do anything but admit they are wrong, when they are so blatantly wrong. They slip, slide, evade or just say their mispelt tweet was not mispelt. As such, their populations do the same. (One could even argue that colonial powers will never admit their wrongs as then they cannot continue colonial looting and oppression, but that is an essay for another day!)
Saying, "I'm wrong about this." Is SO poweful. It helps destroy cognitive dissonance. But it is something - as a society - we have to teach ourselves and our children. When we know we can be wrong, then we can live a full life and escape malignant forces when we start to realise their harm.
I honestly feel like I could easily be indoctrinated into a cult. I fit all the criteria. Although I would probably ask too many “upsetting” questions. The biggest cult to me is the cult of society. Cult and culture are similar, no?
You're very self-aware! That's a start to resistance. And you ask a lot of questions, so maybe not? But I agree about the cult of society.
I think it's important to promote skepticism. I think the danger is for skepticism to devolve into cynicism. Perhaps skeptic movements need to be more clear with their messaging.
"The one cult you can never spot is the cult you're in." ~ Michael Yon, War Reporter. It's a pithy way to note our reasoning, perceptions, and conclusions are highly affected by our affinities for one group verses another. It's an inescapable human condition, and I sense the only way to mitigate this effect is to hold only loose connections to the various, competing groups that surround us.
I think you're quite right.
I'd add this may become a growing problem
Multiple relationships were frayed during the covid lockdowns
The amount of uncertain information is only and will only increase (SM, internet), a guru or group who align with you is a simple and seductive heuristic to outsource your thought process
(a true bipartisan issue)
Trust continues to be eroded
My guess is soon we hit a breaking point and start talking to each other instead of at each other.