On November 18, 1978, Jim Jones led his congregation, Peoples Temple, in a mass murder-suicide while in Jonestown, Guyana. Over nine hundred men, women, and children died. After this horrific event occurred, it seemed to be a mystery as to how Jim Jones was able to manipulate such a large number of people from such a wide range of social and religious backgrounds into committing a mass suicide. How Jim Jones came to command such enormous influence over his followers' thoughts and actions and in such little time? Jim Jones utilized Social Psychological principles such as compliance, conformity, social approval and obedience training. This included instituting rigid rules and regulations, withholding or distorting information, using hypnotic …show more content…
trances, and generating guilt and fear among followers. Jim Jones was able to influence people to become members of the Peoples Temple congregation through appealing to, and uniting a wide range of religious and social backgrounds under a single diverse society free of inequality and prejudice. His followers believed his goal was to create a completely egalitarian society that was accepting to all races, religions, and sexual orientations. To be specific, Jones had a large support in the black community. He understood how black Americans and people who supported the Civil Rights Movement felt isolated by the community, and this allowed him to create a place where they felt that they belonged. With such an understanding of how these people had suffered, the ordeals that they had been through and the pain within them, it is no surprise that Jones was so able to gain their trust and make them feel like he was really ready to help them. Knowing how they felt allowed him to build a foundation which would help them feel better. His followers believed that he wanted to create a place for them to be accepted for who they were and would not be judged. When Jones decided that a future for his church would not be possible in America, and had procured land in Guyana where the church could create their first settlement, cut off from all of American society, where all of his congregation was solely in his control, later known as Jonestown. Jonestown was in the middle of very forbidding jungle territory, meaning that nobody could expect to walk out to safety; it would have been more than 100 miles in thick, predator-filled jungle, and the person would've had no hiking boots, no compass, no landmarks and other necessary information to safely guide them. At this point, the level of control and manipulation greatly increased. Jim Jones isolated his congregation from their families, friends, and everyday society, ultimately shrinking their world to only include the church and its followers. This was planned and is often seen as a common characteristics seen in cults but this wasn't a cult, they had a cult-like leader. Without any outside influence it was easy for Jim Jones, and his newly established inner-circle of leaders to manipulate his congregation with false information.
He knew the way to obtain a strong influence over his followers was to move them from their urban American environment to a remote South American jungle, generating uncertainty in their new surroundings. When people are uncertain, they look to others for cues on what to do, leading them to be vulnerable when they are in new surroundings, feel lonely or disconnected. As other cult leaders have done, Jim Jones used this "power of the crowd" influence in controlling others' behavior, intellect, thoughts and emotions. Within the Peoples Temple, and especially at Jonestown, Jim Jones controlled the information to which members would be exposed. He effectively stifled any dissent that might arise within the church and instilled a distrust in each member for contradictory messages from outside. Seeing no alternatives and having no information, a members capacity for dissent or resistance was minimized. These members were primarily the poor, minorities, elderly people who were happy to exchange personal autonomy for security, brotherhood, the illusion of miracles, and the promise of …show more content…
salvation. In the case of obedience, Jones was easily able to take control of his members by igniting fear among followers.
With the majority of his people coming from less fortunate and uneducated backgrounds, most were grateful for the sense of community he provided and the stable lifestyle they were given. Once he gained trust and instilled fear, Jone’s followers were subjected to forms of abuse such as sleep and food deprivation and physical and mental abuse. Once these tactics were used, the people became more obedient for fear of repeat abuse. Jones often ignited fear among followers by required followers to spy on one another and hosting public shamings that took place several times a week were used to turn the residents of Jonestown against each other; because of this, nobody could be sure who to trust, and dissatisfied people were scared to speak out because they were so desperate for acceptance and fearful of being alienated for questioning the Temple’s
methods. Eventually, the power of conformity, obedience training and compliance is what led his members of his congregation to their deaths. He was able to instill powerful fear of him and not being able to stay in heaven(Jonestown) that enabled him to be even more harmful. These members were led to believe that this heaven they lived in could only be maintained through conformity to his vision or ultimately, under his sole control. Since Jones considered sleep and food a luxury and not a right, members often suffered from sleep deprivation, malnutrition leading them to be unable to think rationally or freely. Members would be punished for falling asleep during prayer meetings, or work hours meanwhile Jones praised those who worked hard and showed them better treatment than those who could not keep up. This created jealousy among the members, and created competition for his praise. To conclude, the people who were affected by the Jonestown Massacre joined a religious organization hoping to belong to an organization that they believed in, not a cult. They join a group or organization of people and beliefs that they like, support, and trust. It’s scary to think that everyone vulnerable to being controlled by ideas such as those that Jim Jones imposed and implied on these people. This is an example of where we need to look out for the things and ideas we conform to because when it comes to conforming to ideas or to society, we do it everyday when it comes to the following of social norms. Sure, this is an extremely radical example of why conformity is a bad thing, but it truly is a bad thing. There are large scales of conformity throughout history in many different forms. It just goes to show that obedience and conformity aren’t always the best option, even though it may result in being outcasted and labeled as deviant. Sometimes it’s good to be different than everyone else, and I think that is something that we as a species need to realize.
While dealing with Jonestown it could be perceived as both a cult and a conspiracy theory. The way it fits into being a conspiracy is that many do not believe what was reported and feel that the government, especially the CIA had involvement and made efforts to alter peoples minds for uses of a social experiment. Jonestown also could be considered a cult because in 1955 roughly 1000 citizens formed “The Peoples Temple” in Indiana. It was later progressed to California then finally in 1974 they made there final stop in Guyana. These members usually large in diversity would have mass gatherings and preach
The joad family has known Jim Casy as the preacher but not any more. He was an honorable man with the good faith he has. He is respected and loved by the Joad family he has baptized the children he remembers the family from a long while back. He was a man of God. He was a “Burning Busher”(20). Back then he was called Reverend Jim Casy. He said to Tom Joad “I aint’t got the call any more got a lot of sinful idears but they seem kinda sensible.” He has lost the spirtual touch he once had.
...t its operation. Jonestown, after the termination of the project, was thought to have been a test site for mind control and mental experiments under MKUltra due to the mass suicide that took place there that became known as the Peoples Temple mass suicide and the formation of the Jim Jones cult in that town. Further, Leo Ryan was murdered in Jonestown by the Peoples Temple members when he was investigating numerous reports that were claimed to have happened in that area. Besides the Jonestown theory, the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy was believed, by Lawrence Teeter, to have been a work of the techniques used in the Project MKUltra. Moreover, the attorney believed that Sirhan Sirhan, was under the influence of hypnosis when he murdered Robert F. Kennedy. Nevertheless, he was found guilty of first degree murder and six days later, was executed in a gas chamber.
Looking at his most recent mug shot, no one would guess that Warren Jeffs was once a prophet and leader to a church with nearly ten thousand members; without Warren’s dark brown hair and the suits he commonly wore, Warren could be passed off as any other hardened criminal. Despite the dramatic change in his appearance, it is speculated that the convicted sexual predator still manages to maintain control over his people. While the FLDS Church followers believe that Warren is the one and only mouthpiece of God today; the Jehovah’s Witnesses, on the other hand, have a governing body of seven men that lead their denomination. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is “the oldest and most important of the corporations of the Jehovah's Witnesses”, and the President of the Society used to be part of the governing body. However in October 2000, the current president Don Alden Adams, resigned from the governing body to take on a purely administrative role which has no influence on the doctrine. (WatchTower.org) Adams is considered to be a 50-year veteran of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and like Warren, Adams grew up with his current religion. (Ostling) Don and Warren slightly resemble each other with their long faces, prominent noses and thin framed glasses, however without their shared belief in a god, their appearance is the extent of their likeness. Just as the FLDS Church and the Jehovah’s Witnesses both share a belief in a higher power, they differ greatly in their origin, doctrine, and practices. By comparing these denominations, it will become clear why one is more popular than the other.
The cult had many beliefs that our human bodies were only vessels, occupied by members of the “Kingdom of Heaven.” They believed that Marshall Applewhite was a link between their cult and their god. It was said that god spoke to them through Applewhite. He was considered an equivalent to the Christian religions Jesus. And that people need to follow him as people had followed Jesus 2000 years ago. The cult believed that their time on earth was only a schooling to learn how to become a member of the kingdom of heaven. Do (Applewhite) taught them that in order to leave behind this world and move on to the next, people had to give up their family, sensuality, selfish desires, your human mind and your human body if necessary.
First, people slowly started to realize this may not be what they want yet have no option, leading to psychological torture. It was said to be that if anyone was caught running away Jim Jones and his guards would use tactical skills to torment the people into staying, basically scaring them into any other idea. Also, Jones convinced his people that they were under attack by the government and that the US wanted to shut them down, using brainwash. After hundreds of nights practicing the suicide he finally called the actual drinking of the cyanide-laced kool aid (Jonestown and peoples temple, chidster). The people of Jonestown were manipulated and brainwashed into thinking that the life they were living was a hell and that suicide would bring them to peace. Jim Jones had implanted false thoughts in their heads causing emotional distress and ultimately leading to the mental break down of killing their children and themselves. The people of Jonestown were taken to the level of abnormal living and held high reliance on Jim. It was because of all these adaptions that Jim forced on these people that they became a cult (Cult, Gallagher). Jim Jones is one of the main and biggest examples of the difference between a religious leader and a cult leader. Another key example of a cult that used psychological techniques to persuade people
Annie Moore one of the people who died in Jonestown said these last haunting words: “We died because you would not let us live”. That chilling sentence says so much about the grip Jim Jones had on his followers. Once he had them under his control they weren’t even allowed to think for themselves let alone do anything else freely. Jim Jones started to lose it when the congressman, the relatives, and the media began to question what was going on in Jonestown.
...s already small portions of food and horrible tasks given to those who didn’t obey Jim Jones. Also, Reverend jones clearly didn’t mind the fact that he was forcing more than nine hundred people to commit suicide, a third if them children. Being me, I feel like the way Jim Jones treated these people, and the way he led this cult compound was completely wrong. I feel like Peoples Temple was a humungous mistake. I also feel truly sorry for those who lose friends and family in this horrible event and for those who went through this. Although this is all over the Jim jones Massacre will forever be remembered and never be forgotten.
For many decades, the cult phenomenon has fascinated the masses. A cult is an organization with deviant beliefs and practices, and is characterized by the apparent life-time membership of its participants. It seems to be very popular among troubled teenagers and adults. The psychology behind why some people are more susceptible to the charms and the lure of being in a cult is not very widely researched or understood. Many people are concerned with cultist behavior and the effect that they have on the individuals involved, believing that they have been “brainwashed” into this lifestyle. This paper deals with cult mentality and how people become involved in certain religious and secular cults. It will explore the personality traits of current and ex-cult members as well as look at case studies of members of particular cults. The format of this paper will first look at some preexisting dispositions, the psychological effects while in the cult, and any short term or long term effects upon leaving the cult, as well as some treatment options.
Jim Jones and his infamous cult entitled, “The People’s Temple,” holds an interesting value to social psychology. Jonestown is a topic that can relate back to many sociology terms and ideas. Jonestown can be related to social deviance, the effect of American culture on social groups, labelling theory, charismatic authority, and even shows how societal history often repeats itself. American society during the late 60’s-70’s is what led to the creation of Jonestown. Jonestowns downfall provided a lot of insight to the American public of how society needed to change, proving that the deaths of about 900 people weren’t for nothing.
Cults are dangerous institutions that have existed for many years, corrupting and reforming the minds of innocent people into believing outrageous doctrines that eventually result in disaster. Horrifying cases involving men such as Charles Manson, Jim Jones and David Koresh have bewildered people and raise the question: how could individuals be easily susceptible to the teachings of these men, so influenced that masses go as far as to commit the unthinkable? Individuals who are in a vulnerable position in search for an identity are attracted to cults because they offer a sense of belonging. In addition, isolation from society contributes to the functioning of a cult for it creates an atmosphere where submissiveness and obedience runs high. These two factors seem to hold true for one of the most notorious cults currently established in the United States and Canada. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or, FLDS, is an international polygamist sect that incorporates belonging and isolation along with a dangerous mentality that have resulted in the abuse of women and children in the name of God.
...fortunately, when a person is given that much power and control over a large group of people their decisions as well as reasoning can become altered. In the case of Jim Jones his power lead to an enflamed ego, which led to a greed, not only of loyalty but of money. Money then lead to drug use, and in the end, drug use led to insanity. Those who are gifted with the ability to influence others have a huge responsibility. They must recognize what they have as a gift and not abuse what God has given them. Jim Jones is a person who had this gift as well as good intentions, yet he could not balance and keep in perspective that what he was doing was to benefit the world, not to benefit himself.
John recorded in his journal about religious culture that was pretty major at that time in his community, in Orillia, Ontario. Sunday December 15th, he recorded “a number of the settlers, perhaps 60, met at Newton to attend public worship and hear a sermon from Mr. Brough...” This statement tells the readers that church was the center of people's gathering on Sundays. John did not mention about the town's population, but if he could count how many people attended church on weekly basis, he must have been socially active and a religious man. From the events John recorded in his diary, it is clear that the townsfolk had a very good relationship with each other. The townsfolk also did something called "bees", an initiation which they brought laborers to support their neighbors with their task. Some tasks could not be done by the family themselves, so the "bees" was sort of an action out of courtesy. John often wrote about timbering, which townsfolk helped each other to chop down trees and timber logs for the winter. Such actions of courtesy for each other and asking for nothing back bonded the people together in John's community. In the last entry of John's dairy, he recorded about how the justice system worked. The convict was truly sorry for his crime and was rather eager to have justice, instead of evading it. This tells the readers that people in this time, or it may be just people in John's community, were honest and responsible
Furthermore, the film is highly inclusive, giving the viewer thorough detail not only about the religious organization, but also Jones himself. To start off, the film gives detail of Jones’ upbringing, how he behaved as a child, and certain psychological traits that could potentially explain why the incident happened. For instance, it was stated within the film that Jones grew up in a very poor family. His father, James Jones was an alcoholic, leaving his mother to provide for the family alone. As a result of his dysfunctional home-life, Jones grew to be
Although power should be used with virtue by those with those with good intentions, many of the world's most powerful people use power in ways that purposefully harm other people, the most famous example of this case being Adolf Hitler during World War II. More generally, this includes some past (and present) members of the Royal families, some political leaders as well as a few religious leaders who have used their power to manipulate those lower than them in social status. An example of a power-abusing "religious" leader is Reverend Jim Jones who initiated a ritual suicide to protest racism and fascism. Although in his own mind he had food intentions, to save the world from the Armageddon, he was insane and in the overabundance of power, he was able to kill more than 900 people. It is unclear whether Jim Jones had committed suicide at the ritual or was shot by another, so it is uncertain to say that he had any intentions to die also. Although his protests were for good moral purposes, it was wrong of him to use his status as chairman of the Housing Authority and award receiver to gather extra followers to join the suicide. Here he had overstepped the line to abuse the power he was appointed by putting other people's lives at jeopardy. Being in his position, he was most likely aware that he had many supporters believing in him who would gladly follow his lead. It is at this point where he chose to abuse his power by taking advantage of the people who had the most respect and admiration for him. Charles Manson is an example of a cult leader who abused his power, however with intentions very unlike Jim Jones'. Charles Manson wanted revenge for all the wrong he had encountered which is much more selfish and very different from Jim Jones. Charles Manson had experienced a very bumpy childhood being the son of a teenage, bisexual, alcoholic prostitute. Being shuffled between homes of relatives and orphanages, it is not surprising to see that his criminal activity sprouted from a very early age. Manson's incredibly charisma attracted many hippies and he managed to earn himself s reputation as god-like in the eyes of many beautiful girls. When Manson and his "Family" settled down in Spahn Ranch he was able to sleep with a different girl each night.