Why People Join Cults

Cults have formed and developed throughout the world and are still a relevant issue to this day. To better understand cults, psychologists have studied and analyzed the various reasons why people join and remain in cults. Some characteristics of a cult include “a focus on individual concerns, indifference to the world, privatized and/or ecstatic religious experience” (Cults). Cults tend to be led by a single leader attempting to reach a goal. The goals of cults are dependent on the desires of the cult leader. They often coincide with religious and apocalyptic beliefs. Initially, cults may appear to give a vulnerable individual a sense of identity and purpose within a group that shares similar ideas. However, the cults usually end up exploiting

At first he asked for people's paychecks and social security checks. These small actions were the gateway to his followers eventually signing over their children and houses. This concept is called the foot in the door phenomenon. When someone accepts small seemingly insignificant request they then become more susceptible to accepting a bigger request. It is also thought “he used brainwashing techniques to break his people’s will and force them to comply” (Jonestown, Chidester). The idea of brainwashing is popular amongst cult researchers athough it is still a controversial topic. Furthermore, Jim Jones entrapped his members so they were not able to leave Jonestown once they joined. He had armed guards and would beat and assault people who questioned or did not agree with his ideas. Another example of entrapment is demonstrated by the fact that Jones would tell his followers to kill their children first during mass suicide drills, so then it would be easier to kill themselves after. Throughout the duration of Jonestown, Jones would continuously lie to his members and tell them the United States was under attack and falling apart. This in turn would make the members believe staying in Jonestown was the safest and best option. After a visit from journalists and a congressman, Jones was fearful the truth about his group would come to light and ordered a mass suicide. Ultimately, this killed the majority of the members as well as Jones