Can you recognize a cult when you see one?  

Is there a leader of the tribe? Usually, it’s a leader with a strong personality,  grandiose ideas about himself, and an authoritarian nature. They generally have an origin story that helps people see them as unique in the world, perhaps divinely appointed with a unique access to knowledge, and so superior they cannot be questioned.

It might help if you think of the acronym TRIBE, where the group or leader controls the people in the following ways:

T – Thoughts

Followers get told what to think, how to think. There is often black and white thinking where things are considered all good or all bad.

R – Relationships

The leader has a powerful influence over who can be in the lives of his followers, who they can associate with, date, marry, and who they have to cast out of their lives – even if its someone they love.

I – Information

There is a filter over the information that comes in; perhaps certain books, media, web sites, songs are banned. The negative information available is reinterpreted as evil, false, or fake news.

B – Behavior

The followers are told what they can and cannot do. There are rules, punishments, and routines that must be adhered to.

E – Emotions

People are told how to feel.  Bad feelings, doubts, or sadness are often recast as problematic. Followers are influenced to be happy or peaceful even when something goes agaist natural human feelings.

 

(Note: TRIBE is a modification of the BITE Model by Dr. Steve Hassan.)