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A cult’s recruitment process and psychological hold on its members can seem like an obvious red flag to outsiders, and leave us thinking, as individuals, that we’re way too smart and savvy to ever fall into anything like that. But it happens consistently. From ancient times to the modern day, there’s always been an ever-present person who comes along and strikes the perfect combination of intrigue and awe among followers, with control and manipulation not far behind. From the Manson Family to ISIS, Waco to Jonestown and beyond, the best books about cults take a deep dive into the testimonials from survivors and overviews of the experts.
While all cults differ with motives, methods and objectives, there are definitely common threads to look out for, the biggest one being abusive control. “A personality-driven and defined group dominated by a charismatic leader is the most salient single feature of destructive cults,” says Rick Alan Ross, an expert in cult behavior and deprogramming, and author of Cults Inside Out.
For some, exploitation could be a common trait too. Ross says leaders often convince members to willingly hand over access to their finances, or perform labor without pay. Cults hold a tight control over the individual, both psychologically and emotionally, he explains, with a goal of slowly increasing their isolation away from family, friends, and the outside world, sometimes even moving them to a far-off base or compound.
“It varies person to person, but if they’re welcomed and received in a safe way that makes them feel a sense of belonging, and offers an approval that perhaps they don’t have in their lives, it can be a place where they feel someone really gets them,” says Dr. Tod Gross, a Boston-based psychologist who has worked with victims of abuse. “A charismatic and sincere approach from a demonstrative recruiter,” he continues, “might be all it takes, and all of a sudden they feel like they’re part of a brotherhood/sisterhood, and treated in a way that makes them feel special, with a chance to be something bigger than just themselves.”
Abusive and controlling cults know exactly who they’re going for and prey upon them, utilizing timeless strategies that can sway even the most unlikely of people. According to Ross, “My experience has taught me that a cult can potentially recruit anyone regardless of his or her education or social background. No one is invulnerable or somehow immune.”
And while it may be easy for us to say we’d simply leave or escape in that situation, it’s not always a realistic option. Even if the person isn’t physically constrained or threatened with shame or violence, which they often are, betraying the beloved abductor or leader can be an unthinkable act. The recent success of shows like HBO’s NXIVM documentary, The Vow, the Leah Remini-led, Scientology and the Aftermath, and Netflix’s Wild Wild Country, show that trying to leave a cult could be just as damaging as staying in one.
For those who do manage to leave, it’s an often brutal process. The amount of willpower it takes to endure years of abuse, and the brazen courage needed to escape, is almost unfathomable to those who haven’t lived it. But it’s possible, documented here with these stories of survival, and a disturbing look at how deeply and quickly an ideology can create a dangerous fringe of society.
Destructive and isolating cults can masquerade as anything from religions to self-help and even exercise regiments. These books tell the stories, and warning signs, from those who studied it, lived it, and escaped from the deepest reaches of cult organizations.
