What is a cult?
Introduction.
I will write a series of posts that answer the question; what is a cult? As I listen to NXIVM cult whistleblower Mark Vicente’s series, I will write an article each day, starting with his first video which is featured in today’s article.
The proper use of the word “cult.”
As with other words, we can be glib when we describe something, we can misuse words and exaggerate situations. However, cults do exist and they aren’t just weird, far off organisations that you think you’ll never be part of.
As Mark says, learn pattern recognition. It is possible that your family operates or operated like a cult. Same with other relationships and organisations that you are/were a part of. You can learn to match your current/past situation to cult characteristics.
Mark’s credentials, my credentials.
Neither of us are clinicians and so we refer to resources like books and professionals who are qualified to give advice based on their study and research. One credible source is the ICSA which stands for the International Cultic Studies Association.
https://www.icsahome.com
“Founded in 1979, the tax-exempt ICSA is a global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic and other high-control environments.”
So what about Mark’s background? He is a cinematographer and director who was making a film about the kidnapping epidemic in Mexico but when he found out that it was by association supporting criminal enterprise NXIVM, he pulled the film. With a small band of whistleblowers, Mark exposed NXIVM’s criminal behavior, resulting in multiple arrests and prosecutions.
https://www.markvicente.com
You may have heard of the NXIVM cult on the news and it attracted numerous actors like Smallville’s Allison Mack. NXIVM was led by Keith Raniere who is now a convicted fraudster and sex offender. One of the ways NXIVM was advertised was as a series of seminars about human potential. So NXIVM attracted its members via this non dubious strategy.
Something that has been mentioned a few times is that intelligent people are susceptible to joining cults and manage to find arguments to justify certain behaviours. They can use these arguments to convince themselves that they are not in a cult.
Finally, about me in case you are new to my writing..I have read about narcissistic behaviour and listened to professionals like Dr Ramani. I always knew something was not right with a family member but I was able to match their behaviour to the traits that Dr Ramani talked about. I also learned about the experiences that I had. I applied perspective and tried to normalise somethings but would feel frustrated and isolated. Learning about narcisstic behaviour and abuse has helped me in my healing.
“The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions.”
Sacrificing for the greater good is a huge red flag for narcissistic behaviour and cult like characteristics. It is an ideology that that I have heard our own British prime minister Keir Starmer talk about in his speeches. He has spoken about hard times ahead that will all be worth the final outcome. Starmer has restricted the livelihood of pensioners, elderly people and tax paying citizens. He has put Great Britain on the road to hell under the guise of nobility.
Many socialists and communists present themselves to be kind and empathic people. They don’t see the hypocrisy in their own actions and as Mark says, some people openly abhor violence. Yet, they’ll carry it out on others through coercion, again, thinking this is all for the greater good. These people have a cognitive dissonance whereby they can separate their bad actions from good intentions.
A book recommendation.
During his time in the NXIVM cult, Mark and his peers were recommended a book to read by Keith Ranierre. Ironically, they did not recognise that the very same behaviours listed in the book were actually carried out by the cult they were in. Of course the members would not have recognised that they were in a cult because they could not bring themselves to believe it. This is what I wrote about earlier in the way people can justify certain actions and behaviours.
The book recommended is called, “Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of 'Brainwashing' in China.” It is written by Robert Jay Lifton.
Lifton talked to numerous people who had been indoctrinated by Chinese communism and identified drastic shifts in their personality and thoughts. Their thought reform fit the following criteria;
So, until the next video and article, let’s summarise what a cult is.
As per Mark’s words, this is a good definition and it is by Amy Morin, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW);
"A cult is an organized group whose purpose is to dominate cult members through psychological manipulation and pressure strategies: Cults are usually headed by a powerful leader who isolates members from the rest of society."
In the next article as per Mark’s video, I will start writing about the numerous cult characteristics and tactics.
Thank you for reading and if you like, you can buy me a coffee. The next article will be posted today or tomorrow.