It’s a myth that “anyone can get caught up in a cult”. While it’s true that cults have snared intelligent and sophisticated people, cults exclusively target the emotionally vulnerable. Just like email scammers intentionally use poor spelling and grammar to exclude all but the most credulous, cults have barriers to entry that are going to weed out skeptical people. You often have to dress a certain way; theirs a crazy amount of nomenclature; and strict status and hierarchys to obey. Only the people who have a strong desire to belong and conform are going to tolerate that.
I don’t say this like oh, I’m too smart to be in a cult. I say it to emphasize that cults prey on vulnerable people.
Yes and no. We all go through periods in our lives when we’re emotionally vulnerable. For the barrier at the entry, it’s not necessarily true. Most cults seem ordinary at first; the deeper someone gets involved, the more specialized language and rules they have to follow, and the harder it can become to recognize how much their perspective has changed.
It’s like the familiar “boiling frog” comparison: the water doesn’t become dangerously hot all at once. The changes happen gradually, so each new demand or belief can seem like only a small step from the last. By the time the situation feels alarming, the person may already be deeply invested and accustomed to conditions they would once have rejected.
Some of us easily recognize the fed flags immediately, especially any kind of rule that isn’t an obvious solution to a real problem. Having a belief system for something is a red flag just by itself.
It’s a myth that “anyone can get caught up in a cult”. While it’s true that cults have snared intelligent and sophisticated people, cults exclusively target the emotionally vulnerable. Just like email scammers intentionally use poor spelling and grammar to exclude all but the most credulous, cults have barriers to entry that are going to weed out skeptical people. You often have to dress a certain way; theirs a crazy amount of nomenclature; and strict status and hierarchys to obey. Only the people who have a strong desire to belong and conform are going to tolerate that.
I don’t say this like oh, I’m too smart to be in a cult. I say it to emphasize that cults prey on vulnerable people.
I’m not all that bright, but I’m far too skeptical to get sucked in. As to status and hierarchies and obedience, aw hell no, not going to play along.
So would I get rejected right off, or are there strategies to hook people like me?
EDIT: Read some more comments and realized that, were I single, a sex cult could snatch me easily. I’ll put up with quite a lot to get laid regularly.
Yes and no. We all go through periods in our lives when we’re emotionally vulnerable. For the barrier at the entry, it’s not necessarily true. Most cults seem ordinary at first; the deeper someone gets involved, the more specialized language and rules they have to follow, and the harder it can become to recognize how much their perspective has changed.
It’s like the familiar “boiling frog” comparison: the water doesn’t become dangerously hot all at once. The changes happen gradually, so each new demand or belief can seem like only a small step from the last. By the time the situation feels alarming, the person may already be deeply invested and accustomed to conditions they would once have rejected.
This isn’t really a question of credulity at all.
Some of us easily recognize the fed flags immediately, especially any kind of rule that isn’t an obvious solution to a real problem. Having a belief system for something is a red flag just by itself.
A lot of people in cults believed they were better than that too. It’s even easier for them because they think they’re immune.
Intelligent and Sophisticated people can also be emotionally vulnerable.
Hell I’d say the prevalence is even more so among the intelligent.