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Cults Inside Out: How People Get In and Can Get Out
You've seen them in movies and on TV, but cults are more prevalent than you think—and they're armed with strategies that can brainwash and persuade even the most unlikely of candidates.
But how do individuals get involved with cults in the first place, and what steps can be taken to "deprogram" and heal those who have been drawn into these damaging groups?
These questions and more are addressed in Cults Inside Out, written by leading cult expert Rick Alan Ross. Over the course of three decades, Ross has participated in around five hundred cult interventions, provided expert court testimony, and performed cult-related work all around the world.
With the help of current and former cult members, Ross demonstrates many of the tactics the groups use for control and manipulation—and, more importantly, some of the most effective methods he and other experts have used to reverse that programming.
As a result, readers will find themselves armed with a greater understanding of the nature of destructive cults and an improved ability to assess and deal with similar situations—either in their own lives or the lives of friends and family members.
But how do individuals get involved with cults in the first place, and what steps can be taken to "deprogram" and heal those who have been drawn into these damaging groups?
These questions and more are addressed in Cults Inside Out, written by leading cult expert Rick Alan Ross. Over the course of three decades, Ross has participated in around five hundred cult interventions, provided expert court testimony, and performed cult-related work all around the world.
With the help of current and former cult members, Ross demonstrates many of the tactics the groups use for control and manipulation—and, more importantly, some of the most effective methods he and other experts have used to reverse that programming.
As a result, readers will find themselves armed with a greater understanding of the nature of destructive cults and an improved ability to assess and deal with similar situations—either in their own lives or the lives of friends and family members.
653 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2014
About the author
Rick Alan Ross
4 books24 followersRick Alan Ross is the founder and Executive Director of The Cult Education Institute. He is an internationally known expert regarding destructive cults, controversial groups and movements and author of the book Cults Inside Out: How People Get In and Can Get Out. Since 1982 he has been studying, researching, and responding to the problems often posed by controversial authoritarian groups and movements.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 30, 2022
Review The most interesting part of this review, is the Reading Notes - just quotes on what makes a thinking, independent person into a sheep-like, hypnotised cult member with no will of their own. The book gave much information I probably knew about individual cults but had never put them together about all. The first half was extremely interesting. However, the second part, where the author discusses his methods of 'deprogramming' starts off ok, but quickly with repetition in the stories, became tedious.
Knowing the author was the founder and Executive Director of the Cult Education Institute* and regarded himself as the authority on cults rather than an authority, and me not agreeing with him on which religions are cults and which aren't, made me think that the author writes as though there is no place for disagreement.
I don't agree that the Mormon Church is a cult, no more than I think Jehovah's Witnesses are. All religions started off as small cults within a bigger society that had quite different ideas about faith. Those that grow very big we say are religions or churches. Those that remain small, we say are cults. I'm not sure if there really is a difference and singling out Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses as in the 'top ten' cults seems to be a personal judgement.
*I do not want to imply there is a commercial aspect to this. The author's fees of ($125 an hour) $5-7K plus expenses and he does pro bono work, seem eminently fair for such personally-intensive and time-consuming work.
__________
Reading Notes Cult formation of destructive cults, condensed into three characteristics:
1. A charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power;
2. Coercive persuasion or thought reform; and
3. Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie." Robert J. Lifton in Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism
"Margaret Singer defined six conditions necessary to be “changed one step at a time to become deployable to serve the leaders” of a destructive cult"
__________
I had previously read Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism which I rated at a 2 star. But it's not even in the same league as this book.
Knowing the author was the founder and Executive Director of the Cult Education Institute* and regarded himself as the authority on cults rather than an authority, and me not agreeing with him on which religions are cults and which aren't, made me think that the author writes as though there is no place for disagreement.
I don't agree that the Mormon Church is a cult, no more than I think Jehovah's Witnesses are. All religions started off as small cults within a bigger society that had quite different ideas about faith. Those that grow very big we say are religions or churches. Those that remain small, we say are cults. I'm not sure if there really is a difference and singling out Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses as in the 'top ten' cults seems to be a personal judgement.
*I do not want to imply there is a commercial aspect to this. The author's fees of ($125 an hour) $5-7K plus expenses and he does pro bono work, seem eminently fair for such personally-intensive and time-consuming work.
__________
Reading Notes Cult formation of destructive cults, condensed into three characteristics:
1. A charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power;
2. Coercive persuasion or thought reform; and
3. Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie." Robert J. Lifton in Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism
"Margaret Singer defined six conditions necessary to be “changed one step at a time to become deployable to serve the leaders” of a destructive cult"
1. Keep the person unaware that there is an agenda to control or change the person. Few cultic groups or leaders readily or willingly admit their agenda or ultimate purpos. They may conceal certain teachings from new members and generally endeavor to rationalize anything that may potentially seem negative. No one intentionally joins a destructive cult.The first half of this book was very interesting, the second, on deprogramming was interesting to start with, with it's (now illegal) kidnappings to it's refined form of intervention and counseling, but it's now reading like a manual for the would-be deprogrammer. Still, lots more to go!
2. Control time and physical environment (contacts, information)—These vary from group to group. Minimally they may mean becoming cocooned within a social environment that monopolizes time and constrains associations, but they can become as extreme as an isolated compound like Jonestown.
3. Create a sense of powerlessness, fear and dependency—This has been called “learned helplessness.” Members are afraid to leave and become dependent on the group for a sense of security, safety, and purpose.
4. Suppress old behavior and attitudes—This is the breaking-down process of an individual personality.
5. Instill new behavior and attitude—This is a changing process to adopt more acceptable personality traits and corresponding characteristic behavior approved by the group.
6. Put forth a closed system of logic—This is based on what Lifton calls a “Sacred Science” that cannot be questioned. And this then becomes the basis of all value judgments.
__________
I had previously read Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism which I rated at a 2 star. But it's not even in the same league as this book.
December 20, 2022
When I 1st saw this book I wasn't interested in reading it until I saw that rick Ross's name was on it. I spent years on his Cult Education forUm I really admire him and what he has done to help people. I had my own forum for years. It was actually for X members of a certain guru based organization. A few years ago I turned it over to an X Member of that organization. Yet I never consider that religion a cult. The main hurt That people experienced was when they learned that the guru was immoral, but even that was debatable. Conditions in the ashrams were really terrible so 1⁄3 of all the monks End nuns left over a brief period of time. Most, if not all suffered from depression.
Why would I not call it a cult? Because it was not as dangerous or hurtful as another religion I had been in, which was the Jehovah's Witnesses. If it were a cult then even the catholic church is a cult. But , as for me, I believe that all religions are cults and all cause people to suffer one debgree or another. Yet, there are many people who thrived in these religions and never seem to suffer.
Why would I not call it a cult? Because it was not as dangerous or hurtful as another religion I had been in, which was the Jehovah's Witnesses. If it were a cult then even the catholic church is a cult. But , as for me, I believe that all religions are cults and all cause people to suffer one debgree or another. Yet, there are many people who thrived in these religions and never seem to suffer.
April 19, 2019
Academic but accessible book, elucidates on the universal characteristics of cults
Ross is an expert in cults, he has worked personally with 1000s of cults from small to large and it was very helpful for me, to have the core characteristics of cults identified and clearly explained.
What I learned is that all cults have the same characteristics, whether they are spiritual or political, or even marketing based, they all use similar techniques and have the same core underlying philosophy of training their members the "surrender" to the key directives and authority of the leader or the group. A cult will also "unfreeze" "rewrite" and the "refreeze" members, by creating conditions that encourage them to become open and receptive, and will replace their "map of reality" with a new version that is in alignment with the group values, and "refreeze" that map, giving a member a new identity and frame of reference, in such a way they do not even realize it has happened.
The book is academic, and based on the best available research, and also gains from Ross's intervention work, with examples provided of his personal interactions as an intervention consultant with people from numerous cults. One of the key methods used to help "wake" people up is to help them to identify how the cult deceived them from the beginning, often disguising that the cult leader even exists, and not revealing the true purpose of the group, or the groups philosophies and belief system until the member has undergone a series of secret rites of initiations, ones they were often lead into blind, without full consent simply by erroneously placing their trust in the more senior members of the group.
It has taught me that it is important to use your brain, be aware, and just because something "feels good" doesn't necessarily mean it is good for you. A majority of cults will use emotional regulation techniques such as yoga, meditation, relaxation exercises which provide real benefits, but they are in actuality a grooming process, that brings you into the right degree of receptivity so that the indoctrination, thought reform, and behaviour modification process can begin.
I have recently left the Irman Effendi led Reiki based cult, and Rick Ross’s book and videos have helped me to identify the techniques that were used to obtain increasing control over me and my life. Effendi uses a controlled walking technique, called Secrets of Natural Walking, meditation, relaxation guiding, hypnosis and trance states, prayer, long retreats, past life regressions, confessions, increasing daily practice requirements as methods of both mental, physical and energetic control through the "spiritual heart". The reiki energy is reframed as “True Source’s love” and used to validate all of his teachings. Irman teaches a new epistemology, stating that it is only through “heart checks” anything can be known, and then uses these as pseudo-objective corroboration to legitimise his doctrine. Ultimately all members are led, in a hypnotic, state, as helpless as little children, drunk on Reiki energy, to the conclusion that he himself is God. It was illuminating to read that the techniques, philosophies and practices taught by Effendi in the Padmachaya, Padmachaya, Open Heart Meditation, Reiki Tummo, "Natural Way of Living" group, are all text-book techniques of control and manipulation and all identified in Rick Ross's book.
Ross is an expert in cults, he has worked personally with 1000s of cults from small to large and it was very helpful for me, to have the core characteristics of cults identified and clearly explained.
What I learned is that all cults have the same characteristics, whether they are spiritual or political, or even marketing based, they all use similar techniques and have the same core underlying philosophy of training their members the "surrender" to the key directives and authority of the leader or the group. A cult will also "unfreeze" "rewrite" and the "refreeze" members, by creating conditions that encourage them to become open and receptive, and will replace their "map of reality" with a new version that is in alignment with the group values, and "refreeze" that map, giving a member a new identity and frame of reference, in such a way they do not even realize it has happened.
The book is academic, and based on the best available research, and also gains from Ross's intervention work, with examples provided of his personal interactions as an intervention consultant with people from numerous cults. One of the key methods used to help "wake" people up is to help them to identify how the cult deceived them from the beginning, often disguising that the cult leader even exists, and not revealing the true purpose of the group, or the groups philosophies and belief system until the member has undergone a series of secret rites of initiations, ones they were often lead into blind, without full consent simply by erroneously placing their trust in the more senior members of the group.
It has taught me that it is important to use your brain, be aware, and just because something "feels good" doesn't necessarily mean it is good for you. A majority of cults will use emotional regulation techniques such as yoga, meditation, relaxation exercises which provide real benefits, but they are in actuality a grooming process, that brings you into the right degree of receptivity so that the indoctrination, thought reform, and behaviour modification process can begin.
I have recently left the Irman Effendi led Reiki based cult, and Rick Ross’s book and videos have helped me to identify the techniques that were used to obtain increasing control over me and my life. Effendi uses a controlled walking technique, called Secrets of Natural Walking, meditation, relaxation guiding, hypnosis and trance states, prayer, long retreats, past life regressions, confessions, increasing daily practice requirements as methods of both mental, physical and energetic control through the "spiritual heart". The reiki energy is reframed as “True Source’s love” and used to validate all of his teachings. Irman teaches a new epistemology, stating that it is only through “heart checks” anything can be known, and then uses these as pseudo-objective corroboration to legitimise his doctrine. Ultimately all members are led, in a hypnotic, state, as helpless as little children, drunk on Reiki energy, to the conclusion that he himself is God. It was illuminating to read that the techniques, philosophies and practices taught by Effendi in the Padmachaya, Padmachaya, Open Heart Meditation, Reiki Tummo, "Natural Way of Living" group, are all text-book techniques of control and manipulation and all identified in Rick Ross's book.
November 10, 2021
Rating: 3.5/5 I liked it 😁
Non Fiction November 2021
The name of the book says it all, this is truly an in depth look at cults, but for that same reason I didn't rate it higher.
I found the first half fascinating, that's where the author describes what are the characteristics of a cult and how they influence their followers. He mentions a lot of cults that were and are now active. Some of the stories are horrible but very interesting.
Then he goes on to detailing how to perform
an intervention to help people involved in cults. To me this was the part that made me take a star off. It's an useful tool to gather information for those that may have a loved one in a cult or that were themselves in a cult; but for me, the section was too extensive and technical.
The final part was some examples of cases he has worked on. I liked it a lot. It mentions an intervention he performed on a guy involved with Amway. I've always said that Amway is a cult, I felt validated seeing it here.
If you are interested in knowing more about cults, I highly recommend it.
Non Fiction November 2021
The name of the book says it all, this is truly an in depth look at cults, but for that same reason I didn't rate it higher.
I found the first half fascinating, that's where the author describes what are the characteristics of a cult and how they influence their followers. He mentions a lot of cults that were and are now active. Some of the stories are horrible but very interesting.
Then he goes on to detailing how to perform
an intervention to help people involved in cults. To me this was the part that made me take a star off. It's an useful tool to gather information for those that may have a loved one in a cult or that were themselves in a cult; but for me, the section was too extensive and technical.
The final part was some examples of cases he has worked on. I liked it a lot. It mentions an intervention he performed on a guy involved with Amway. I've always said that Amway is a cult, I felt validated seeing it here.
If you are interested in knowing more about cults, I highly recommend it.
January 3, 2020
Although we hear the word cult and think Charles Manson or religious extremists, what I liked about this book was that it pointed to the fact that the same ideology influencing extremist cults is also present to some extent in our everyday world.
A cult is any group that uses undue influence to motivate members. Look up undue influence if you aren’t familiar with the term — it’s worth understanding and learning how to recognize it. It is commonly employed by people on social media seeking to gain followers for their own self-driven purposes. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a popular paradigm, knowing it was wrong but not knowing why or how to find your way to truth, this book is worth considering.
As a Christ-follower, my prayer is to be set free from the chains of this world, so although Gods Word is the only authoritative source for absolute Truth, this book was helpful to me in developing a big-picture perspective on groups formed through organized religion, social media platforms, corporate/industry work teams, etc.
A cult is any group that uses undue influence to motivate members. Look up undue influence if you aren’t familiar with the term — it’s worth understanding and learning how to recognize it. It is commonly employed by people on social media seeking to gain followers for their own self-driven purposes. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a popular paradigm, knowing it was wrong but not knowing why or how to find your way to truth, this book is worth considering.
As a Christ-follower, my prayer is to be set free from the chains of this world, so although Gods Word is the only authoritative source for absolute Truth, this book was helpful to me in developing a big-picture perspective on groups formed through organized religion, social media platforms, corporate/industry work teams, etc.
July 30, 2023
This was a bit of a mixed bag: Written by an acknowledged expert in the field, it reads like a dry textbook at times with numerous references and quotes. Quite a large part of it is taken up with definitions (of a cult, of a charismatic leader, of coercive and controlling behaviour) and with checklists e.g. of how to get a family member extricated from a cult. Consequently, I found myself skipping large chunks of text which I found repetitious and dull. On the plus side, there were some fascinating nuggets about various cults, and the detailed accounts of how the author went about "deprogramming" cult members were so interesting.
February 25, 2024
An accessible and haunting look into the nature of destructive cults, and the work of cult deprogrammer Rick Ross.
Ross takes us through academic literature to explore the nature of cults but does so in an extremely layperson-friendly way. He explores various cults like Jonestown, Falun Gong, NXIVM and James Arthur Ray's "sweat lodges".
He takes us through his own work - how he performs "cult interventions". That is, how people have engaged him to intervene in their personal lives when a loved one has been trapped and brainwashed by a destructive cult.
His process is not therapy or mental health counselling. It is simply education - explaining to the cult member what a destructive cult is, and how they are in fact in one. It is often through this process that a cult member discovers a "crack" which then leads them to making a decision to leave the cult.
Ross explains that most of his interventions work, but admits that some (a minority) have failed.
A really easily digestible and informative book.
Ross takes us through academic literature to explore the nature of cults but does so in an extremely layperson-friendly way. He explores various cults like Jonestown, Falun Gong, NXIVM and James Arthur Ray's "sweat lodges".
He takes us through his own work - how he performs "cult interventions". That is, how people have engaged him to intervene in their personal lives when a loved one has been trapped and brainwashed by a destructive cult.
His process is not therapy or mental health counselling. It is simply education - explaining to the cult member what a destructive cult is, and how they are in fact in one. It is often through this process that a cult member discovers a "crack" which then leads them to making a decision to leave the cult.
Ross explains that most of his interventions work, but admits that some (a minority) have failed.
A really easily digestible and informative book.
September 15, 2022
This should be an obligatory reading for every high-schooler. Insightful journey on how no matter the person's background, coercive persuasion techniques and subtle manipulation can easily lure anyone into destructive cults where they can be brainwashed to the point of self-harm, giving up all assets, family and sadly, even life. It can happen to anyone. Education is the strongest defense. I feel grateful to Rick Ross for his demonstrated courage with hundreds of deprogramming sessions with former cult members and distilling his vast knowledge into this book.
January 21, 2023
This was a highly informative read. I found the author’s sharing of his cult intervention work experiences extremely insightful and I especially appreciated how transparent he was. The chapter that piqued my interest the most was that on Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT). Thanks to this book, I decided to read more about the topic. I had in fact started listening to a podcast episode critiquing a specific LGAT organisation because of my curiosity.
June 1, 2023
Exceptionally well informed and comprehensive! Highly recommend!
May 12, 2022
4.5 STARS
Really great read. I feel as though I've taken a course on cults, their history, how they function, and how to help with deprogramming.
I have learned that destructive cults always have (1) a charismatic leader whose word is law; (2) a program of thought control and domination; (3) exploitation of members economically /physically/sexually. They can have religious elements, or be completely secular, or have a combination of both. They leverage normal human desires for belonging /friendship /higher purpose /success; using methods of influence that are themselves neutral but for abusive purposes; always with initial deceptive charm and false facade, only to reveal their truth once you're locked in.
No one ever set out to join a cult. Instead, you are looking for a purpose in your life, or you're lonely and want friendship or community, or are looking for a volunteering opportunity, or to improve your health/career success, or you're depressed or sick and looking for someone or something that can help--but instead are lead down a terrible rabbit hole. Anyone can fall for a cult, because cults often wear benign faces--can be a local nonprofit, a church, a yoga studio, a conference on how to make better sales.
(In my city, the Church of Scientology owns a beautiful historical mansion in a convenient downtown location and offers their conference rooms for free to local nonprofits for meetings and charity functions. For nonprofit organizations with limited funding and no physical location--of which there are many--this is gold, and many take advantage. All you have to do is to take you on a chill tour of the mansion, with a small museum of Scientology history downstairs. Afterwards you can sign up to reserve rooms, and they will provide free tea and coffee service, with little biscuits, whenever you conduct your meetings there. Just generally SO NICE and considerate. Then you get invited to their holiday parties where you mingle with other nonprofits, but now also with Scientology members too who will talk about how much Scientology helped them getting their business off the ground, gave them career success, self-confidence, etc. If Scientology has not been outed as a notorious cult, how many people would have been drawn in without a second thought?)
Once a cult capture your attention, it will begin to break you down--destroy/ reframe your previous worldview using peer pressure, confrontational "therapy", public confessions, "breakthrough" experiences. Then, when your defenses are down and you're emotional and vulnerable, with lowered ability to analyze and make objective judgment, it instills its own version of ultimate truth into you. Then, they make sure you continue to accept this "ultimate truth" by applying more peer pressure, isolating you from your old life and friends and anyone who doesn't believe, fill your time with organization activities and demands, work you half to death, deprive your sleep, and make you go through emotional rollercoasters of love/approval alternating with harsh disapproval/punishment if you fail to toe the organizational rules.
A member's relationship with a cult is so similar in many ways to an abusive relationship. It offers you what seems to be complete understanding and love, approval, sense of community and shared purpose, and a clear way out of your current difficulties--like the romantic fantasy of the knight in shining armor. Vice versa, an abusive relationship could also be a two-person cult, if it has all the same features of control and exploitation. Inside both, at some point you give up your ability to think clearly and critically, and rely purely on your leader for guidance and self-esteem.
I'm happy to understand that deprogramming is essentially intensive education and conversation /open discussion with a cult-captured person on the definitions of cults, what type of fluence and control tactics they use, then compare to their experience and understanding of the cult they're in. The point is to reengage their independent thinking process again, and to see their own predicament clearly.
Highly recommended!
Really great read. I feel as though I've taken a course on cults, their history, how they function, and how to help with deprogramming.
I have learned that destructive cults always have (1) a charismatic leader whose word is law; (2) a program of thought control and domination; (3) exploitation of members economically /physically/sexually. They can have religious elements, or be completely secular, or have a combination of both. They leverage normal human desires for belonging /friendship /higher purpose /success; using methods of influence that are themselves neutral but for abusive purposes; always with initial deceptive charm and false facade, only to reveal their truth once you're locked in.
No one ever set out to join a cult. Instead, you are looking for a purpose in your life, or you're lonely and want friendship or community, or are looking for a volunteering opportunity, or to improve your health/career success, or you're depressed or sick and looking for someone or something that can help--but instead are lead down a terrible rabbit hole. Anyone can fall for a cult, because cults often wear benign faces--can be a local nonprofit, a church, a yoga studio, a conference on how to make better sales.
(In my city, the Church of Scientology owns a beautiful historical mansion in a convenient downtown location and offers their conference rooms for free to local nonprofits for meetings and charity functions. For nonprofit organizations with limited funding and no physical location--of which there are many--this is gold, and many take advantage. All you have to do is to take you on a chill tour of the mansion, with a small museum of Scientology history downstairs. Afterwards you can sign up to reserve rooms, and they will provide free tea and coffee service, with little biscuits, whenever you conduct your meetings there. Just generally SO NICE and considerate. Then you get invited to their holiday parties where you mingle with other nonprofits, but now also with Scientology members too who will talk about how much Scientology helped them getting their business off the ground, gave them career success, self-confidence, etc. If Scientology has not been outed as a notorious cult, how many people would have been drawn in without a second thought?)
Once a cult capture your attention, it will begin to break you down--destroy/ reframe your previous worldview using peer pressure, confrontational "therapy", public confessions, "breakthrough" experiences. Then, when your defenses are down and you're emotional and vulnerable, with lowered ability to analyze and make objective judgment, it instills its own version of ultimate truth into you. Then, they make sure you continue to accept this "ultimate truth" by applying more peer pressure, isolating you from your old life and friends and anyone who doesn't believe, fill your time with organization activities and demands, work you half to death, deprive your sleep, and make you go through emotional rollercoasters of love/approval alternating with harsh disapproval/punishment if you fail to toe the organizational rules.
A member's relationship with a cult is so similar in many ways to an abusive relationship. It offers you what seems to be complete understanding and love, approval, sense of community and shared purpose, and a clear way out of your current difficulties--like the romantic fantasy of the knight in shining armor. Vice versa, an abusive relationship could also be a two-person cult, if it has all the same features of control and exploitation. Inside both, at some point you give up your ability to think clearly and critically, and rely purely on your leader for guidance and self-esteem.
I'm happy to understand that deprogramming is essentially intensive education and conversation /open discussion with a cult-captured person on the definitions of cults, what type of fluence and control tactics they use, then compare to their experience and understanding of the cult they're in. The point is to reengage their independent thinking process again, and to see their own predicament clearly.
Highly recommended!
April 3, 2018
Cults take advantage of the fact that everyone wants a map to joy: draw it, and people will follow.
Here is the basic roadmap you (Potential Cult Member) are presented with: you have been living all wrong, but I (Cult Leader) have in my hands the solution to all your problems. I am close to God---I am enlightened--I am chosen, weighed down by the burden of my specialness, and you should kneel before me. I love you, exactly as you are, more than any family member or partner has ever loved you (but I want to help you to be better). If you strip away your current (beliefs/bad habits/lifestyle) you will be in state of continuous euphoria, your sins and the complications of your past will fall away from your body, you will be made wholly new, filled with energy and devotion, ready to take on the world.
Definition of a (destructive) cult: “What all these groups have in common are mandated practices that do harm with corresponding demands for rigid conformity. ”
Three characteristics of a charismatic cult, according to Ross:
"1. a charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power;
2. a process I call coercive persuasion or thought reform;
3. economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.”
Cults are so addictive because personality isn’t a primitive thing, isn’t stable; we arrive at it. Cults are structured to make people vulnerable: salvation is dangled before you (as long as you follow the correct path), question and disobedience is heavily discouraged, the cult member is socially isolated and surrounded only by other people who are devoted believers, their financial resources are all funnelled into the cult. They are made to feel as if there is no viable life outside the cult: it is all they have.
The first half of this book gives examples of destructive of cults, describes their characteristics, and explains how thought reform happens. The second half is focused on intervention (i.e. how to stimulate critical thinking and autonomy for the cult member). It’s pretty long and goes into extensive detail so I would recommend picking and choosing the sections that appeal to you, but it’s a detailed and well-explained introduction to cults and deprogramming.
Here is the basic roadmap you (Potential Cult Member) are presented with: you have been living all wrong, but I (Cult Leader) have in my hands the solution to all your problems. I am close to God---I am enlightened--I am chosen, weighed down by the burden of my specialness, and you should kneel before me. I love you, exactly as you are, more than any family member or partner has ever loved you (but I want to help you to be better). If you strip away your current (beliefs/bad habits/lifestyle) you will be in state of continuous euphoria, your sins and the complications of your past will fall away from your body, you will be made wholly new, filled with energy and devotion, ready to take on the world.
Definition of a (destructive) cult: “What all these groups have in common are mandated practices that do harm with corresponding demands for rigid conformity. ”
Three characteristics of a charismatic cult, according to Ross:
"1. a charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power;
2. a process I call coercive persuasion or thought reform;
3. economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.”
Cults are so addictive because personality isn’t a primitive thing, isn’t stable; we arrive at it. Cults are structured to make people vulnerable: salvation is dangled before you (as long as you follow the correct path), question and disobedience is heavily discouraged, the cult member is socially isolated and surrounded only by other people who are devoted believers, their financial resources are all funnelled into the cult. They are made to feel as if there is no viable life outside the cult: it is all they have.
The first half of this book gives examples of destructive of cults, describes their characteristics, and explains how thought reform happens. The second half is focused on intervention (i.e. how to stimulate critical thinking and autonomy for the cult member). It’s pretty long and goes into extensive detail so I would recommend picking and choosing the sections that appeal to you, but it’s a detailed and well-explained introduction to cults and deprogramming.
June 28, 2021
Wow excellent book very insightful on the workings of fear anger hierarchies and can easily be generalized for government and corporate dictatorships.
Also good compassionate advice on helping people learn more so they can make a better choice.
Only qualm I have is that it did not talk about the qualities of healthy new religious movements. But yeah I guess it is possible to figure out by seeing th abscence of the destructive qualities.
Also good compassionate advice on helping people learn more so they can make a better choice.
Only qualm I have is that it did not talk about the qualities of healthy new religious movements. But yeah I guess it is possible to figure out by seeing th abscence of the destructive qualities.
December 7, 2021
I picked up this book because I heard Rick Alan Ross on a podcast interview and thought he was knowledgeable and compelling. I think this books diagnostic tools did not translate well to an audiobook experience. While I appreciated the rigor of analysis and case studies, I also found the book somewhat repetitive and dated (such as referring to the “advent of the World Wide Web”). The chapters at the end (gurus, MLMs, and group training orgs) were solid and useful.
July 6, 2019
The ultimate book on cults. I have read a lot of books about specific cults. This is the book that gives an overview of what makes a cult destructive, types of cults (e.g. political, religious, yoga, etc). He sets forth the criteria for a book to be deemed a destructive cult. So interesting. The stories here are varied and heartbreaking. Must read for cult-watchers!
July 3, 2023
Very throughout and educational.
June 4, 2023
This book is not sensationalist, funny, demeaning, histrionic, terribly political or even philosophical. It is "drier" than I guess I expected but after finishing it, that is probably a good thing. But it is a good, workmanlike history of cults through history, particularly modern ones like Heaven's Gate, the Branch Davidians, Scientology, Amway, Falun Gong and many, many more.
Ross details in psychological terms what leads people into cults, why they stay despite, perhaps because of, abuse and isolation, and why some of them get out either with help or by themselves. He spends a lot of time talking about his own experience being brought in by spouses, parents and other family and friends to break the hold cults have on their adherents. Most of the time, he says, he succeeds, but not always.
Besides discussing the cults themselves, he provides some very interesting history on how police, governments, the press, and mainstream religions react to and (usuallyt) try to battle cults.
I grabbed this book from Audible to get away from the long list of political books I've been reading and failed in that goal. Though this book was written before Trump's campaign and election, I couldn't help hearing just how much Trump's rhetoric resembled that of cult leaders in convincing them that he, and only he, could "fix" things and every time someone challenges him, it is a "witchhunt" or an attack.
It is also interesting that Ross discussed not only religious cults but many other types of organizations that try to control their adherents, including multilevel-marketing scams, yoga Gurus, and even family cults.
He does try to make a distinction between mainstream religion and dangerous cult religions, but sometimes it feels like he glosses over inconvenient facts there.
The reader in my Audible version, Daniel Day Adams, was pretty much as staid and workmanlike in reading as Ross was in writing the book. So don't expect an emotional experience listening to this book, but he is clear and concise in reading and, I guess, makes the book everything Ross intended. At 16h 20m, it is a long book and I admit I found myself wandering occassionally and having to go back and re-listen to parts but overall, I feel I learned a lot by listening.
Ross details in psychological terms what leads people into cults, why they stay despite, perhaps because of, abuse and isolation, and why some of them get out either with help or by themselves. He spends a lot of time talking about his own experience being brought in by spouses, parents and other family and friends to break the hold cults have on their adherents. Most of the time, he says, he succeeds, but not always.
Besides discussing the cults themselves, he provides some very interesting history on how police, governments, the press, and mainstream religions react to and (usuallyt) try to battle cults.
I grabbed this book from Audible to get away from the long list of political books I've been reading and failed in that goal. Though this book was written before Trump's campaign and election, I couldn't help hearing just how much Trump's rhetoric resembled that of cult leaders in convincing them that he, and only he, could "fix" things and every time someone challenges him, it is a "witchhunt" or an attack.
It is also interesting that Ross discussed not only religious cults but many other types of organizations that try to control their adherents, including multilevel-marketing scams, yoga Gurus, and even family cults.
He does try to make a distinction between mainstream religion and dangerous cult religions, but sometimes it feels like he glosses over inconvenient facts there.
The reader in my Audible version, Daniel Day Adams, was pretty much as staid and workmanlike in reading as Ross was in writing the book. So don't expect an emotional experience listening to this book, but he is clear and concise in reading and, I guess, makes the book everything Ross intended. At 16h 20m, it is a long book and I admit I found myself wandering occassionally and having to go back and re-listen to parts but overall, I feel I learned a lot by listening.
September 24, 2022
I was interested in learning more about the nature of cults and, specifically, how they are able to manipulate and control people, rather than a narrative overview of major groups and trends. In general, Ross’ well-researched book provided precisely what I was hoping for and includes a solid balance of historical context for well-known cults, what defines a group or relationship as a “cult”, the theories behind the ways they manipulate members, and also practical and detailed information on how to go about addressing concerns regarding cult involvement with family and friends. I also appreciated that Ross makes a point to emphasize the importance of non-judgmental communication with loved ones; anyone, regardless of social standing or educational background, can fall prey to coercive persuasion and deception techniques. My one issue with the book, though, was the amount of repetition, both in terms of the criteria that defines a destructive cult and the steps involved in the intervention process. While in some places these were good reminders, particularly given how long it took to get through the audiobook, in others it just felt like it lacked a bit of editing, as some overt repetition occurred within the same chapters. Overall, however, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking for a more academic overview of cult involvement and intervention techniques.
April 8, 2023
I like the book I read to be very accurate and cautious about reality in its narration, and carelessness about reality annoys me.
I read this book all the way to the Waco siege, until it got to the crux of the story, which very casually blamed the deadly fire on David Koresh without leaving any room for ambiguity and investigation. This is not the approach I expect from a scientific and research text.
The subject of the Waco tragedy has many complications and there have been huge criticisms of the FBI's performance in managing the situation, and there is no doubt that there are numerous conclusive evidences on the excesses and intensity of the FBI's unreasonable and destructive action. But the author completely ignores and passes this part of the story without any reference. And this is where this text loses its credibility for me as a responsible, reliable and accurate text and I am extremely disappointed.
The fact that these so called cults are the negative role of these narratives is not a reason not to present an accurate and fair account of the events.
I read this book all the way to the Waco siege, until it got to the crux of the story, which very casually blamed the deadly fire on David Koresh without leaving any room for ambiguity and investigation. This is not the approach I expect from a scientific and research text.
The subject of the Waco tragedy has many complications and there have been huge criticisms of the FBI's performance in managing the situation, and there is no doubt that there are numerous conclusive evidences on the excesses and intensity of the FBI's unreasonable and destructive action. But the author completely ignores and passes this part of the story without any reference. And this is where this text loses its credibility for me as a responsible, reliable and accurate text and I am extremely disappointed.
The fact that these so called cults are the negative role of these narratives is not a reason not to present an accurate and fair account of the events.
March 30, 2018
This book is extremely informative and very fair and balanced. I highly suggest jumping around and reading sections that grab you first, if you find it hard going in the beginning. This worked really well for me and I ended up going back and reading the beginning once I got the groundwork in other sections. I think depending on who you are and why you're reading it, you'll want to choose where you start reading, to pull you in. The book covers a Huge number of past and present cults across the United States, including many international cults, such as the Moonies or Landmarks Forum, or the Sri Chinmoy center. I really appreciated how it spoke about family cults, and how a cult-like environment can be formed by parents raising their children, or between partners in a relationship. It delves into cult 'types' and proposes a detailed and thorough definition of a cult. There is a lot of information about understanding and handling a cult victim's mindset.
May 21, 2020
Why do some people join cults? Why do some people start cults? It's always been very intriguing to me and this book helps to explain those and other questions that we as lay people may have concerning cults.
It also tackles deprogramming, helping people that have been brainwashed but now it's more called cult interventions instead of the programming. this book was fascinating and did not disappoint in any way It is very long but you can't sum up how to unhook yourself or how to unhook loved ones from a charismatic leader or organization. There is not one type of person that is more susceptible to being in the cult than another so that is a big myth that people that are weak or have no direction in their life join cults because very intelligent people join cults some people that don't have much education join cults and in a way we're all susceptible. So it's good to know this information to help to guard ourselves from being susceptible to cults and cult like organizations
It also tackles deprogramming, helping people that have been brainwashed but now it's more called cult interventions instead of the programming. this book was fascinating and did not disappoint in any way It is very long but you can't sum up how to unhook yourself or how to unhook loved ones from a charismatic leader or organization. There is not one type of person that is more susceptible to being in the cult than another so that is a big myth that people that are weak or have no direction in their life join cults because very intelligent people join cults some people that don't have much education join cults and in a way we're all susceptible. So it's good to know this information to help to guard ourselves from being susceptible to cults and cult like organizations
September 8, 2024
Very resourceful on the inside and out of cults. Giving you a better understanding of what to look out for. It even gives you lots of real-life cults that you might not even know exist. Talks about the author experiences trying to deprogram individuals to get out of the cult. Talks about success and failure in doing so. As well as why they changed the way they go about helping people. It's definitely worth the read if you are unsure if the people you are around is a cult and explain ways and question you can ask yourself or talk with other by asking questions to better understand yours or the other persons situation.
It's great even if all you want to do is educate yourself of the signs of brainwashing and even gives you tool on how get out of a cult if you ever find yourself in a situation you never thought you would get in even knowning about cults in some degree.
It's great even if all you want to do is educate yourself of the signs of brainwashing and even gives you tool on how get out of a cult if you ever find yourself in a situation you never thought you would get in even knowning about cults in some degree.
December 17, 2021
This was a 2 or 3, for me, but I want really looking for a book on how to extricate people from a cult, and the book was correctly labeled, and for that purpose I couldn't imagine a better text. It's isn't overly technical, gives a sound overview of various major works of cult psychology, a brief history of some famous cults, and even a couple case studies of successful and unsuccessful interventions. It is a tad repetitive, but not so much a technical book as a pragmatic one. If you are afraid someone you love has been "brainwashed" by a destructive cult, this is as good of a starting point as you could ask for. If it's to general for your taste, the bibliography is extensive and offers plenty of suggestions for more in depth, intensive reading.
January 1, 2023
Very good and informative. Both a family member and I had brief experiences with one of the ones mentioned but escaped unscathed. I didn't stay long enough for them to get their hooks in me. Many of these groups know just how to find easy targets and promise all kinds of happiness and rewards. It's like being trapped in an abusive marriage. I liked that he gave examples of the interventions he took part in and why few people can go that route now (too easy to abuse the rights of people to make their own choices) unless they voluntarily choose to get help to escape. Beware of any leader or group that says they have all the answers and makes over the top promises (salvation, fast track to heaven, eternal happiness and being "chosen or special".
May 30, 2024
2.75
So this has been left on my shelf semi-finished.
I do have every intention of finishing the book, but I am finding the last 3/4 to 1/2 of this book to be much like the second half of Steven Hassans' book.. I get through it in bits and pieces, but as it is more, how to manual on deprogramming. The parts that I find gripping are the physical historical and psychological explanation of cults, cult leaders, large cults, death cults, small cults, cults of one ect!
I am also just in the middle of a pile of non-fiction TBR and I am having a hard time just sticking to one book, once the one I have on hand starts to slow down I find myself switching to another..
So this has been left on my shelf semi-finished.
I do have every intention of finishing the book, but I am finding the last 3/4 to 1/2 of this book to be much like the second half of Steven Hassans' book.. I get through it in bits and pieces, but as it is more, how to manual on deprogramming. The parts that I find gripping are the physical historical and psychological explanation of cults, cult leaders, large cults, death cults, small cults, cults of one ect!
I am also just in the middle of a pile of non-fiction TBR and I am having a hard time just sticking to one book, once the one I have on hand starts to slow down I find myself switching to another..
March 20, 2022
Not a fan of the book or the writer. He had a website which encouraged members to bully and harras some religious groups as the words of the poster usually was not allowed to be questioned. When one tried to reported these stalkers the author and host of the forum, would not step in. Thus creating his own community of thugs who terrorised those in cults and those who may have had loved ones in cults.
If someone had an issue with a religious group they were happy to label them a cult without much proof.
If someone had an issue with a religious group they were happy to label them a cult without much proof.
July 26, 2022
A fascinating and thorough academic explanation of the field of cultic studies. Ross provides you with relevant literature & perspectives from an array of fields to help better understand cult involvement. He takes you on a journey through several successful and otherwise cult interventions to see this data in action. I would label this a necessary read for anyone, because regardless of how smart you are (or think you are), because we are all susceptible to the coercive persuasion techniques outlined by Ross time and time again in the work.
July 13, 2023
I saw this author in some documentary, I can't remember which. Some parts of this book were excellent and others read like a psyc textbook. I found the different types of cults interesting and what makes them a cult. When he explains why people fall victim to cults, that was one of the places where the book swerved into textbook territory. He had a couple of case studies of deprogramming that worked and some that didn't work. So, to sum up, the parts that I liked I really liked and the parts that I didn't like, I skimmed through. That is an awful sentence, but I'm gonna leave it there.
June 4, 2022
A thorough and methodical look at different types of cults, their history, and their deleterious effects. I found the chapters that detail what all goes into an intervention (or deprogramming) fascinating. The author also includes a chapter about failed interventions, and what went wrong each time. An interesting book about how people get tricked and enmeshed, and how they can escape.
July 12, 2024
Very good information & well explained, however was needlessly repetitive throughout. Rather than simply introducing one person’s concept and then, when referring back to it later, saying “see chapter such and such”, the entire concept is re-explained; this was done multiple times throughout. Had the author done this, it would have been easily 100 pages shorter.
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