25 Attributes of a Cult

This list is taken from a college course called "The Psychology of Fundamentalism" offered by the University of Texas 1. the leader is charismatic and often militaristically demanding 2. the leader is always right 3. elitism, the leaders treated as royalty or a sense of awe, hierarchical, authoritarian power structure 4. lower members get no respect, or get abused 5. leader is not held accountable for his actions or the actions of his authority structure 6. leader will not tolerate or receive criticism, but leader criticizes all others 7. there is no exit 8. if members exit they are considered rebellious, out of the will of a higher power or the leader 9. members do not have any association with members that have left the group 10. there are no graduates from the “program” or group, just deserters or evil people 11. there is cult speak (a language many others can not understand) 12. personal attacks on critics or those who are not in the group 13. solidarity within themselves, no outside allegiance or association 14. use of guilt to manipulate members 15. the leaders of group are self absorbed 16. instant community 17. members unable to tell the truth 18. money grubbing 19. newcomers don’t “think right” and need to be trained 20. system of punishment and reward 21. intrusiveness 22. sense of powerless, dependency, covert fear, guilt 23. members and leaders are imbalanced or mentally ill 24. thought stopping language, clichés, or slogans 25. demands of ultra loyalty or ultra trust in the groups process and others