The Behavior of Cult Leaders and Members Explained by using Psychologic

This essay will examine and pull in the behavior of religious cult leaders and cult members by using and applying mental principles. I will specifically highlight the behavior of Jim Jones and his followers and explain what factor ins that ca employ them to believe wholeheartedly in the doctrine of Jim Jones. I will as healthy as explain what psychological tactics were used to influence his believers to be participants in mass suicide and the psychological factors that contributed to the belief that this was their only option. What is a cult? According to (Pratkanis & Aronson, 2001,p.307) the term cult is used to described to describe a pattern of social relations within a group and that cults heap be centered on a range of issues, including race, politics, therapy, self-help as well as spirituality and religion. Another distinctive feature of cults or red-hot religious moments are that they have distinctive religious rituals and beliefs related to its beau ideal or a pe rson, they besides practice isolation from the surrounding farming and have a charismatic leader (Myers, 2011, p.197). Cults are by no means new phenomena they have been around since before the beginning of scripted history. Some of the earliest cults were recorded by the ancient Mesopotamian, Greek and Egyptian civilizations. in that location were also early Christian cults, such as the Essenes and the Gnostics. There are also the examples of modern cults, such as The Children of God, Heavens Gate and the Branch Davidians. In addition to cults, there are also modern new age organizations and movements. These groups tread a fine phone line between being an authentic religious organization and have more or less of the same characteristics of being a cult. In these types of organizations it is often di... ...al psychological principals for his consume purposes. I firmly believe that in the very end Jones used the power of informational social influence to gain obedience and conformity. This was the decisive factor that caused his followers to drink the cyanide laced Kool- aide and commit what Jones called a revolutionary suicide. Works CitedThe Ford Foundation. (96-10). PBS,The American Experience . Jonestown the Life and ending of Peoples Temple. Retrieved 4/6/2012, from http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/jonestown-california/.Myers, D. G. (2002). Exploring psychology (5th ed.). New York, NY WorthMyers, D. G. (2012). Exploring social psychology (6th ed.). New York, NY McGraw-Hill.Pratkanis, A. (2002). Age of propaganda the everyday use and abuse of persuasion. New York W.H. Freeman.