What is a cult?

The term 'cult' refers to a psychology system of control.  This system can manifest itself where ever you find a controlling/manipulative person (often described as a narcissist or psychopath) influencing a group or individual .  Some people associate the word 'cult' with religion but any group can become cult like, it is coercive control.

Cults can be...

• Religious groups

• Sports clubs

• Environmental groups

• Political/activist groups

• Life coaching groups

• Support groups

• Multi-level marketing companies

• A workplace

• Therapist/client relationships

• Family relationships

• etc.

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You may have been in a cult if you observed some of the following behaviours (as listed by Langone 2015)...

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• The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether they are alive or dead) regards their belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

• Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

• Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

• The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).

• The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and its members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

• The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

• The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).

• The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members’ participating in behaviours or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before they joined the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).

• The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

• Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and to radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before they joined the group.

• The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

• The group is preoccupied with making money.

• Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

• Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

• The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

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When people leave these high control environments, it's is very common for there to be a shunning process and to be left with very few friends and family around,  especially for those born and raised in the group.  Additionally, in cult groups, it is very common to be punished in some way for fun, creativity, play and hobbies.   However, these things are essential parts of our identities.  Being part of a fun gaming community could help with these things :)