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They may be called
destructive cults or totalitarian groups, but the usual practice of
these organisations is always the same: to deliberately and continuously
offend the human dignity of their members and probably human rights
as well.
Destructive cults conceal
themselves behind the freedom of worship, of conscience and of association
which is guaranteed in all democratic countries, by exploiting the lack
of legal regulations with respect to the area of mind manipulation,
which is here exercised beyond all limits.
Throughout the whole
initiation phase, individuals are deceived and manipulated (although
they are never directly threatened) to ensure they make the expected
choices. Once they are inside the cult, control over the social framework
is maintained through several factors:
- Internal processes
- Seclusion from other
people
- Psychological pressure
- Geographical distance
- Lack of personal
means
-Occasional physical
pressure The indoctrination carried out by destructive cults avails
itself of sophisticated and powerful techniques: - Control of behaviour
- Control of thoughts
- Control of emotions
- Control of information
Control
of Behaviour
This regulates the physical
reality of individuals. It includes control over the context in which
they are situated - where they live, the kind of clothes they wear,
the food they eat, how long they sleep, the kind of job they do - as
well as their habits and other activities. In destructive cults there
is always something to do. In certain groups members must ask permission
for whatever they do. In other cases individuals are constrained into
such a state of financial dependence that their liberty of choice is
automatically narrowed. Obedience is the most important lesson to be
learnt. The cult leader knows that he will never be able to completely
control the thoughts of individuals, but he also knows that, by directing
their behaviour, he will be able to reach the heart and mind of these
people too.
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