The Behavior of Cult Leaders and Members Explained by using Psychologic

This essay will examine and describe the behavior of cult leaders and cult members by using and applying psychological principles. I will specifically highlight the behavior of Jim Jones and his followers and explain what factors that caused them to believe wholeheartedly in the doctrine of Jim Jones. I will also 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 can be â€Å"centered on a range of issues, including race, politics, therapy, self-help as well as spirituality and religion.† Another distinctive feature of cults or new religious moments are that they have â€Å"distinctive religious rituals and beliefs related to its god or a person, they also practice isolation from the surrounding culture 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 written history. Some of the earliest cults were recorded by the ancient Mesopotamian, Greek and Egyptian civilizations. There 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, Heaven’s Gate and the Branch Davidians. In addition to cults, there are also modern new age organizations and movements. These groups tread a fine line between being an authentic religious organization and have some of the same characteristics of being a cult. In these types of organizations; it is often di... ...al psychological principals for his own 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 â€Å"revolutionary suicide.† Works Cited The Ford Foundation. (96-10). PBS,The American Experience . Jonestown the Life and Death 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: Worth Myers, 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.