Who Gets Involved in Cults & Harmful Relationships

A look at the type of people who get caught up in destructive cults, extremist groups, and harmful relationships.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• cults
• destructive
• groups
• extremist
• manipulation
• control

[neowired]

i disagree. There are highly vulnerable people and those highly resistant

like you said in the comment obviously knowing yourself, being content with yourself would make you more resistant.

Being self-centered, dominating, egoistical, manipulative, would make you highly resistant.

A conscious knowledge of psychology, sociology, marketing, manipulation techniques, and some examples would make you mostly immune

but put in a cell, hungry, deprived of sleep etc. could still make you vulnerable

[wingedblue]

I'm not sure what you are disagreeing with. All of us, given the right set of stressors for us personally, can be made vulnerable to manipulation. Seems we're actually agreeing there.

And yes, the hardest people to manipulate are those with a serious personality disorder such as BPD. However, even they can be manipulated if another manipulator does decide to target them and has the skill to pull it off.

[wingedblue]

Yea-up. We are all vulnerable, but in varying degrees. Those who have not consciously defined themselves through examining, evaluating, and choosing their worldviews, mental frameworks, beliefs and behaviors are much more vulnerable than someone who has.

In other words, the more you operate on a "default" mode -- doing and believing things just 'cause that's the way you were taught to -- the more easily you can be swayed by a manipulator. That's why self-determination is so important.

[Emilydogcat]

My family was a cult (to me). My father was so violent and I was told that I was responsible for taking care of his needs. I had to rub his back for hours when I was a kid (like a slave). He would tell me his problems or he'd hit, depending on his mood. My two other sisters still see him. I don't and I don't see them either. I have become orphan. I don't any of my bio family. I have my own family now. Living in that bio family was horrible.

[Grayto]

Of course you can't characterize people who are vulnerable to manipulation based on any kind of demographics.

The people who vulnerable to cults and the like are people who would rather not think for themselves and also are less tolerant of uncertainty and doubt.

To say 'everybody' is vulnerable is likely true, bot not everybody is equally vulnerable, and in my opinion, can be characterize by the traits mentioned above.

[How2BecomeAChristian]

I am just now realizing that I have been in a situation where I was manipulated like this,,, again. I learned allot from your videos. THANKS damon

[How2BecomeAChristian]

I always thought I have a good resistance to controlling authoritarian people and groups because I have had so much exposure to them. BUT I CAN SEE where my BPD has helped. But I can also see where is has been used against me. Mostly though their subtle suggestions, my imagination and my gumption. When I am presented a problem my mind, will and actions goes to work solving that problem. I am highly creative so I just cant help myself sometimes when it comes to wanting to solve problems.

[How2BecomeAChristian]

I have BPD from head injury. And I never thought about it,, but I guess my disorder does have it's advantages. I have Mormons, Word of Faithers, United Pentecostals, Apostolic Movement believers and a group called Bible Missionary (that aint sinned in 30 years),, in my family. And I was born of the biggest manipulator I know. My own Mom wears a shirt that says,,, learn to worship me and well get along fine.

[BobFlowman]

Pretty much we are all vulnerable.