Human beings are prone to cult-like behaviors, through natural social tendencies that easily echo off each other. Ultimately, these echoes bounce around within our limited community spheres, building and reverberating each time, until they tend to control our lives.
Or maybe that isn’t quite accurate. Maybe control is not the perfect word for this situation.
That word conjures up images of cults as classically depicted for entertainment purposes: Manipulative, evil leaders knowingly using human psychology for their selfish benefit, assisted by a close inner circle of acolytes all scheming for their own chance at accumulating more influence. These cults, we learn from movies, books, and pseudo-documentaries (often just thinly-disguised reality TV drama), prey on the isolated, the unsure, the grieving, the vulnerable, the traumatized.
Their ‘victims’ must be ‘rescued’, even if that’s difficult, until they ‘wake up’ from a sort of dream they were having. The leaders must be brought to justice, we believe, punished and monitored to be sure they don’t (knowingly, deliberately) misuse their charisma again.
Do those types of organizations exist? Undoubtedly, although it should be noted that in many well-known examples, leaders go down with the ship, demonstrating their sincere conviction in their own fantasies.
But what if the overall picture we all think we know is not accurate? What if many cult-like behaviors, visible virtually everywhere, are actually the natural result of our social instincts? What if they aren’t aberrations taking advantage of vulnerable people who otherwise would ‘know better’ somehow?
What if vaguely defined cults are everywhere, forming and dissolving organically depending on the personalities involved, multiplied by unstable, random social pressures? What if cult behavior is exasperatingly predictable, and we’re distracted from its normality by the occasional celebrity status certain synergies produce, a la the Branch Davidians or Heaven’s Gate?
[Once you’ve finished reading, scroll back up and answer this poll. I reckon I’m in the 3-4 range, myself.]
Understanding cult-like behavior: The expression of fundamental tendencies of social animals
First, the definition: Like many of the words we feel comfortable using, there isn’t actually a universally accepted, one-size-fits-all definition for cults. Academics don’t use the term. It’s too emotionally loaded, with too many cultural contexts mixed in, so when it comes to formally studying these social structures they have largely moved on to calling them New Religious Movements or NRMs (the need for new terms in order to think in new ways happens a lot, as words become memes and spread virally through populations.)
An aside — I think calling them NRMs is another example of human narcissism, implying that a social construct has altered normal behavior. It seems to imply that your baseline homo sapiens is somehow neutral. However, in all my personal experience to this point (including all the academic research I’ve read), the baseline human being should be expected to have some cultish behaviors — it is the rule rather than the exception.
In general, the most conversationally helpful definition is that a cult is ‘usually’ a small group devoted to a person, idea, or philosophy. The term cult is often applied to a religious movement that exists in some degree of tension with the dominant religious or cultural inclination of a society.
That last sentence reinforces my point that cult-like behavior is normal — that it is, in fact, the neutral social stance.
For example, in a culture dominated by a totalitarian religion, a small group of people meeting in secret to practice thinking freely, devoted to the unbiased exploration of philosophy, would meet the definition of a cult. And yet, any reasonable person would surely agree that this particular group of people are less dangerous than the prevailing belief system. Think Darwin and evolution, Galileo and heliocentrism, Socrates in ancient Athens, or the small multiracial groups that ultimately overthrew apartheid in South Africa.
Those movements were all, in a certain sense, religious, in that they expressed belief above and beyond what they considered evidence. Political movements almost always turn out this way. We can debate organizational differences: The line between superstition and evidence, the danger of groupthink influence in any situation, the Catch-22 of trying to create flat hierarchies. Ultimately, though, given the nature of our first-person perspective relationship with reality, it’s just too difficult to say with certainly that some movements are absolutely free from what we might call spirituality.
Now, that’s a lot of caveats. Let’s get saved by some bullet points, although I can’t guarantee their brevity. Here’s what I call cult-like behavior:
Environmental Factors:
Information control and isolation from outside perspectives (social media algorithms do this automatically for us, now)
A totalistic or all-encompassing belief system (this is a natural result of instinctive human thought patterns, so it’s a given for almost everyone)
Rejection of critical thinking or questioning (again, this is the default human behavior, undone only through years of focused practice)
Us-versus-them mentality (once more, some basic human psychology)
Leadership Patterns:
Charismatic, authoritarian leadership claiming special status (you can find these everywhere, from car dealerships to sports teams)
Lack of accountability or transparency in decision-making (need I say more?)
Leader(s) above the rules that apply to members (yep, par for the course)
Claims of divine authority or special insight (…mmhmm)
Group Dynamics:
Progressive commitment and investment (financial, time, identity)
Punishment of dissent or questioning
Peer surveillance and reporting systems
Difficulty leaving due to social, psychological, or financial costs
Individual Impact:
Identity changes that serve group rather than individual needs
Emotional and behavioral control mechanisms
Dependency relationships that inhibit autonomous decision-making
Exploitation of vulnerabilities (psychological, social, financial)
That’s the list, and I hope I’ve persuaded you at this point that these all totally predictable for us as a species. You can find every single one of these definitions being met, usually with amusing obliviousness to the potential danger, in groups ranging from the homeless people that meet in the park every night to do meth, to the ballet class practicing in the church basement next to the park, to the Evangelist congregation whose church it is, to the CrossFit gym across the road. From the ‘honourable, worshipful, graceful’ politicians we elect with pomp, ceremony, and fancy outfits, to our courts and justice system, to the para-military hierarchies of our military and first responders, it is everywhere.
It is everywhere. So, why? Why do we crave these communities? And if it is, as I’m arguing, normal and expected, I think the most interesting question by far is, “how would most people react if you tried to separate them from these behaviors?”
Why are cult-like behaviors so attractive?
As I discussed in episode 3 of The Acceleration, we have Stone Age hardware. Our exponential technological growth in the past couple of centuries, and particularly the last few decades, isn’t an indication of our biological sophistication. It took tens of thousands of years of incremental change to produce this explosion.
If we were to live in environments designed strictly for how we have evolved, we would be living in small villages of a couple hundred people. We would spend most of our lifespans in multigenerational homes, and spending time physically alone would be quite rare. We would never travel, except on rare occasions when several villages gathered for a seasonal festival or something. It would essentially be impossible to be sedentary; always on our feet from one place to the next, no matter the distance.
The overwhelming evidence is that, with basic health, nutrition, and hygiene needs met, this is the happiest way for us to live. Despite this, most people would never choose it.
Therefore: In an increasingly isolated society, cults offer acceptance, constant companionship, and the deep human connection many people desperately lack.
Cults provide clear answers to existential questions, definitive life missions, and the sense that your existence matters in cosmic terms — powerful antidotes to modern meaninglessness.
They offer ready-made identities ("chosen one," "enlightened," "warrior for the cause") and clear hierarchies where advancement is possible, appealing to those struggling with self-worth or direction.
In a complex world full of ambiguity, cults provide simple explanations, clear rules, and confident predictions about the future — reducing anxiety and decision fatigue, which weigh far more heavily on the collective mind than we as a species have yet acknowledged.
They eliminate the burden of constant decision-making by providing detailed life structure, from daily schedules to major life choices, appealing to those overwhelmed by freedom. Remember freedom is not our default; it is not what our non-existent souls “crave.” We are social animals whose internal definitions depend on our relationships, not our individualism.
Cults create powerful shared emotional experiences — from transcendent highs to righteous fury — that make the calm stoicism of a more philosophical lifestyle feel pale and dull and meaningless by comparison.
And, they offer the intoxicating feeling of having access to secret wisdom or being part of an elite group that "really understands" what others miss.
…Am I culty?
Let’s run down a few of these and see if you recognize them in yourself. These are combinations of common sense, physics, capitalism, and unconscious processes. One the one hand, if you like karate it wouldn’t make sense to join a knitting club. If you lean politically conservative, why would you hang out with the Canadian NDP? So, don’t take these too personally, and try to be objective.
All of these exist on a spectrum, from extremes at the edges to rationality in the middle. The point is how naturally cult-like behaviors arise in all of us — awareness is protection.
Echo chamber creation
We naturally gravitate toward information sources, social media feeds, and friend groups that confirm our existing beliefs. We feel uncomfortable when exposed to genuinely challenging perspectives, so we unconsciously curate environments that provide validation rather than growth. This is often about safety.
Identity fusion with groups
We derive deep satisfaction from being part of something larger — political movements, fandoms, professional communities, lifestyle brands. When criticism of "our" group feels like personal attack, we've fused our identity with the collective in potentially unhealthy ways.
Charismatic authority worship
We follow influencers, thought leaders, politicians, or spiritual figures with devotion that readily transcends the rational evaluation of their ideas. We defend them against criticism and adopt their opinions wholesale rather than thinking independently. Sometimes this is about authority and expertise, but we should never sacrifice our own critical thinking.
In-group/out-group thinking
We categorize people as "us" versus "them" based on political affiliation, lifestyle choices, or belief systems. We assume the worst motives of out-group members while excusing identical behaviors from our in-group. We are social, not individualistic animals, so it takes effort to view other tribes with nuance.
Progressive commitment escalation
We make small commitments that lead to larger ones without fully conscious decision-making — whether in MLM schemes, political extremism, social activities, or lifestyle changes. Each step feels reasonable, but the eventual endpoint could lead to a place that was initially unthinkable — for example, remortgaging your home to keep your local gym from going under, for fear of losing your social group.
Shared reality maintenance
We participate in collective meaning-making that requires ignoring obvious contradictions. We maintain group harmony by not voicing doubts or challenging narratives that everyone "knows" but no one examines. This is, in many ways, necessary. A person who constantly plays devil’s advocate is just exhausting. But this shared reality maintenance is probably the instinctive tendency in this list, so I’ll give a couple of well-researched examples.
In a classic psychology study by Solomon Asch in 1951, participants were asked to match line lengths. Approximately 75% of participants conformed at least once to an obviously incorrect, but majority opinion. About 37% consistently conformed to obviously wrong group judgments, while only 25% consistently resisted group pressure.
The "Spiral of Silence": People are more willing to share their views if they think their audience agrees with them. For instance, at work, those who feel their coworkers agree with their opinion are about three times more likely to join a workplace conversation. This means roughly 65-70% avoid expressing dissenting views when they perceive disagreement.
Research consistently shows that 80-85% of employees avoid challenging group consensus or speaking up about problems when they believe their views are minority positions, especially when job security or career advancement is at stake.
Conformity over authenticity
We modify our behavior, appearance, or expressed beliefs to fit group expectations rather than authentic self-expression. The fear of social rejection overrides individual preferences or values. Think about clothing preferences, hair colour, speech patterns. We auto-match to those around us, and the best predictor of how we are is who we spend time with.
Emotional regulation through group participation
We use group activities — whether worship services, political rallies, fan conventions, or fitness classes — to access emotional highs and lows that we struggle to generate independently. The group becomes our primary source of meaning and emotional regulation, a kind of reset from any random chaos causing us distress.
Criticism deflection
When our beliefs or groups are challenged, we respond with defensive mechanisms rather than genuine consideration: Attacking the messenger's motives, dismissing criticism as jealousy or ignorance, or claiming persecution when facing legitimate questions.
These should all sound familiar. Again, they exist on a spectrum, from reasonable to downright… well, culty.
Lastly, for the sake of interest, let’s run down a list of a few of the more famous cults
This will serve as the cautionary end-note of this podcast.
People's Temple/Jonestown (United States)
Premise & Recruitment: Founded by Jim Jones as a racially integrated church promoting social justice, socialism, and racial equality. Recruited through progressive ideals, free services, and healing claims.
Public Attention: Became notorious for the November 1978 mass murder-suicide of 918 people in Guyana, including 300+ children who were forced to drink cyanide-laced Flavor Aid.
Ultimate Fate: Jones died of gunshot wound (likely suicide). All followers at Jonestown died except a few who escaped or were away. Remains the largest cult mass death in modern history.
Branch Davidians (United States)
Premise & Recruitment: Led by David Koresh, who claimed to be the final prophet. Attracted followers through Bible prophecy, claims of divine revelation, and preparation for the end times.
Public Attention: 51-day standoff with federal agents at Waco, Texas compound in 1993 over weapons stockpiling allegations and child abuse reports.
Ultimate Fate: Koresh and 76 followers died in a fire during the final assault. Debate continues over whether the fire was set by cult members or caused by government actions.
Heaven's Gate (United States)
Premise & Recruitment: Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles taught that Earth was about to be "recycled" and followers could escape by shedding their human bodies to join aliens.
Public Attention: 39 members found dead in matching outfits in 1997, having committed suicide believing a spaceship following Hale-Bopp comet would transport them to a higher level of existence.
Ultimate Fate: Applewhite died with his followers. The group dissolved completely. Several had voluntarily castrated themselves before the mass suicide.
Order of the Solar Temple (France/Switzerland)
Premise & Recruitment: Founded by Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret, combining New Age philosophy, Christianity, and Templar mysticism. Recruited wealthy, educated individuals seeking spiritual enlightenment.
Public Attention: Multiple mass suicide/murders between 1994-1997 involving 74 deaths across Switzerland, Canada, and France, often involving fire and staged ritualistic elements.
Ultimate Fate: Leaders Di Mambro and Jouret died in 1994. Additional mass deaths continued even after their deaths, with the final incident in 1997. Group effectively dissolved.
Raëlism (France)
Premise & Recruitment: Founded by Claude Vorilhon ("Raël") who claimed contact with extraterrestrials called "Elohim." Promotes scientific atheism, free love, and human cloning preparation for alien return.
Public Attention: International controversy over claims of human cloning, sexual practices, and building an embassy for aliens. Banned or restricted in several countries.
Ultimate Fate: Raël continues to lead the movement globally. The group remains active with thousands of members worldwide, though cloning claims were never verified.
True Russian Orthodox Church (Russia)
Premise & Recruitment: Led by Pyotr Kuznetsov, who declared himself a prophet and broke from Russian Orthodox Church. Recruited through apocalyptic predictions and rejection of modern society.
Public Attention: 35 followers barricaded themselves in a cave for months in 2007-2008, threatening suicide if disturbed, waiting for May 2008 apocalypse.
Ultimate Fate: Kuznetsov was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation. Two cult members died in the cave from toxic conditions. Survivors emerged when conditions became unbearable; group dissolved.
Aum Shinrikyo (Japan)
Premise & Recruitment: Led by Shoko Asahara, combining Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and yoga. Attracted highly educated followers through meditation courses and promises of supernatural powers.
Public Attention: 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack killed 13 and injured thousands. Found to possess biological weapons and had committed other murders and crimes.
Ultimate Fate: Asahara and 12 followers executed in 2018. Remaining members formed new groups under heavy surveillance. The cult had at its peak around 30,000 members worldwide.
Unification Church/Moonies (South Korea)
Premise & Recruitment: Sun Myung Moon claimed to be the Second Coming of Christ, completing Jesus's mission. Recruited through community outreach, mass weddings, and promises of spiritual salvation.
Public Attention: Mass weddings of thousands of couples, aggressive recruitment tactics, political involvement, and accusations of brainwashing and financial exploitation.
Ultimate Fate: Moon died in 2012; his family continues to lead various factions. The church remains active globally with hundreds of thousands of members, though split into competing groups.
Rajneesh Movement/Osho (India)
Premise & Recruitment: Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later Osho) taught meditation, free love, and rejection of traditional morality. Attracted Western seekers through charismatic lectures and commune lifestyle.
Public Attention: Moved to Oregon, attempted to take over local government, perpetrated largest bioterror attack in US history (salmonella poisoning), and immigration fraud.
Ultimate Fate: Rajneesh died in 1990. Followers continue his teachings globally. Key aide Ma Anand Sheela served prison time then opened nursing homes in Switzerland.
Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God (Uganda)
Premise & Recruitment: Founded by Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibweteere, claiming Virgin Mary apparitions warned of apocalypse. Recruited through Catholic connections and prophecy.
Public Attention: March 2000 fire killed 530+ members in a church with boarded-up exits. Additional mass graves found with 780+ total deaths, possibly the largest cult death toll in history.
Ultimate Fate: Leaders Mwerinde and Kibweteere disappeared and remain fugitives with international warrants. Believed to have murdered followers who demanded refunds when prophecies failed.
And that’s it for today on Polite Disputes. Thanks for listening. If you’d like to hear more, please like, share, and subscribe. I know those are now cliches, but it really helps. Until next time.
