Why People Join Cults Essay

When most people hear the word cult, they think of people in dark cloaks worshipping Satan or bald monks who live in mountains as hermits. That is not always the case though. It is not as easy as one may think to spot cult members as they come from varying walks of life. The purpose of this paper is to define cults, to explain why people join cults, and to apprise the danger that cults pose. Although most religions start as cults, there are many qualities, criteria, and traits that separate cults from religions. One of the criteria to define cults is behavior control, which is when other members watch what you do and where you go. Another one of the criteria is information control, which limits knowledge of the doctrine and of the outside world. Thought …show more content…
As previously stated, cults provide structure, meaning, and purpose to people’s lives. Unexpected hardships and disappointments, which cause their lives misdirection, drive people to join cults to insure the stability of their future. The search for meaningful solutions to a person’s problems is a motivation for the joining of cults. People who are at a crossroad in their life join cults to give their life direction and to have a sense of belonging. Cults offer answers so that people know their place in society and in the world. The satisfaction of psychological needs is a driving force that impels people to seek out cults.
Women are more likely to join cults. Research shows that women comprise seventy percent of global cult members. Women are more likely to be seduced by cults because they are comfortable with authority, even on a subconscious level, because of their long history of oppression. In cultures where women are less educated than men and are less empowered, women are attracted to the illusion of security that is offered by a cult. Oppression and social degradation have lead to the heightened likelihood of women joining