How do cults recruit and indoctrinate their members?

Cults use various tactics to recruit and indoctrinate individuals into their belief systems. First, they target vulnerable individuals who may be searching for meaning, purpose, or a sense of belonging. Cults often employ manipulation techniques such as love-bombing, where they shower potential recruits with attention, affection, and validation. This creates a sense of dependency and loyalty. They may also isolate recruits from their friends and family to control their environment and limit opposing viewpoints. Cults employ mind control techniques, including thought-stopping methods, sleep deprivation, and repetition of their ideologies, which gradually erode critical thinking abilities. Through this indoctrination process, cults exert control over their members' thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors, promoting absolute devotion to the cult leader or group's agenda.

This mind map was published on 4 December 2023 and has been viewed 97 times.