Post by QuoVadis on Oct 9, 2017 15:59:59 GMT
Maybe a redundant thread, but prompted by mentioning of malignant narcissism in another thread, wanted to share resources on the tactics of malignant narcissistic leaders, cult dynamics and such.
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/communication-success/201510/14-signs-psychological-and-emotional-manipulation
www.ex-cult.org/fwbo/MC20mins.htm
www.psychologicalharassment.com/coercive-mind-control-tactics.htm
Malignant narcissism:
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/neurosagacity/201702/malignant-narcissism-collision-two-personality-disorders
Psychopathy: www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychopathy
Related (this is an area I want to study more in depth in the future): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_ponerology
www.ponerology.com/
-------------------------------------
My amateur perspective:
Charismatic and seemingly self confident, holders of special knowledge and abilities, or special status derived from some higher authority, they can lure people in under their influence with promises to empower, enlighten, resolve troubles, give a new identity, group to belong to etc. It's not just the leader, but the whole group dynamic around the leader that gives them more power, while maybe in a sense making the leader also a puppet of the group world view, values and social pressures, to continue performing his/her role.
Being lured in by a manipulative, destructive person or group might go something like this:
1. Sympathy and love bombing at first. Support if you show interest in the manipulative person's or groups tenets. Maybe some celebration of the newcomer having seen the light or breaking away from the mainstream, or illusions or whatever.
2. Probing and interest in person's life and psyche. Taking inventory of their weaknesses, possible traumas and such. Leaving them in a psychological state where they feel they need help and rescue. For example become a more virtuous person, or find health, wholeness etc.
3. Presenting piece by piece the 'cure'. This may be books, audio, video, seminars, retreats, personal one on one sessions and the like. At this point the person is starting to give more and more funds, attention, energy and affection to their 'helpers'. It often starts with seemingly innocent, reasonable and free suggestions and advice. But once the foot is in the door, the person can easily be lured or pressured into further going down the path. This will involve greater sacrifices of their own personality, beliefs and sanity, as well as possibly labor and money, to further the group cause.
4. Incorporated into the group, having lost autonomy to a large degree, the person becomes now subjected to scrutiny, pressure, punishments if deviating from the group beliefs. Where perhaps hope, optimism and good will led them to a leader or group in the first place, now fear of rejection and punishment keeps them in place. The person may be pressured to cut off contact with family, loved ones, leave their job and so on, to be made more dependent on the group for meeting basic needs.
5. (insert some classic horrible cult endings here)
What helps to disrupt a cult.. Well, in my limited experience, what helps is when members of the so called 'inner circle' of the group start airing criticism and are excluded from the cult, or leave the cult of their own accord. Especially if they stay strong, research the dark side of their former group and study general cult characteristics, they can be an invaluable source for others to see the reality of what is/was going on, and to leave cults as well. But there must be willingness to go through the sometimes extreme hardship of deprogramming yourself with rational criticism and building back up your own personality, will, courage and peace of mind. Reconnecting with friends and family members can be very helpful, if the friends and family are forgiving, understanding and provide emotional support during the transition back into more normal life.
(p.s. yeah I've been in a relatively mild online cult for some years as well, thankfully got away even though it was difficult at times)
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/communication-success/201510/14-signs-psychological-and-emotional-manipulation
www.ex-cult.org/fwbo/MC20mins.htm
www.psychologicalharassment.com/coercive-mind-control-tactics.htm
Malignant narcissism:
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/neurosagacity/201702/malignant-narcissism-collision-two-personality-disorders
Psychopathy: www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychopathy
Related (this is an area I want to study more in depth in the future): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_ponerology
www.ponerology.com/
-------------------------------------
My amateur perspective:
Charismatic and seemingly self confident, holders of special knowledge and abilities, or special status derived from some higher authority, they can lure people in under their influence with promises to empower, enlighten, resolve troubles, give a new identity, group to belong to etc. It's not just the leader, but the whole group dynamic around the leader that gives them more power, while maybe in a sense making the leader also a puppet of the group world view, values and social pressures, to continue performing his/her role.
Being lured in by a manipulative, destructive person or group might go something like this:
1. Sympathy and love bombing at first. Support if you show interest in the manipulative person's or groups tenets. Maybe some celebration of the newcomer having seen the light or breaking away from the mainstream, or illusions or whatever.
2. Probing and interest in person's life and psyche. Taking inventory of their weaknesses, possible traumas and such. Leaving them in a psychological state where they feel they need help and rescue. For example become a more virtuous person, or find health, wholeness etc.
3. Presenting piece by piece the 'cure'. This may be books, audio, video, seminars, retreats, personal one on one sessions and the like. At this point the person is starting to give more and more funds, attention, energy and affection to their 'helpers'. It often starts with seemingly innocent, reasonable and free suggestions and advice. But once the foot is in the door, the person can easily be lured or pressured into further going down the path. This will involve greater sacrifices of their own personality, beliefs and sanity, as well as possibly labor and money, to further the group cause.
4. Incorporated into the group, having lost autonomy to a large degree, the person becomes now subjected to scrutiny, pressure, punishments if deviating from the group beliefs. Where perhaps hope, optimism and good will led them to a leader or group in the first place, now fear of rejection and punishment keeps them in place. The person may be pressured to cut off contact with family, loved ones, leave their job and so on, to be made more dependent on the group for meeting basic needs.
5. (insert some classic horrible cult endings here)
What helps to disrupt a cult.. Well, in my limited experience, what helps is when members of the so called 'inner circle' of the group start airing criticism and are excluded from the cult, or leave the cult of their own accord. Especially if they stay strong, research the dark side of their former group and study general cult characteristics, they can be an invaluable source for others to see the reality of what is/was going on, and to leave cults as well. But there must be willingness to go through the sometimes extreme hardship of deprogramming yourself with rational criticism and building back up your own personality, will, courage and peace of mind. Reconnecting with friends and family members can be very helpful, if the friends and family are forgiving, understanding and provide emotional support during the transition back into more normal life.
(p.s. yeah I've been in a relatively mild online cult for some years as well, thankfully got away even though it was difficult at times)
