As therapists, it is our goal to help our clients live healthier & happier lives in which they feel more confident in navigating their thoughts, feelings, and emotions- even during life’s challenges. While we have grown up to recognize that our environment, experiences, and media have influence over our actions and the assumptions we make- we can often be limited in our ability to reach our personal goals when affected by the undue influence of others.
“Undue influence” is defined by The Freedom of Mind Resource Center as “any act of persuasion that overcomes the free will and judgment of another person” such as deception, flattery, trickery, coercion, hypnosis, and other techniques. When large organizations or groups impose undue influence on individuals, they may be acting as potential cults, or high control/high authority groups.
While cults are most known to be religious cults, there are also psychotherapy cults, political cults, commercial cults, terrorist organizations, and trafficking rings. In some circumstances there are also personality cults in which individuals can exert undue influence over another individual, or a small group of people/family.
Are all cults “bad”?
While the media has often portrayed all cults as destructive, several benign cults exist and function with open consent disclosing their undue influence. Benign cult groups are defined by Dr.Steven Hassan as “any group of people who have a set of beliefs and rituals that are non-mainstream”.
Evidence has shown that if people are freely able to join with informed consent (which includes full and honest disclosure of the group’s doctrine and practices), and can choose to disaffiliate without shunning, fear, or harassment, then it is not a destructive cult.
How to stay protected from Undue Influence:
Always ask questions like the ones below when feeling unsure of an individual or organization’s intentions.
- Ask about the group’s leader
- “Who is the leader?” “What is their background and qualifications?” “Do they have a criminal record, a legacy of allegations against them, or a history of misconduct?” “Do they have emotional outbursts?”
- Ask about transparency and information control
- “Is there honest disclosure of group history, doctrine, practices, and expectations?” “Are there organizational secrets?” “Are there “in” groups and “out” groups?” “Does the group culture discourage you from asking questions?” “Is there real financial accountability and transparency?”
- Ask about checks and balances
- “What structural checks and balances exist within the organization to prevent abuse of power?” “Is there a “code of silence” against unethical behavior of leaders?” “If there are abuses or injustices, what structure exists to correct them?” “Is there an independent “ethics” committee to challenge and change policies of the group?”
- Ask about group claims and doctrine
- “If “miracles” have been performed, can they be replicated under open observation and scientific conditions?” “What do former leaders and members say about the group?” “Does the group spread disinformation in promotional materials?” “Are all members expected to conform to group beliefs, or can they form independent belief systems?” “Does the group attempt to shift the burden of proof for extraordinary or unverifiable claims?”
- Ask about how the group treats children
“Are children encouraged to play, get an education, and have friends?” “Are children able to receive adequate medical treatment?” “Does the group do background checks for people working with children?” “What measures are in place to prevent child abuse, whether emotional, physical, or sexual?” “Does the group encourage the use of corporal punishment?”
How can you know you are impacted by the undue influence of an organization or large group?
If you are unsure if an individual or organization is exerting undue influence, you can use the BITE Model developed by Dr. Steven Hassan to assess how they may be doing so.
Dissertation published January 2021: “The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control: Undue Influence, Thought Reform, Brainwashing, Mind Control, Trafficking and the Law”