Cult and Brainwashing Essay Example for Free

cult and Brainwashing EssayBrain washing which entails supreme persuasion to eradicate fashioner beliefs and institute in their place new beliefs, has been wide linked to the emergence of cultic roots. Concerns on the motivating factor behind an soulfulnesss acceptance to total a cultic group have been the subject of research and controversies from numerous studies. From these studies it lot be surmised that the justification of an individuals decision to join cultic groups could either be serious family problems and non family cogitate issues, or relational issues with both family and peers. In addition, individuals with a high predisposition to crises and those who have had put up with the absence of a father during their childhood were too found to be more susceptible to join cultic groups. In neighborly psychology, cult development and brain washing ar interrelated issues that a good deal get out disputes. Brain washing is often used to denote the process by whic h individual mortals are influenced finished a process that is manifested intentionally and through systematically applied techniques that are not alone traumatizing, but are also aimed at instilling obedience through ideological re socialization (Dawson, 2003).Through the use of coercive persuasion, chance variableer beliefs are eradicated and new beliefs instituted in their place. It may also comprise manipulation of an individuals social influence systematically (Kaplan Hellen, 2005). Its existence in the field of social psychology is a widely disputed topic due to the fact that it is not a recognized theoretical concept, but instead a sensationalists explanation that is used in reference to cultists and revival preachers.Not only do parties disagree on whether social process that attempt to influence individuals coercively exist, but the existence of their social outcome, which entails that individuals plough influenced contrary to their will, is also an issue that elici ts concern (Taylor Taylor, 2005). Critics of the brain washing perspective argue that it presents a simplistic perspective to be assiduous by those intent on locating effective social weapons to counter disfavored groups.They therefore, contend that any perceived relative success on those efforts aimed at achieving social reign over should obscure the fact that the notion of brain washing lacks a scientific basis to support the open(a) opinions. Despite the interdict attributes levied on cults, they also carry intrinsic advantages. One such merit is that they are seen as channels of transition to individual fractions. Even though members do not always exit to cults on a permanent basis, the experience they have while in cultic groups is often an exhilarating one, as they often recount (Wilson Cresswell, 1999).Proponents of cultic movements often cite clinical studies done on the psychological effects of bonny a member of a cultic group as the basis for favoring these groups . According to these studies, becoming a member of a cultic group has a therapeutic effect rather than a harmful effect. Other studies carried on cultist practices have also shown that what may be regarded as psychopathology of spectral or spiritual temperament may be a means for spiritual growth and expression of religious affiliation and religious stage (Kaplan Hellen, 2005).The notion of brain washing may also be a subtle form of behavior mark which entails a system of reward or punishment for action. Education is a celebrated example of behavior pull strings mechanism targeted at achieving a desired behavior (Dawson, 2003). When behavior modification techniques are employed in a loving, caring and consistent manner, a change of behavior often results without feelings of resentment. On the contrary, perversion of behavior control techniques results in damage to emotions and psyche. Cults use a perverted form of behavior modification that ultimately damages the emotions of th e individual.Through cognitive dissonance, cultic groups are able to remain sinewy even in the face of a failure of their predictions (Taylor Taylor, 2005). Social psychology espouses that cult development is founded on a basic premise of cognitive dissonance which explains why some cult adherents tend to become even stronger and resolute when their predictions fail. These individuals often find ways of coping psychologically with the experienced failure and they disjoin from the failure through control of behavior, control of feelings, and control of emotions.These three elements are interdependent, implying that when one is eliminated the others cease to hunt down effectively. Moreover, when the three elements are altered, the affected individual goes through a complete change (Wilson Cresswell, 1999). Behavior control entails management of a persons physical reality which involves such aspects as an individuals place of residence, employment, what an individual eats and wher e he or she sleeps (Kaplan Hellen, 2005). It explains why most cults impose stringent schedules for its members.In extreme cases, a cult member can willfully participate in his punishment, believing that he deserve it Thought control, on the other hand, involves thought indoctrination of its members to the extent that members manipulate their own thought processes. An ideology held by the cultists is internalized as the correct ideology and forms a set of belief system through which discipline received by an individual member of the cult is filtered and processed before either be spurned or accepted.Through the use of a unique and specific language members thought processes are regulated in a manner that alienates them from a non cultic groups (Wilson Cresswell, 1999). Another mechanism employed by cultic groups is the thought- stopping techniques, which involves the use of mediation, singing, chanting or concentrated praying, which harbors an individuals ability to test the re ality. The person desists from blaming the group and shifts the blame to him in the event of a problem (Taylor Taylor, 2005). On the other hand, emotional control involves manipulation of an individuals range of feelings.Control is achieved through the propagation of guilt and anxiety. The fear of being ostracized by cult leaders if a member is not seen to be adhering to the practices of the cult is created. Moreover, use of phobic disorder indoctrination that elicits a panic reaction in an individual, helps ensure the individual remains in the cult, every meter the individual thinks of leaving the group (Dawson, 2003). Another component of cognitive dissonance is information control which involves managing of the group members source of information.This is founded on the basic premise that denying people information needed to bind sound judgment is usually expected to render them incapable of making those changes. This notion is widely employed in cultic groups, resulting in ps ychological chains that lock away its adherent from realities in the society (Kaplan Hellen, 2005). supersensitized Groups Of particular concern to the field of social psychology is the motivating factor behind an individuals acceptance to join a particular cult.Numerous studies surmised from persons who formerly belonged to cult groups have in many a(prenominal) occasions found a link between their joining cults and serious family and non family problems (Dawson, 2003). Typical issues such as a history of poor relationships both with individuals family and peers were characteristic of these individuals. In addition it was also noted that young individuals with a high predisposition to crises also tended to join cults (Taylor Taylor, 2005). Still other study note that those who have had to put with the absence of a father during childhood and who face a ten thousand of challenges often join cults.These observations have also been found to be consistent with a study that indicat ed that non converts tended to retard less authoritarian values compared to new converts to cults. Cults have been discredited with fostering, regression, paralysis of thought and dislocation of reality. The negative characterization of cults may however, be a result of interviewing former cult members , who may have left(a) due to dissatisfaction, and who are thus predisposed to give negative views (Taylor Taylor, 2005).Reference Dawson, L. L. (2003). Cults and new religious movements a reader. peeled York. Wiley-Blackwell. Kaplan, J. , Hellen, L. (2002). The cultic milieu oppositional subcultures in an age of globalization. New York. Rowman Altamira. Taylor, K. , Taylor, K. E. (2005). Brainwashing The Dream of Mind Control. New York. Oxford UP. Wilson, B. R. , Cresswell, J. (1999). New Religious Movements Challenge and Response. Belmont, CA. Routledge.