Cult Awareness: Tactics of Manipulative Toxic Groups
Aug 26, 2013 15:05:29 GMT -8
Post by Admin on Aug 26, 2013 15:05:29 GMT -8
Radical and progressive groups are no less prone to bickering and infighting than any other group of human beings. But when certain reoccurring abusive dynamics are present a group may be considered more than just FUBARED. It could be consolidating into a cultlike entity, that is changing from group values of democracy and social justice, to the value of control by a small subgroup via manipulation.
The good news is most budding pseudo cults fall apart before becoming a danger to the public. The bad news is, if a dynamic is able to take hold in an organization of high volunteerism or turnover, and manages to get public funding and recognition, it become very hard to see what going on under the surface. But there are clues in the dynamics. This is a good video covering some basics:
People, including cult victims, often dismiss the idea they could get sucked into a cult or cultlike group. People think cults are about kooky people and kooky practices. This can be true, but that's not what makes it a cult. Destructive cults are identified by the manipulative controlling abusive behavior of a small secret group that holds all the power in the organization.
A good checklist:
www.colleenrussellmft.com/UnsafeSafeGroupsRelationships.en.html
1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader.
3. Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as “persecution”.
4. Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
5. Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
9. Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
10. Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.
Groups showing these traits should be avoided. KBOO, while not yet a full blown destructive cult, has enough symptoms to be worrying. the "Inner Party" more than qualifies as a micro cult.
A comment from a (former?) donating member:
From comments at: savekboofromsavekboo.blogspot.com/2013/08/go-phish-and-indymedia-connection.html#comment-form
The good news is most budding pseudo cults fall apart before becoming a danger to the public. The bad news is, if a dynamic is able to take hold in an organization of high volunteerism or turnover, and manages to get public funding and recognition, it become very hard to see what going on under the surface. But there are clues in the dynamics. This is a good video covering some basics:
People, including cult victims, often dismiss the idea they could get sucked into a cult or cultlike group. People think cults are about kooky people and kooky practices. This can be true, but that's not what makes it a cult. Destructive cults are identified by the manipulative controlling abusive behavior of a small secret group that holds all the power in the organization.
A good checklist:
www.colleenrussellmft.com/UnsafeSafeGroupsRelationships.en.html
1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader.
3. Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as “persecution”.
4. Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
5. Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
9. Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
10. Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.
Groups showing these traits should be avoided. KBOO, while not yet a full blown destructive cult, has enough symptoms to be worrying. the "Inner Party" more than qualifies as a micro cult.
A comment from a (former?) donating member:
AnonymousAugust 13, 2013 at 2:53 PM
"They're in shock."
"They're in shock. After we started digging into this, we had a good idea what we were dealing with. But most readers/fans have been played for years and have assumed all the fail was incompetence. Not unreasonable if you don't know what to look for. Or see flags for what they are."
I was shocked at the fearful and vociferous responses to Blue Oregon Action's Thom Hartmann petition.
I was shocked that after paying 5$ a month to Kboo I am finding out that I'm supporting a twisted cult like oligarchy.
I'm shocked that the Inner Party would be so fearful of a blog, that they would go "Phishing" and recruit hackers to find who's writing it.
Yeah......shocked.
"They're in shock."
"They're in shock. After we started digging into this, we had a good idea what we were dealing with. But most readers/fans have been played for years and have assumed all the fail was incompetence. Not unreasonable if you don't know what to look for. Or see flags for what they are."
I was shocked at the fearful and vociferous responses to Blue Oregon Action's Thom Hartmann petition.
I was shocked that after paying 5$ a month to Kboo I am finding out that I'm supporting a twisted cult like oligarchy.
I'm shocked that the Inner Party would be so fearful of a blog, that they would go "Phishing" and recruit hackers to find who's writing it.
Yeah......shocked.
From comments at: savekboofromsavekboo.blogspot.com/2013/08/go-phish-and-indymedia-connection.html#comment-form