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<DIV><FONT size=2>Gheez, if you you that list you could describe:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>A: Your average group of teenagers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>B: Political parties.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>C Unions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>D: A professional sports team.</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=dickow@uidaho.edu href="mailto:dickow@uidaho.edu">Robert Dickow</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, December 10, 2007 8:49
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Characteristics of
a cult</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal>Hi all, A minister friend of mine in England provided me
with this rather comprehensive list of characteristics of a cult (or
‘destructive group’ – defined more generally). Does this stuff remind you of
anything?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-element: para-border-div">
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none">Bob
Dickow, troublemaker<o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Characteristics of A Destructive Group<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>While not all groups exhibit all these traits, destructive
groups will have many of these characteristics and attitudes: <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Authoritarian hierarchal control;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Black and white thinking: either or, we they, us
them; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Centralized power structure; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Child abuse and neglect; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Competition with other members or with
outsiders; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Conflicting opinions viewed as moral assaults and
disloyalty; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Control of information within group
environment; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Criticism of group, system or leaders is
discouraged; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Different beliefs or ideas are perceived as
threatening; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Discrimination (economic, emotional and
psychological): race, gender, age, religion, politics;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Effusive praise and flattery for leaders;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Enemy making, a common enemy outside the group: other
business groups, other religions, other countries, other life styles, other
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>races; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Fear (or feelings of guilt) about the prospect of
leaving the group; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Feelings of superiority and exclusiveness;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Gender-based abuse in any form; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Group becomes like a family and is more important
than individual's family and outside friends; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Group has the "truth" (the answers) others
don't; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Group (system) mission is more important than the
individual; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Group's doctrine repeated over and over, lots of
repetitious lectures and meetings; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Group leader(s) are looked to for answers involving
personal choices in life; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Labeling: Dissenting members, other groups, and
different belief systems are given negative labels/names;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Large pay and power gaps between members and
leaders; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Loaded language: the group has its own clichés,
jargon and slogans that become simplistic explanations for complex
situations; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Missionary consciousness: converting others to group
ideology, product, beliefs, trying to persuade others to be like "us";
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Need leader(s) permission for everything;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Overuse of plural pronouns: we, us, they, them;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Peer pressure: non group ideas receive icy silence,
ridicule, or condemnation; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Propaganda used to persuade members and internalize
group ideas; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Public humiliation or embarrassment in any
form; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Public sharings, testimonials, confession,
witnessing; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Scapegoating within or outside the group;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Secrecy between members or between different levels
of a group's structure; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Selfishness is putting yourself above the
group; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Strict dress codes, everyone looks alike;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Suppressing legitimate feelings when they do not fit
the group's mind set; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> The need to be like leaders or like others in the
group; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> There is always something to do, excessive
business; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> There is a group explanation for everything;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Thought control: there are "good" and "bad"
thoughts; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Unquestioning obedience to authority.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Emotional and Psychological Aftereffects from Membership in
a Destructive Group: <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Note: Aftereffects will vary depending on the
specific type of group and the length of time spent in the
group.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blaming;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Difficulty making decisions and simple choices.
Excessive doubt; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Short term memory loss; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Anxiety and panic attacks; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Depression and anger; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Loneliness and feelings of detachment and isolation
from others; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Loss of self-esteem; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Lack of self-confidence; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Difficulty concentrating and focusing
attention; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Inability to think critically and "uncritical
passivity;" <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Posttraumatic Stress:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Flashbacks including images, thoughts,
and perceptions.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Recurrent nightmares or distressing
dreams.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Efforts to avoid places or people that
arouse memories of the group.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Significant diminished interest in
important activities.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Sense of a foreshortened or non-existent
future.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Irritability and angry outbursts.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Hyper critical of others, other ideas, other
philosophies, other life styles; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Loss of a sense of self and identity;
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Difficult or impossible to stop mental or other group
ritualistic practices; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Feelings of emptiness and loss of a unique mission in
life; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Disassociative episodes, floating, feeling spaced
out; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Afraid to join other groups or make
commitments; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Difficulty forming a new value system or philosophy
toward life; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Nervous tics--often induced by meditative techniques
used in the group; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Fear of the group; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Estrangement (also while in the group) from family
and former friends; <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> Difficulty making and expressing opinions.
<o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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<DIV>Kai Eiselein<BR>Editor, Latah Eagle</DIV></BODY></HTML>