Cults are better at recruitment than most companies are and it’s all because they use a bunch of clever tricks that lure in even the most unsuspecting of victims. They don’t simply show up wearing robes & chanting at you—instead, they blend in and use some subtle methods to win you over. Here are thirteen secret ways cults pull people into their circles. Hopefully, understanding their tactics will help you spot the signs before it’s too late.
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They Mirror Your Beliefs
Cults have a talent for reflecting your own values right back at you and they’ll agree with your opinions & share similar interests, making you feel like you’ve found kindred spirits. This mirroring builds trust and lowers your guard, so you’re more open to their influence without even realizing it. As such, you should be careful of any groups that seem to like you a little too much.
They Use Secret Lingo
Cults create exclusive language that only members understand because learning these unique terms makes you feel like part of an inner circle, which strengthens your bond with the group. It subtly distances you from those outside it and makes conversations with your group feel more exclusive. Before you know it, you’re using their language in your everyday life, which reinforces your connection to the group and makes you feel special.
They Overload You with Information
Likewise, they might bombard you with complex ideas that are hard to follow—such an overwhelming amount of information makes you confused and more reliant on the group to make sense of it all. These groups will constantly introduce new concepts to keep you too busy to question anything and make you dependent on them for guidance. It helps them to position themselves as the only ones who are able to help you understand.
They Bombard You with Kindness
From the start, cults will overwhelm you with friendliness & attention and this sudden warmth fills emotional voids to make it harder to question their motives. They might invite you to events or remember small details about you—this makes you feel like you’ve found your new best friends. This constant attention is designed to encourage you to quickly form emotional attachments and lower your guard so you’ll invest in the group.
They Encourage Deep Confessions
Cults often hold sessions where they’ll urge you to share personal secrets because opening up creates vulnerability and a false sense of closeness—but beware. They’ll use these against you later as a way of keeping you tied to the group out of fear or guilt. They might call these sessions “cleansing” or “unburdening,” but sharing your deepest thoughts gives them leverage to use against you if you think about leaving.
They Ease You In Gradually
Instead of asking for big commitments upfront, cults start small by inviting you to a casual meeting or event before they increase their requests. For example, they could start by asking for simple favors & small amounts of your time—as you agree to these, they’ll start asking you to attend long retreats or donate money. This gradual involvement makes it hard to pinpoint when things escalated and you’re already way too deep before you know it.
They Showcase Success Stories
Many cults will talk about how other members have benefited as a form of social proof to lure you in, as seeing peers who seem happy & fulfilled makes joining more appealing. It taps into the desire to achieve similar positive outcomes in your own life. They could also parade successful members as examples so that you’ll want to be like them. Doing so creates a sense of hope that you’ll be able to achieve similar results, even though their sense of success is quite hollow.
They Target Vulnerable Moments
Cults often look for people during tough times or big life changes and when you’re feeling lost or uncertain, they offer support & answers. Their timely assistance makes their guidance seem trustworthy, which increases the chance you’ll become involved and their timing isn’t accidental. They look for signs that you’re in need of support so they can prey on you.
They Create a Sense of Urgency
Cults will suggest that opportunities are limited to pressure you to make quick decisions, which could involve claiming there are only a few spots left or that time is running out. This artificial scarcity pushes you to commit without giving you the chance to think things through. The cult controls the timeline and that makes it difficult for you to seek advice from others or do any research.
They Boast Charismatic Leaders
A charming, confident leader is incredibly persuasive and cults revolve around such figures—their magnetism draws people in. Their charisma makes followers eager to listen & follow their vision, at the expense of overlooking questionable practices. Most people feel privileged just to be in their presence, which makes the leader’s influence spread even further.
They Fake Profound Experiences
Cults may stage events that seem miraculous as a way to make you feel strong emotions and convince you of their special powers or insights. Experiencing something you can’t easily explain can deepen your commitment to the group. When logic can’t explain what you’ve witnessed, you’re more likely to accept the group’s claims, which creates a powerful emotional attachment and makes you reluctant to leave.
They Isolate You from Others
Bit by bit, cults encourage you to distance yourself from friends and family, which often starts by scheduling constant activities or discouraging outside relationships. You’ll start to spend more time with them and less with others, making you more dependent on them for support & validation. They may suggest that your loved ones don’t understand you like the group does as a way to plant seeds of doubt about your existing relationships.
They Exploit Your Fears and Insecurities
Cults might tap into your personal fears or worries by promising to fix what’s troubling you, whether it’s loneliness, financial struggles, or big life questions. They’ll offer solutions to your deepest concerns to make their group seem like a place of refuge, which makes you feel understood. This draws you further under their influence and makes it easy to get pulled in without noticing the red flags.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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