In light of recent political developments, I was looking for books and papers to better understand the nature of human organization and social structure. I found your research on cults especially illuminating. So thank you for writing Love, Terror, and Brainwashing.
I’m no expert on the matter, of course. But I suspect your framework is even more general than you’ve let on. Cults or totalist systems seem to be a matter of degree. Many families, communities, corporations, religions, and ideologies employ a mixture of the strategies you’ve talked about, if only to a lesser extent. Of course, these groups are not nearly as isolating, all-consuming, or fear-arousing as a cult. But I couldn't help but see a smidgen of similarities to everyday life and workplaces.
As I read your book, I began to wonder what your thoughts might be on the cult-like political movements that are festering in the United States and elsewhere. In fact, a quick web search shows that you have already provided a
Statement for the Record to the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
The most important part of that document, to me at least, is on page 21 and 22 in which you outline your recommendations. You also provide some guidance to an open society in the last chapter in your book. All of it is non-controversial. Indeed, who would disagree with a call for better education, legislation, diversity and community?
The trouble, however, as it appears to me, comes down to implementation. When we have to iron out the details of some proposed direction or solution, expert opinion is suddenly much sparser. Preventing cult-like behavior likewise is tricky because the recruitment phase is innocuous and gradual. We depend on former members to help expose the system. And usually the cult is quite entrenched by that point. Cult-like politics is an even greater problem because it happens on a mass scale. Like frogs in slow boiling water, we haven’t even begun to respond to the fracturing in our shared realities or to the breakdown of trust in our institutions (from science to education to journalism) .
I think the broad solution to cult-like politics is already in your book: “The key to resistance is the ability to maintain or develop trusting relationships in order to preserve an integration of thinking and feeling, along with the ability to find ways to act independently.” But how do we go from high-level aspirations to tangible policy and initiatives? When it comes to cult-like politics, have you observed any specific prevention programs, strategies, or case studies in your line of work that might be scalable?
I hope you might build upon the recommendations in your statement someday. Most of us, regardless of political leanings, will agree with you and others on the problem and broad objectives. But what we are lacking in are solutions that are specific, cost-effective, apolitical, and scalable. Please, if you have the time, do share your thoughts with us.
Thank you.
Warm regards,
Toby