The Secret Language of Cults

[Diaryofamadwoman]

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2tszmFR4FWV3WmBMCjcm0V4/the-secret-language-of-cults

Exerpt: But, once the willingness is there, language becomes key, says the author: “You need language to obscure truths, to construct solidarity, to instil ideology, to divide people into an ‘us’ and a ‘them’, to instil an ‘ends justify the means’ philosophy, to do everything a cultish group needs in order to gain and maintain power.”

Off to listen...

Sounds interesting, thanks for the link.

@Diaryofamadwoman

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2tszmFR4FWV3WmBMCjcm0V4/the-secret-language-of-cults

Exerpt: But, once the willingness is there, language becomes key, says the author: “You need language to obscure truths, to construct solidarity, to instil ideology, to divide people into an ‘us’ and a ‘them’, to instil an ‘ends justify the means’ philosophy, to do everything a cultish group needs in order to gain and maintain power.”

Off to listen...

That's very interesting, thank you.

A while ago I watched some anti-MLM videos on YouTube and the crossover with cults and the use of language to control thought and actions or risk ostracism and other forms of reputational harm was fascinating. I can't find them now but there were some videos in which cult de-programmers were interviewed about the crossovers and they were eye-opening about the correspondences.

It was very much about taking away even the little social support that people had and replacing it with an abusive one that made the MLMer dependent upon them and led them into further harm.

It's having some resonances in light of contemporary events - and the need to divert people from ruinous ideologies and lay out a path to personal dignity without violence.

I was going to say MLM is very similar - processes of sensebreakinf and sensegiving mycourses.aalto.fi/pluginfile.php/1237667/course/section/154941/2000%20Pratt%20The%20good%2C%20the%20bad%2C%20and%20the%20ambivalent%20Managin%20Identification%20among%20Amway%20Distributors.pdf

I haven’t watch that yet. I have some contact with Steve Hassan who is a psychologist who has specialised in helping people leave cults having been in the Moonies in the 1970s himself, he calls MLM ‘commercial cults’. I’ve been watching the MLM industry pretty closely for a number of years and from what I can see many of the cult techniques are evident in the way they recruit and retain scheme members. It’s alarming that the U.K. government cannot seem to recognise the harm they do and the fact that aside from a veneer of product they’re running as recruitment devices so are commercial very iffy too. The secrecy MLM is allowed to maintain is part of the problem. It’s interesting how the MLMs lead by “gurus” are currently using the pandemic to keep followers on-message and scared to join “the sheep” on the outside world.

Interesting podcast. I'd recommend this.

Sorry, what's MLM?

MLM is multi level marketing.
Basically you buy some stuff then resell it, and you also try to recruit people to sell it for you on your behalf. Its a pyramid scheme, the only people that make any money are the ones at the top.

The NXIUM cult founder used the MLM model - there's an excellent Netflix series on them, called "The Vow"

Leah Remini's series "Scientology and the Aftermath" gives you the full playbook of how these organisations work. The echos of another movement are eerie: the institutional capture, going after lawmakers/law enforcement, marginalising and harassing those leaving the movement, separating family members from their loved ones considered to be "suppressive persons" for not being members, and above all, the demand to believe the absurdly unbelievable.

Also, I see a lot of parallels - especially WRT language suppression, the rejection of science, the requirements that people disbelieve the evidence before their own eyes, and the treatment of "heretics" - in the fat acceptance movement.

Really good podcast - thank you for sharing Diaryofamadwoman

Echoing PPs who enjoyed the podcast.

Yet another book purchase I'm now considering.