Dangerous Cult Leaders: Clues to what makes for a pathological cult leader

[tulipsandroses]

Sound like anyone you know? Click the link to see 50 traits listed

Dangerous Cult Leaders
Clues to what makes for a pathological cult leader
Posted Aug 25, 2012

One of the questions that I am often asked by students of criminology and psychology is, how do you know when a cult leader is “evil” or “bad”? These of course are vague descriptors to some extent, but I also get the question, “When is a cult leader pathological or a danger to others?” This is a valid question in view of the historical record of suffering and hurt caused by various cult leaders around the world.

From my studies of cults and cult leaders during my time in the FBI, I learned early on that there are some things to look for that, at a minimum, say "caution, this individual is dangerous, and in all likelihood will cause harm to others."

Having studied at length the life, teachings, and behaviors of Jim Jones (Jonestown Guyana), David Koresh (Branch Davidians), Stewart Traill (The Church of Bible Understanding), Charles Manson, Shoko Asahara (Aum Shinrikyo), Joseph Di Mambro (The Order of the Solar Temple a.k.a. Ordre du Temple Solaire), Marshall Heff Applewhit (Heaven’s Gate), Bhagwan Rajneesh (Rajneesh Movement), and Warren Jeffs (polygamist leader), I can say that what stands out about these individuals is that they were or are all pathologically narcissistic. They all have or had an over-abundant belief that they were special, that they and they alone had the answers to problems, and that they had to be revered. They demanded perfect loyalty from followers, they overvalued themselves and devalued those around them, they were intolerant of criticism, and above all they did not like being questioned or challenged. And yet, in spite of these less than charming traits, they had no trouble attracting those who were willing to overlook these features.

][link:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spycatcher/201208/dangerous-cult-leaders|

[eppur_se_muova]

1. There's an obvious omission from that list of names. nt

[dawg day]

3. When I look at that shambling conceited turd Trump, I say, "What do his minions SEE in him?"

He's not attractive, not loving, not pleasant, not brilliant. Most of all, he's just unpleasant.

But then I remember the Bhagwan managed to get thousands of people to give up their lives and work like slaves to keep him in Rolls Royces, and he was an old man with a long beard who never even spoke out loud-- and they worshipped him.

The test of a "great" cult leader, I guess, is the more unpleasant he is, the more they love him.

[diva77]

8. It's a symbiotic relationship of the worst kind - they both feed off each other to create more

destruction than they would be able to independent of each other.

[matt819]

6. It was written in 2012

That said, it looks like he’s 50 out of 50 now. As he was then, buy no one gave much of a fuck about him then. He was an annoyance, a fringe nut job.

[dawg day]

2. Hmmm, are there good cult leaders?

I suppose you could be a charismatic leader with many people devoted to you, and you do only good things and don't exploit or manipulate your members or put them in danger... Can't think of many examples.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Gandhi?

There was definitely a cult of personality around him, but he certainly had good intentions & was doubtful to be a narcissist.
Like you said, it's not a long list, but he sort of fits.
I agree we generally think of cults as a bad situation. So, it makes it hard to recognize cult like behavior around a good person.
Probably because the subject of it (like Gandhi) isn't seeking personal affirmation or gain. But, post WW2 India was pretty close to a Gandhi cult, for a while.

[dawg day]

5. I was thinking Mother Theresa also

Jesus maybe?

[ProfessorGAC]

7. I Thought Jesus To o

Assuming he was an historical figure.

[tblue37]

9. Mother Theresa is problematic. You should read some exposes about her. nt