Hello! Do you have some advice on how to create and write a cult?
Hi!
I’m really interested in cults and their behaviour and structure, so I actually had a problem to not go overboard here. I will start with a short overview of the basics and then go into more detail. I hope you like it!
How to create and write a cult
The Leader
common characteristics: charismatic, manipulative, controlling
followers follow them without questioning them
they are often seen as a prophet or human idol or image of the diety the cult believe in
they speak with the authority of a god
make sure to give them some uniqueness, maybe an air of otherworldliness to make them more godlike so they stand out
give reasons for why they want a following, what do they get out of it?
give reasons for why people would follow and be loyal to them
The Followers
often disenchanted from society and their own beliefs
wanting something new, a new start
single people, living on their own
often without close ties to family or friends
remember that everyone, no matter their intelligence and their confidence can become entangled in a cult
some are just a little bit easier to prey on
The Cult
often strict hierarchy
rules, routines and practiced behaviours
love bombing and brainwashing
feeling of superiority
being the good guys in an “us against the world”-scenario
taking everything from the outside away that a new member could rely on
making them solely rely on the cult
if someone does escape they are either pursued, stalked and harrassed or they are being shunned by everyone in the cult
Structure
cults typically have one godlike leader
they do not get questioned, they get imitated and followed
they have a small, but extremely loyal group of followers around them
this core group implements the leader’s rules and controls the rest of the followers
they often have more benefits and liberties than the rest
a normal follower would probably mostly interact with someone from the core group as the person in charge and not the leader themself
depending on the cult, the other followers can be separated and put into smaller households
this can break up pre-existing units and helps controlling the members
Examples:
nuclear family
one man and a harem of women and younger children
separated by gender (younger boys with women)
separated by skill
separated by age
separated into “classes”
Beliefs
a religious cult can be independent or a secession from a mainstream religion
if it is completely independent then you need a good reason for why people would follow those beliefs
you probably need to make up rules and practices and lore that goes along with it and legitimizes it
but it can’t only be about rules and maybe hardship, the people need a reason for wanting to follow this
the leaderis often acting like they are the only one who can give these people what they want and need (love, acceptance, saftey, inner peace, etc.)
the leaders are very charismatic and almost perfect citizens from the outside, but more often than not manipulative and controlling
if the cult is based on a mainstream religion you have to take some of the beliefs from that religion and incorporate it
a big difference between a religion and a cult is the blind belief in a diety and the blind belief in a charismatic human
but a cult can also more fundamentalistic part of a religion that was excommunicated from the main church
be careful to show the common beliefs, but also show the major differences as not to insult readers from the main religion
Acquisition of followers
cults like to target people that are unhappy with their current life and often people without a lot of confidence
it’s easier if the person doesn’t have family or firends that they are close with
cult members can be anywhere to recrut new members, but they are often found in places of mainstream religions or within support groups to prey on already vulnerable people
love bombing - a manipulative strategy in which the cult bombards the target with so much love, acceptance, understanding and happy, positive vibes that they feel like no one will ever love them like this
they also try to tell the target that only they love them and can give them what they need and that everyone else is not wanting the best for them, only they do
they try to isolate them from their friends and family
but plot twist - as soon as this tactic is successful and the person joined the cult, they take away that love, which maked the target feel more alone than ever and desperate to get that love back
in some cases where they literally take that person from their life and bring them into theirs, this could also include drugging and excessive praying or reciting that puts them in a trance, this can go on for days
they will continue to try to isolate them from their old lifes and give them new families by putting them into groups or households
this way, even if they want to leave, they feel like they have no one waiting for them outside
they also have to fear being shunned from their new friends and family if they go against the rules
Behaviour
“Us vs. Them” mentality, making the outside world out to be a purely evil place and they are the only safe haven
secrecy, about their rituals, sometimes beliefs, but definitely about the ways people are kept in the cult
often not showing new members a lot of what they truly believe in and how they go about those beliefs until the member is isolated and already too deep inside the cult
identifying marks, like tattoos or brand marks and specific clothes to show unity
emotional, physical and sexual abuse can often be found in cults, sometimes even systematically implemented like a ritual
children are married young and only to other members
having lots of children is encouraged to grow the cult, but also to trap the parents inside the cult, because leaving with children is even more difficult
often rejection of law enforcement and political establishment, not following state laws, but following their own rules
everyone else gets blames but them and outside intervention to save the people can even strengthen the cult against the outside
snitching is encouraged, members tell on each other at the first sign of independent thinking and second guessing the leader
punishments are mostly being given by the core group around the leader and are often made out to be a punishment from the diety they believe in
sometimes there is a loyalty test members (reguarly) have to pass to show that they still follow not matter what
Get more information
this format is not ideal to go into so much detail, so you have to do more research
read books or articles on the internet about psychology, what kind of people are more susceptible to being victims and what makes a person a cult leader
check out actual cults and look how they do their thing (or did, take Jonestown for example)
you can also check out witness accounts of people that were able to escape cults (there are quite a few on YouTube)
check out different kinds of cults
I went with religious here, but there are also cults based on other ideology, political cults, doomsday cults, etc.
This took so long, so have fun and good luck! :)
- Jana
