"the way of love is the way of no expectation. Love exists only when there is total acceptance and no desire to change anything." -Osho Cult membership is often perceived as the result of ignorance, weakness, or even insanity, but the psychological factors at play are far more complex. At its core, people who join cults are typically seeking something—be it meaning, purpose, love, belonging, or a sense of control over their lives. Cults offer a seemingly perfect solution to these natural desires, providing members with a structured belief system, tight-knit community, and authoritative daddy figure who claims to have all the answers. I alone can fix it is a common refrain. These guys (and sometimes gals) tend to be of the malignant narcissistic variety and possess great sway over their members. The psychological vulnerabilities that make individuals susceptible to cults are varied, but they often include feelings of lon...
No one is more dangerous than a malignant narcissist . These folks are evil personified and consistently exhibit extreme personality traits that combine cruelty, deceit, and an unmitigated thirst for control, regardless of the circumstances. When such an individual gains power —whether in politics, business, or on a personal level —the consequences can be devastating. Though rarely for them. Unlike your run of the mill narcissist who may be self-centered and attention-seeking but still functions within societal norms, the malignant narcissist doesn't believe that rules or laws apply to them. Therefore, granting them any degree of authority invites despair and often, death. Some, like notorious cult leaders Charles Manson and Jim Jones, become serial killers by proxy, where they persuade their followers to menace, threaten, even butcher and poison others on their behalf. They don't have to do the dirty work, being the lazy cowards they ...