<p>You hear stories about cults and the like brainwashing people all the time. How do they psychologically break people down so that they'll join up?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-28T08:21:22.020Z
Questions here generally [require evidence of prior research](https://psychology.meta.stackexchange.com/q/2277) and enough context to provide an adequate answer for what you need to know.  What have you read on the subject?  There are many different ideas on what constitutes a cult.  What is your definition for the purpose of this question? Different cults use different techniques.  Are you referring to any specific cult?
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-30T10:55:25.713Z
Too long to answer here; read https://aeon.co/essays/how-cult-leaders-brainwash-followers-for-total-control for instance.
got trolled too much this week
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-30T12:05:32.017Z
Or https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/13/health/brainwashing-mind-control-patty-hearst/index.html for a more balanced view.
got trolled too much this week
<cognitive-psychology><conditioning>
How do cults indoctrinate people?
Preg-Fan
# How do cults indoctrinate people?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-27)

You hear stories about cults and the like brainwashing people all the time. How do they psychologically break people down so that they'll join up?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, conditioning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Questions here generally [require evidence of prior research](https://psychology.meta.stackexchange.com/q/2277) and enough context to provide an adequate answer for what you need to know.  What have you read on the subject?  There are many different ideas on what constitutes a cult.  What is your definition for the purpose of this question? Different cults use different techniques.  Are you referring to any specific cult?  
> **username_2**: Too long to answer here; read https://aeon.co/essays/how-cult-leaders-brainwash-followers-for-total-control for instance.  
> **username_2**: Or https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/13/health/brainwashing-mind-control-patty-hearst/index.html for a more balanced view.  

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## 0 answers

