Ep. 63: Cults, feat. Rob Biernacki - Part 2

This week, Rob is back to help Steve and Matt discuss the tactics used by cult-like organizations.  We discuss why these are dangerous, common objections from cult members, and tactics to combat cult-like behaviour in your organization.

For more on the BITE influence continuum:
https://freedomofmind.com/influence-continuum/

Why cult tactics are dangerous:

• The rabbit hole effect: Although belief in cults and conspiracy theories may start small, they lead to escalating and more radical beliefs.
• Cognitive dissonance: The mind becomes uncomfortable when your actions don't align with your preconceived beliefs.  Once someone starts involvement with a cult, cognitive dissonance can lead people to "rewrite" their beliefs to be deeper entrenched in the cult.

Common objections from cult members:

• “These rituals are for team building.”
• “I get value out of the cult.”
• “It’s harmless to play along with these rituals.”
• “Cult is too strong a term for our organization.”
• “Our cult is one of the good ones.”

Tactics for combating cults:

• Use of humor, especially with the leader
• The leader isn't afraid to look bad or lose
• Willingness to challenge the leader
• Exposure to other groups
• Communal sharing of knowledge

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