He has come up with eight criteria of mind control, which when applied to a group allow the group to be labelled a cult. (http://www.reveal.org/library/psych/lifton.html)
Because defining the word CULT is so difficult, because of the negative connotations which come with it, Lifton's criteria help box and label what can and can't be a cult.
But, I think Lifton's work really pertains to the 60s and 70s, when a lot of "religious groups" (or cults) were popping up and they needed a means in which to define them as destructive religious cults.
Now the word cult is used to describe any group which is heavily dedicated to one person or a small group of people. It's like cults don't pertain to mind control but dedication.
Do you think fans of Justin Beiber or Lady Gaga could be
legitimately named cult members?
When I think of the word "cult," a feeling of fervor comes up. I think Lady Gaga fans could be considered a sort of a cult, but I think that there's a lack of ceremony. I don't know a lot about cults, but from what I can tell, a part of cult life is performing some kind a initiation ceremony -- I haven't heard of anyone having to drink blood or something like that when they start listening to Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, I feel like cults have some sort of negative affect on their members. I've never heard of a cult that has ultimately benefitted it's participants, but maybe I just haven't done my research!
Before i read this blog, i did not know about cult very well. However, after i read this blog, i was interested in knowing about cult. In the dictionary, cult is defined as a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult)
ReplyDeleteSo i think that justin's or gaga's fans cannot be defined as cult members because they don't really worship them in a religious way, they do not practice ceremony for singers. To be a cult member, he or she should be more enthusiastic in religious way.