30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren't Considered One

Robin Stern, Ph.D., is a psychoanalyst, senior advisor to the director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, and author of The Gaslight Effect: How to Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use to Control Your Life.

She told Bored Panda, "The main building blocks of a cult include a leader or central figure with narcissistic traits, who asserts authority by defining reality for the group.

"The cult's vision and belief system are enforced through strict rules that dictate how members must think and behave. Disagreement or dissent is actively discouraged, often through punishment or ostracism, creating an environment where questioning the leader or the group's ideology becomes taboo," the psychoanalyst explained.

However, the facade can be much more appealing. "Sometimes, from the outside, the performative happiness and unified front of a group can seem appealing to someone grappling with loneliness or discontent," Stern added.

When you're lost, it can seem like a beacon of hope. "People often join cults because they are vulnerable or seeking a sense of belonging and purpose, which cult leaders are all too happy to provide."

Stern said, "Those who struggle with boundaries or rely heavily on others to define what is 'right' may be particularly susceptible," as "individuals with a history of pathological accommodation—constantly sacrificing their needs to please others—can be drawn to the cult's promise of acceptance."

Fear of standing out or being different also makes people more likely to join and conform once they are inside, the psychoanalyst highlighted.

Once somebody's in, the group will do everything to keep them. "Leaving a cult is challenging for several reasons. Members are often enmeshed in gaslighting dynamics, where the leader and others manipulate their perception of reality. This can lead to self-gaslighting, where individuals doubt their own judgment and truth," Stern said.

The psychoanalyst highlighted that since leaving also means giving up a sense of community and belonging, even the thought of it can feel profoundly isolating. "Many face internal doubts, wondering, What if I’m wrong? Confronting the truth about their involvement can bring overwhelming feelings of shame, making it even harder to admit they've been manipulated or seduced into a cult."

Even if someone does escape, it can take them a while to start appreciating their newfound freedom and rebuild a sense of identity.

According to a 2023 study, former cult members experience an "in-between" period after leaving and often find themselves in a confusing, chaotic state.

As they work to regain access to their own values and feelings while also forming new bonds with family and friends outside the cult, they often struggle to discuss their ordeal with those who haven’t experienced it themselves.

"Cult dynamics often exploit fundamental human needs for connection, purpose, and identity," Robin Stern added. "Recognizing these vulnerabilities and fostering critical thinking, emotional intelligence, giving yourself permission to feel and to honor those feelings, and setting strong boundaries can help people resist such manipulation.

"Support networks and professional help are critical for those seeking to leave, as the process requires both emotional and practical resources to rebuild their lives outside the cult," she said.