After watching "Evil Cult Leaders" and "Tyrants and Dictators" (both Manuel Noriega and Saddam Hussein), in your opinion, why do you think seemingly intelligent consenting adults would choose to follow a “leader” into a cult lifestyle and potentially do illegal acts all for the respect of that “leader”?
What convinces an ordinary, intelligent person to join a cult? From the outside looking in, it seems as though cults only attract the absolute worst of society, the poor and the mentally ill. However, in actuality, cults can influence and ensnare anyone. Whether the new member of a cult is young or old, certain factors facilitate his or her attraction to the cult. New members usually join because …show more content…
These leaders use programs to reform their recruits and integrate them into their followers, they encourage and persuade recruits into socializing with the group so that they may therefore control them. Through these well thought out recruitment, selection and socialization processes, cult leaders attempt to maintain psychological and physical dependency among their flock. The main goal of a cult is to on reprogram the way their members see the world and consistently exploit group members specifically to advance the leader’s goals. These same concepts could be seen within the leadership styles of both Saddam Hussein and Manuel Noriega. Both Noriega and hussain were charismatic leaders who claimed special knowledge and skills, as well as demanded unquestioning obedience with power and privilege, excessive discipline and expectations. They demanded perfection at all times does not matter …show more content…
WIth this viewpoint it is impossible to deny that Noriega and Hussein were leaders. Through their brutal means, they managed their people and ensured that their personal goals were met at the expense of their peoples’ lives. They had an over-abundant belief that they were special, and they alone had the answers to problems, and that they had to be revered. They demanded perfect loyalty from followers, and they overvalued themselves while devalued those around them, they were intolerant of criticism, and above all they did not like being questioned or challenged. in spite of these less than charming traits, they had no trouble attracting those who were willing to overlook these features, and still follow them