The Effects of Dangerous Cult Manipulation: Neurological Damage Among Old and New Members Aafnan Alam

The Effects of Dangerous Cult Manipulation:

Neurological Damage Among Old and New Members

By: Aafnan Alam | Art By: Seyoung Lee

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the dynamics of cult recruiting through manipulation and the negative effects on humans’ brains as a result. People are easily deceived by cults’ manipulation, therefore this paper examines the effects of the recruitment techniques on cult members based on neurological evidence, responses from professionals, as well as treatments for reintegration back into society before and after emotional manipulation. The main goal of this paper is not to abolish cults, rather to examine the manipulation and explore the possibility of making cults safer; by understanding cult manipulation, perhaps this type of control could become ineffective as people become more aware of brainwashing techniques. This paper concludes that the negative effects of cult manipulation are significant and are hazardous to people’s health. By ensuring a safer, better environment for cult members, and continuing safer, improved treatment for ex-members, the harmful situation of cult manipulation can be eliminated.

The brain is an important organ that encompases the mind and soul. Therefore, wounds to the brain can cause detrimental effects on not only mental health, but also physical health. Developing technology has brought an understanding of the distinctive functions and patterns of the human brain. Researchers use Electroencephalogram (EEG), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CAT) scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to scan the brain and thoroughly understand its properties. The brain is composed of three main parts: the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The cerebrum and cortex-which is a part of the cerebrum- are the largest part of the brain and consists of the right and left hemispheres. Integration between the two (horizontal integration) parts is the key to reduce both their emotional charge and communicate them to others. These right and left hemispheres are connected by the corpus callosum. The corpus callosum performs the “elite” functions, such as interpreting the five senses, other’s reasoning, emotions, learning, and movement. The cerebral cortex is divided into four parts (concerning this paper, only three are important): the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, and the temporal lobe. In simple terms, the frontal lobe deals with personality, judgement, and reasoning; the parietal lobe handles language, the five senses, and memory; the hippocampus, located in the middle part of each temporal lobe, manages physical activity, mental stimulation, nutrition, socialization, and spirituality. These functions are not exclusively handled by each lobe, nor do they work in isolation. The prefrontal cortex (PFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the amygdala, are related to trauma on the brain and brain manipulation [1].

Thus, researchers have investigated the effects of trauma and manipulation of the brain, specifically the amygdala, ACC, and PFC; however, these measures have not been correlated directly with the techniques performed by cults. Due to the mass media coverage and widespread knowledge on how cults operate, cults are known for a very sensible reason: they are known to either indoctrinate people and manipulate them for their leader’s selfish benefits, or, occasionally, to help better their community. This paper will research the dynamics of cult recruitment through manipulation and the reasons people are easily deceived by cults’ manipulation. By understanding this aspect, perhaps cult manipulation could become ineffective and awareness about the brainwashing will be raised, ensuring safety to former and prospective cult members with better cultsystematic-rules put in place.

Literature Review

Neurological Effects of Manipulation and Trauma

Neurologically, manipulation and trauma have multiple negative effects on the human brain. The brain is considered to be split into multiple parts. It is the control center for humans, more logical as it processes language and emotions. Cults attack the brain through manipulation by strictly altering the way people think, inflicting psychological trauma to the brain. Annie Lennon, a writer, believes the way cults cut off free-

thinking and expression can lead to devastating effects. “As cults tend to discourage and severely punish those who question their leaders or practices, they tend to prevent both vertical and horizontal integration from happening. This means that negative emotions are more likely to get stuck into depressing mindsets (eventually surfacing as trauma), while critical thinking and reasoning are suppressed” [2]. Cults target the right brain through the manipulation of emotions; strong emotions correlate with changes in function, which can possibly halt the PFC, ACC, amygdala, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and temporal lobe. EEG, PET, CAT scans, MRI and DTI can all help in understanding how specific parts of the brain react to emotional-cult-manipulation. The amygdala will respond with the feeling of fear if it perceives a danger or threat; it also becomes hyperactive when affected by PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), an aftermath among many after leaving a cult, which can initiate excessive fear to those who experience trauma stressors [3]. When the brain is dealing with all the negative emotions, this overactivity can possibly lead to chronic stress, fear, increased irritation and anxiety, and disruptions among the normal functions of the brain.

The main part of the brain affected by trauma is the hippocampus. In a study led by Quan Zhang, MD at China’s Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, researchers looked at the relationship between the hippocampus and the amygdala in coal miners suffering from PTSD after surviving a gas explosion and found that the volume of their hippocampus was smaller that than of others who were not suffering from PTSD [3]. Ex-members and present cult members resemble the coal miners as both groups experienced trauma, PTSD, and their memories were most likely extremely vivid and constantly on their minds. This effect provokes one’s fightor-flight response and triggers survivors’ trauma in small ways which can result in fear, stress, and panic because the victims cannot differentiate between their past trauma and the present situation [4]. When compared to the size of a normal hippocampus, a cult member’s hippocampus is significantly smaller. While the amygdala senses a negative emotion such as fear, the prefrontal cortex “will rationally react to this emotion. After trauma though, this rationality might be overridden and [one’s] prefrontal cortex will have a hard time regulating fear and other emotions” [4]. While the coal miners suffered from a gas explosion, cult members experienced trauma from another source, brainwashing. This study shows how dangerous and hurtful cult manipulation can truly become. Cult leaders cleverly manipulate prospective members into joining their cults, inducing altered brain activity upon some members with traumatic experiences. Prolonged stress and trauma can lead to cortisol-induced brain volume reductions in hippocampus and other regions, and worsen mental health.

Anecdotal Evidence

People who have managed to survive the experience of being in a cult leave to find that readjusting to societal norms is even harder. Many barely manage to survive being in a cult, much less adjusting to life outside after. Different cults have different god(s) and beliefs they worship, as well as rituals they undergo. The Lynman Family, a cult Guineviere Turner grew up in, had many rules to follow. She had no contact with anybody outside her family and other cult members; she was homeschooled and never saw a doctor, having been raised to believe that she would eventually live on Venus. The cult had their own doctor, and did not allow any outsiders pry into their community; this isolation led to easy manipulation. These circumstances impacted her when she was eventually rejected by the cult and had to face reality. When Turner arrived at her first public school, she realized she was simply a stranger in a stranger’s land. She dressed in homemade clothes, liked different activities from children her own age, and worst of all, she was socially awkward. “Never having met anyone who hadn’t known me since [she] was born, [she] hadn’t grasped that direct eye contact with someone for more than a few seconds makes [someone] seem very weird” [5]. As a result of her seclusion in the cult, her brain never adjusted to proper communication experiences a healthy child should have. Like Turner, Diane Benscoter similarly described her experiences at a cult into which she was recruited. The cult she joined was particularly skilled in manipulation: she “had come to believe that the second coming of Christ had occurred, that it was Sun Myung Moon, and that [she] had been specially chosen and prepared by God to be his disciple” [6]. She was easily manipulated and forced into this cult, becoming a devoted member. After having been deprogrammed, Benscoter became a deprogrammer herself, a person who kidnaps members for cults. She was soon arrested and questioned about how she had come to a point in her life at which she was doing underground railroad business. Eventually, the term memetics - the study of

information based on an analogy- gave her the answer. Memetics, also known as a meme, is an idea which duplicates in the human brain and moves from one side of the brain to the other, similar to a virus. Benscoter described how exactly she was manipulated and what strategies the cult used on her. “In 1974, I was young, I was naive, and I was pretty lost in my world… These easy ideas to complex questions are very appealing when you are emotionally vulnerable. What happens is that circular logic takes over. ‘Moon is one with God. God is going to fix all the problems in the world. All I have to do is humbly follow.’ … [This] creates ‘us’ and ‘them,’ ‘right’ and ‘wrong,’ ‘good’ and ‘evil.’ And it makes anything possible, makes anything rationalizable” [6].

This pure emotional manipulation makes anything rational, anything possible, as Benscoter said. This technique is prominently used in cults, along with deprogramming to ‘safely’ ensure members remain in the cult. However, this conditioning hurts the member neurologically, as seen in Benscoter’s case. Her hippocampus was found to be smaller, and the mental trauma she recieved was long lasting. In this anecdotal observation, it is possible Benscoter’s hippocampus was smaller due to mental trauma, however, the study did not address her having a small hippocampus to begin with, and could have had a lack of mental stimulation during critical periods which prevented normal developmental growth. Although many newly recruited members enter the cult in the hope of saving themselves or becoming free and welcomed, often in destructive cults, the opposite happens as some members feel emotionally and even physically exhausted.

Professional Statements and Studies

When researching the impact of cult manipulation and brainwashing members, psychologists and researchers play an important part in analyzing and understanding the different depths of neurological impact. Researcher Michael D. Langone is a psychologist who specializes in research regarding cultic groups and psychological manipulation. Langone compares cult manipulation to Debility-Dependency-Dread (DDD) syndrome. Cults do not have the power of the state at their convenience, therefore, they cannot forcibly gain members. Thus, recruiters must persuade or brainwash prospective members using what specifically appeals to each person the most. As a result, recruits commit themselves by agreeing with the group’s rules of thinking, feeling, and acting, since they have been manipulated [7]. Cults use this method to retain recruits and draft vulnerable members. Physical threats and emotional manipulation take place as they are viable options for recruitment. These methods impact members greatly, as neurologically, their way of thinking and functioning is changed and controlled.

A journal by Gudrun Swartling, O.T. and Per G. Swartling, M.D also discusses the different ways cults can manipulate and expand their control over new and former members. Swartling and Swartling (1992) state, “severe and long term psychiatric problems have been recognized in former students of the Word Of Life Bible School [a cult]. Almost half of the 43 individuals interviewed had experienced psychosis-like symptoms, and one out of 4 had attempted suicide. Anxiety, feelings of guilt, and emotional disorders were common.” This intense influence of power and manipulation can lead to long term psychological deficiencies and trauma (see appendix A for more information on New Psychiatric Symptoms In 43 Former Bible School Students). In 60% of cases from the World of Life, parents noticed prominent differences in their children’s appearance after joining the cult. “Body posture became tense, with a frozen facial expression and eyes that were staring or had an absent or evasive look” [8]. Children in cults can easily become manipulated since their brains are still developing and take in new information permanently, therefore their attitudes and actions can relentlessly change. Cults can manipulate not only adults, but even the children of future generations. Cult manipulation can result in difficulty adjusting to life for new members, and previous ones as well.

Discussion

The results of this research support the notion that cult recruitment and manipulation within the cult can alter the brain neurologically, but may not necessarily harm the brain. Cults are fast-growing communities due to the usage of brain manipulation when recruiting members; this strategy harms different parts of the brain, provoking mental illnesses such as PTSD as well as reinstituting past trauma among members of the cult or ex-associates. Many members enter a cult vulnerable, as noted by the anecdotal evidence and professional statements. This provides a pathway for narcissistic cult leaders to easily abuse their members mentally and physically. For instance, the mindset of coal miners after a gas explosion can be compared to that of cult members. Cult members can acquire PTSD, depression, anxiety, and many other forms of mental illnesses as a result of cult manipulation. As a result, their hippocampuses will become smaller. Their memories will become very distorted as well, and their emotions will grow unstable. This hurts the different lobes of the brain, especially the right brain. Members and ex members will be in constant fear, anxious, and unhappy as their health will start to decline.

The limitations in this paper consist of anecdotal evidence, outdated sources, and faulty cult leader diagnosis. The anecdotal evidence of ex-cult members were used to provide evidence as to how trauma and brain manipulation damaged them physically and mentally. This creates a definite limitation as the statements from people could have been biased, false, or even consistent with memory gaps. However, when discussing the neurological impacts of cult members, it is significant to include cult members’ perspectives. For future studies, researchers should consider factual studies that confirm the harmful effects of cult manipulation in order to ensure societal safety. Different studies using ex-cult members and current

ones should be conducted, measuring the difference in neuron activity and damage from being recruited to leaving or escaping by using EEG, PET, CAT scans, MRI, and DTI. By introducing accurate and controlled studies of the neurological effects of cult manipulation, society can prevent the increasing number of mental health issues and death rates throughout the world as a result of cults; this can lead to a stronger and healthier generation of people for the future.

Life is full of good and bad experiences. It is necessary to educate society about cults as every story has another side to it. If a cult community is not performing harmful acts among its members, one need not act as a hero and should mind their own business. By identifying the negative neurological correlations to individuals currently in or having left cults, society can improve and protect others’ health from dangers such as cult manipulation.

References [1] Mayfield Clinic. (2018, April). Anatomy of the Human Brain. MAYFIELD Brain & Spine.

Retrieved from https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-anatbrain. htm. [2] Lennon, A. (2019). How Cults Change Your Brain: Neuroscience. Labroots. Retrieved from https://www.labroots.com/trending/neuroscience/15729/ cults-change-brain. [3] Zhang, Q., Zhuo, C., Lang, X., Li, H., Qin, W., & Yu, C. (2014). Structural Impairments of

Hippocampus in Coal Mine Gas Explosion-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. PLoS

ONE, 9(7). Retrieved from 10.1371/journal.pone.0102042. [4] Thatcher, T. (2019). Can Emotional Trauma Cause Brain Damage? Retrieved from https://highlandspringsclinic.org/can-emotional-traumacause-brain-damage/. [5] Turner, G. (2019). My Childhood in a Cult. The New Yorker. Retrieved from https://www. newyorker.com/ magazine/2019/05/06/my-childhood-in-a-cult. [6] Benscoter, D. (2009). How Cults Rewire The Brain [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/diane_benscoter_how_cults_ rewire_the_brain?language=en. [7] Langone, M. D. (1996). Clinical Update on Cults. Psychiatric Times. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/clinical-update-cults/ page/0/1. [8] Swartling, O.T. & Swartling, P.G. (1992). Psychiatric problems in ex- cult members of World of Life. Cultic Studies Journal, 9(1), 78-87. Retrieved from https://psycnet.apa.org/ record/1993-13684-001.

Appendix A

New Psychiatric Symptoms In 43 Former Bible School Students

Gudrun Swartling contacted seventy former followers of the faith movement, Word of Life, all over Sweden. The followers attended Bible school for a period of one to two years. Interviews by telephone or personal visit took place with 43 of the 70 individuals. Six declined to participate or had returned to the movement; 21 former Bible school students had not been reached or were not psychologically fit for an interview. Gender distribution is even, however the younger age group dominates, with 80% under 25 years of age.

The interview group is homogeneous in that all had received the same kind of systematic Bible school instruction; the interview consisted of homogeneous questions for everyone. The result is a combination of answers and personal observations. The majority of the subjects were found to have a substandard, declining health after exiting the movement.