10 Most Disturbing Ways Cults Recruit Members

Top 10 Most Disturbing Cult Recruitment Tactics

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the strangest manipulative techniques used by cults and other extreme organizations to lure in new members and entrap them.

#10: Deceptive Recruitment

Cult leaders know that they won’t get very far by asking potential recruits outright, “would you like to join a cult?” For that reason, they often use a more subtle approach, hiding their true intentions behind a more enticing facade. The cult may be presented as a multi-level marketing opportunity, like NXIVM, a spiritual awakening retreat, such as the tragic one hosted by James Arthur Ray, or even just a friendly group of like-minded people. Newcomers only become aware of the true nature of such groups once they are already involved, but by then, it’s usually too late.

#9: Picking the Right Target

Many people might look at cult members with derision, convinced that they could never be so ensnared themselves. However, research has shown that most individuals can be lured in under the right circumstances, and the cult leaders know this as well. They often prey on those who are stressed, emotionally vulnerable, have low self-esteem or lack strong family ties and are seeking a sense of belonging. Sometimes, even those who don’t necessarily fit into these categories can be susceptible, like freshman college students who are still trying to find their own identity. When all of these factors align, even seemingly average individuals can be easily deceived and recruited by cults.

#8: Love Bombing

Once recruiters have identified their potential new convert, the next step typically involves bombarding that person with affection, flattery and attention. This process is known as Love Bombing. Coined in the 1970s by members of the Unification Church, which itself has been described as a cult, this manipulative tool ensures that recruits feel welcome and immediately associate the group with love and acceptance. This affection flows freely at first, but once they’ve successfully lured in their targets, cult leaders begin to withhold it, attaching specific conditions to their love. The goal, apparently, is to reach a point where the leaders reward only those who follow orders precisely, using love and affection as their ultimate control tools.

#7: Isolation & Social Conditioning

One effective way to convince someone of your point of view is by preventing any chance for dissent or scrutiny. Cult leaders tend to achieve this by isolating new converts and encouraging them to completely sever ties with their friends and families. Sometimes, this isolation is systemic, with all members being relocated to a completely new environment to live together, as seen in the case of the Branch Davidians. Once this is achieved, leaders then foster an “us vs. them” mentality, convincing followers that they are superior to those outside the group. They also filter the information that reaches the group, ensuring that only the cult’s teachings are accepted as truth. This creates a long-lasting dependence among their members.

#6: Paranoia

This is another common tactic cult leaders use to instill irrational fear in new members. They start by painting the outside world as dangerous and hostile, suggesting that their families or the government pose significant threats. Then, they present the cult as the only safe haven. For example, Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple, who suffered from paranoia himself, convinced his followers that government persecution and a societal collapse were imminent. Also, the leaders of Heaven’s Gate warned of an impending apocalypse and urged people to reject their human nature, so they could make it into heaven. These tactics build confidence and trust in the leaders, making it difficult for members to leave the perceived safety of the cult.

#5: False Sense of Purpose & Belonging

It’s a natural human desire to want your life to have more meaning, and to feel like you are a part of a monumental cause. Cult leaders understand this all too well, and they take advantage of it by offering new members emotional support, community and a sense of purpose. As earlier mentioned, they often prey on vulnerable people, especially those who feel isolated or unhappy with their current lives. These cults are then modeled as warm, welcoming environments, offering a “family” that truly understands and values these individuals. Of course, this is just a smokescreen, but it helps the cult leaders maintain their self-centered image, while keeping the new members tethered to them.

#4: Group Dynamics & Peer Pressure

To further strengthen that “family” image as a tool to attract new members, cults organize certain group activities, rituals and ceremonies. These include, but are not limited to, chanting, singing and meditation sessions. Some cults also set up communal living arrangements which, to an outsider, may appear to emphasize solidarity within the group. In these settings, new members may begin to feel pressured to conform to everyone else’s behavior, so they can not only gain the approval of their peers, but also that of the top-ranking leaders. Additionally, in some cults, such as the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints, members adopt identical clothes and hairstyles, causing their individual identities to blend even more into the group’s collective image.

#3: Gaslighting

Once cult leaders start attracting followers, they need a way to keep them under their control. One method by which they achieve this is feeding them with so much bogus and contradictory information that they begin to question their own reality. The leaders initially shower these recruits with love and attention. But over time, the affection could be withdrawn, making newcomers feel like they are doing something wrong and they need to go out of their way to regain the leaders’ love. This constant manipulation can make members dependent on the cult for validation, trapping them in a cycle of control and exploitation.

#2: Fear & Shame

As soon as the initial love-bombing fades, cult leaders begin to instill fear in their members. At first, this may be a fear of being ostracized from the group, which has now become their safe haven. Gradually, it escalates to the threat of punishment. Many cult leaders have been known to physically and sexually assault erring members, using this as a powerful tool to discourage dissent. Another tactic they employ is public shaming. By humiliating members in front of the group, they are able to create an environment rife with guilt and submission. One notable example is the Church of Scientology, where so-called “ethics” sessions are used to shame and reprimand members for perceived wrongdoings.

#1: Self-Incrimination

Certain cults go beyond just emotional and psychological manipulation, seeking more tangible ways to wield control over their followers. As a result, they encourage members to reveal their deepest secrets and wrongdoings, which are then used against them if they try to exit the group. For instance, the Church of Scientology carries out a practice called Auditing, where members share personal details which are then permanently recorded and stored. Similarly, NXIVM had members write damaging letters about themselves and share compromising pictures, which they kept as collateral for their commitment. All of this information is ultimately used as leverage to ensure loyalty and keep members trapped within the cults.


Have you ever had any experience with cult leaders and their recruiters? Share them with us in the comments below.