Dr. Tristan Ingalls

Manson wanted fame and notoriety. This much we know. And I am not convinced, given the most recent assessments done on him and given all of the things that have been made public, including his own interviews, that that he really believed in the apocalypse. I am not convinced that he did. I'm more convinced that he needed something for his followers to believe in.

And that something has to be big enough for them to believe in him too. And I think that's what he was believing in, in terms of that.

And that something has to be big enough for them to believe in him too. And I think that's what he was believing in, in terms of that.

And that something has to be big enough for them to believe in him too. And I think that's what he was believing in, in terms of that.

So this is the first time that Charles Manson was able to get another person to kill at his command. And this is a level of power and superiority that he has not yet had. A line has been crossed now with his family where they've shown their loyalty and now they're further trapped in his grip, especially knowing that they could become a target themselves if they disobey or challenge him again.

So this is the first time that Charles Manson was able to get another person to kill at his command. And this is a level of power and superiority that he has not yet had. A line has been crossed now with his family where they've shown their loyalty and now they're further trapped in his grip, especially knowing that they could become a target themselves if they disobey or challenge him again.

So this is the first time that Charles Manson was able to get another person to kill at his command. And this is a level of power and superiority that he has not yet had. A line has been crossed now with his family where they've shown their loyalty and now they're further trapped in his grip, especially knowing that they could become a target themselves if they disobey or challenge him again.

They are now sort of further entrapped in this cycle of psychological and physical abuse that is the Manson family cult.

They are now sort of further entrapped in this cycle of psychological and physical abuse that is the Manson family cult.

They are now sort of further entrapped in this cycle of psychological and physical abuse that is the Manson family cult.

We've talked about the various ways Charles was able to lure followers and how he maintained them. And just to recap on that, he preyed on young, vulnerable women who were looking for love, looking for belonging, and he gave them what they needed to feel that, while also isolating them from their family and the world. So how could he get them to be so dedicated that they would kill for him?

We've talked about the various ways Charles was able to lure followers and how he maintained them. And just to recap on that, he preyed on young, vulnerable women who were looking for love, looking for belonging, and he gave them what they needed to feel that, while also isolating them from their family and the world. So how could he get them to be so dedicated that they would kill for him?

We've talked about the various ways Charles was able to lure followers and how he maintained them. And just to recap on that, he preyed on young, vulnerable women who were looking for love, looking for belonging, and he gave them what they needed to feel that, while also isolating them from their family and the world. So how could he get them to be so dedicated that they would kill for him?

Well, fear, isolation, and substance dependence is certainly a way to distort their reality and open them up to undue influence. Now, imagine you've been made to believe that there was an impending apocalypse that you needed money to prepare for so that you could survive. And you're motivated in that survival because you want to protect each other as a family.

Well, fear, isolation, and substance dependence is certainly a way to distort their reality and open them up to undue influence. Now, imagine you've been made to believe that there was an impending apocalypse that you needed money to prepare for so that you could survive. And you're motivated in that survival because you want to protect each other as a family.

Well, fear, isolation, and substance dependence is certainly a way to distort their reality and open them up to undue influence. Now, imagine you've been made to believe that there was an impending apocalypse that you needed money to prepare for so that you could survive. And you're motivated in that survival because you want to protect each other as a family.

that certainly could amplify their motivation. On top of which, you're isolated from anyone who could provide any reality testing and perspective against what Charles has been teaching. And when you add in the regular use of hallucinogens and stimulants, that could exacerbate paranoia and it could absolutely cause impairment in judgment and rational thought.

that certainly could amplify their motivation. On top of which, you're isolated from anyone who could provide any reality testing and perspective against what Charles has been teaching. And when you add in the regular use of hallucinogens and stimulants, that could exacerbate paranoia and it could absolutely cause impairment in judgment and rational thought.

that certainly could amplify their motivation. On top of which, you're isolated from anyone who could provide any reality testing and perspective against what Charles has been teaching. And when you add in the regular use of hallucinogens and stimulants, that could exacerbate paranoia and it could absolutely cause impairment in judgment and rational thought.

I think at this point we really need to start exploring the impact of trauma on his followers. He recruited people who already had pre-existing familial trauma. This is well documented in their own interviews on the matter. Most of them lacked family or family support. They had come from dysfunctional homes and the majority of them were women who were quite oppressed in that time.