Rick Ross

So what these groups do is they create a kind of synthesis of coercive persuasion, thought reform, understood influence techniques that they knowingly use, and they focus it like a laser on someone, and they break them down, put them in a position where they're in distress, or they believe that there's no way out. And the group then says, we have the answer. And then they change them.

So what these groups do is they create a kind of synthesis of coercive persuasion, thought reform, understood influence techniques that they knowingly use, and they focus it like a laser on someone, and they break them down, put them in a position where they're in distress, or they believe that there's no way out. And the group then says, we have the answer. And then they change them.

And so what you have are people being changed without their informed consent by these groups and being exploited and taken advantage of, which varies from group to group.

And so what you have are people being changed without their informed consent by these groups and being exploited and taken advantage of, which varies from group to group.

And so what you have are people being changed without their informed consent by these groups and being exploited and taken advantage of, which varies from group to group.

So what you see, and I would say this is the nucleus for the definition of a destructive cult, that all definitions intersect these three core characteristics, which is number one, an absolute totalitarian leader that becomes an object of worship, that is the defining element and driving force of the group.

So what you see, and I would say this is the nucleus for the definition of a destructive cult, that all definitions intersect these three core characteristics, which is number one, an absolute totalitarian leader that becomes an object of worship, that is the defining element and driving force of the group.

So what you see, and I would say this is the nucleus for the definition of a destructive cult, that all definitions intersect these three core characteristics, which is number one, an absolute totalitarian leader that becomes an object of worship, that is the defining element and driving force of the group.

And two, that leader knowingly uses thought reform and coercive persuasion to gain undue influence over his followers. And then three, that leader uses the undue influence that he possesses to exploit and do harm to his followers. And you take those three things together

And two, that leader knowingly uses thought reform and coercive persuasion to gain undue influence over his followers. And then three, that leader uses the undue influence that he possesses to exploit and do harm to his followers. And you take those three things together

And two, that leader knowingly uses thought reform and coercive persuasion to gain undue influence over his followers. And then three, that leader uses the undue influence that he possesses to exploit and do harm to his followers. And you take those three things together

and I don't care what the name of the group is and what they say they believe, it could be pseudoscience, it could be politics, it could be self-improvement, it could be some kind of religious belief. But that is simply the window dressing, the facade. Beyond that mask are those three core characteristics. The absolute totalitarian leader,

and I don't care what the name of the group is and what they say they believe, it could be pseudoscience, it could be politics, it could be self-improvement, it could be some kind of religious belief. But that is simply the window dressing, the facade. Beyond that mask are those three core characteristics. The absolute totalitarian leader,

and I don't care what the name of the group is and what they say they believe, it could be pseudoscience, it could be politics, it could be self-improvement, it could be some kind of religious belief. But that is simply the window dressing, the facade. Beyond that mask are those three core characteristics. The absolute totalitarian leader,

the use of thought reform and coercive persuasion to gain undue influence, and ultimately that undue influence being used to take advantage of people, to exploit them, to do harm to them. And that may vary by degree from group to group because there are some groups that are much worse than others. That doesn't mean that the group that is doing less harm is somehow benign.

the use of thought reform and coercive persuasion to gain undue influence, and ultimately that undue influence being used to take advantage of people, to exploit them, to do harm to them. And that may vary by degree from group to group because there are some groups that are much worse than others. That doesn't mean that the group that is doing less harm is somehow benign.

the use of thought reform and coercive persuasion to gain undue influence, and ultimately that undue influence being used to take advantage of people, to exploit them, to do harm to them. And that may vary by degree from group to group because there are some groups that are much worse than others. That doesn't mean that the group that is doing less harm is somehow benign.

But we can recognize that not all groups are hunkering down for doomsday. Not all groups sexually abuse their members or physically abuse them. There are some that are worse than others. But you take those three core characteristics, the all-powerful leader, the use of thought reform and coercive persuasion, and the harm done. Because if there's no harm done, maybe the group is benign.

But we can recognize that not all groups are hunkering down for doomsday. Not all groups sexually abuse their members or physically abuse them. There are some that are worse than others. But you take those three core characteristics, the all-powerful leader, the use of thought reform and coercive persuasion, and the harm done. Because if there's no harm done, maybe the group is benign.

But we can recognize that not all groups are hunkering down for doomsday. Not all groups sexually abuse their members or physically abuse them. There are some that are worse than others. But you take those three core characteristics, the all-powerful leader, the use of thought reform and coercive persuasion, and the harm done. Because if there's no harm done, maybe the group is benign.