PSYC2040 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Aum Shinrikyo, Branch Davidians, Heavens Gate (Band)
Document Summary
Examples of cults: moonies, the family (children of god, heaven"s gate, branch davidians, aum supreme truth, solar temple, people"s temple. Cult prevalence: 2-5 million people in cults in the us, 2000-5000 cults in the us. Levine & salter (1976: 43% said they were lonely or sad, 41% said their life was meaningless, 34% said they had a personal crisis, 30% were actively converted. Effects on current members: some studies say cults have positive effects on people, some studies say cults have negative effects on people, majority of studies suggest cult members are psychologically well-adjusted. Leaving cults: martin et al (1992) found from 110 former cult members, 23% walked away, 44% received exit counseling, 25% were deprogrammed. Effects of cults on former members: conway and siegelman found 7 common symptoms from 400 people, floating (52%, nightmares (40%, mental rhythms of chanting (35%, amnesia (21%, suicidal or self destructive tendencies (21%, hallucinations (14%, violent outbursts (14%)
