Mind Games & Messiahs: The Psychology of Cults

Ever wondered why smart, ordinary people end up in destructive cults? In this episode, Mike and Manon dig into the psychology of cults—why people join, why they stay, and how modern groups like NXIVM use timeless brain hacks to recruit and retain members.We cover:Milgram’s obedience studies, Asch’s conformity experiments, and the classic “foot-in-the-door” effect.Why prophecy failures often make believers double down instead of walk away.Scientology’s controversial status: cult or religion? What the research and courts say.NXIVM’s corporate cult tactics and the psychology of branding, collateral, and coercion.Heaven’s Gate and Aum Shinrikyo as chilling case studies of apocalyptic control.Rick Alan Ross’s Nine Characteristics of Cults (Cults Inside Out)—a handy checklist for spotting red flags.The deep psychology of why people stay: belongingness, sunk costs, trauma bonding, bounded choice, and intermittent reinforcement.