I'm pleased to bring you this interview with Amanda Montell, who is a writer, language scholar, and the author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism and Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language. Amanda's books have earned praise from
I am struggling with choice of the phrase “excess of optimism” in the description of people who are susceptible to cults. Optimism vs cynical doesn’t seem to fit for me.
Gullible optimist vs. critical skeptic? Critical skepticism is an old and accepted approach to evaluating decisions, concepts, outcomes. A skeptic questions in order to test and idea or action to see whether there is solid support for the idea or action. It is not cynical, a position which a priori dismisses alternatives because the situation is hopeless.
Amazed that someone so young, can be so clear... says something about my age. The steps that are taken to get sucked into a cult, as she outlines them, seem especially clear, really important, and worthy of disseminating. First, that of "Love Bombing," or hooking with attachment language, then idea bombing by conditioning the person with words, phrases, handy soundbites, to get their brain hooked, and then intimidation to keep them in line when their autonomy starts to assert itself. Great conversation.
I know a few people that embrace a radical religious position, to the point of being cult-like. They have a real interest in the fantasy world, especially movies and literature. There could easily be a connection between a fantasy mindset and cult membership. There is something in psychology known as FPP, fantasy prone personailty. I believe that these people that I know with the cult-like behavior could easily have FPP.
Some of us may, indeed, be more susceptible to cult enticements, but a major point that Ms. Montell, and other experts, like Stephen Hassan, studying cults make, is that under the right, and very common circumstances, we are all susceptible. Study, for instance, the panorama of the 900 folks who died with Jim Jones.
Thanks for a great interview.......very useful because it is so "normal" to keep arguing with cult members but it makes life hell for both sides. Keep talking and maintain mutual respect but keep explaining why you think and act differently. Occasionally a penny drops and the more pennies drop the better....
Excellent discussion and I agree with Gary’s post. I’d be interested to know how Amanda’s father got out of his cult? What worked in his case? Maintaining a positive relationship with the ‘member’ as a friend or relative is important.
Yes I agree that cults tend to proliferate during times of cultural turbulence. But cultural turbulence and cults can grow like crazy now due to social media in the internet age and right wing propaganda outlets that pose as legitimate news sources. There is no national consensus anymore about truth. Some have dubbed this the 'age of unreason'. The country is divided into to two camps, one is fact, evidence and science based the other is fiction, hate and conspiratorial based. What used to be considered fringe lunacy has now made its way into the mainstream of of government and society. Q anon Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert are actually members of congress and more Q supporters are running for seats in congress.
I am struggling with choice of the phrase “excess of optimism” in the description of people who are susceptible to cults. Optimism vs cynical doesn’t seem to fit for me.
Yes that formulation gave me pause too, perhaps idealism is more suited
Gullible optimist vs. critical skeptic? Critical skepticism is an old and accepted approach to evaluating decisions, concepts, outcomes. A skeptic questions in order to test and idea or action to see whether there is solid support for the idea or action. It is not cynical, a position which a priori dismisses alternatives because the situation is hopeless.
Amazed that someone so young, can be so clear... says something about my age. The steps that are taken to get sucked into a cult, as she outlines them, seem especially clear, really important, and worthy of disseminating. First, that of "Love Bombing," or hooking with attachment language, then idea bombing by conditioning the person with words, phrases, handy soundbites, to get their brain hooked, and then intimidation to keep them in line when their autonomy starts to assert itself. Great conversation.
Yes she is wise beyond her years
I know a few people that embrace a radical religious position, to the point of being cult-like. They have a real interest in the fantasy world, especially movies and literature. There could easily be a connection between a fantasy mindset and cult membership. There is something in psychology known as FPP, fantasy prone personailty. I believe that these people that I know with the cult-like behavior could easily have FPP.
Some of us may, indeed, be more susceptible to cult enticements, but a major point that Ms. Montell, and other experts, like Stephen Hassan, studying cults make, is that under the right, and very common circumstances, we are all susceptible. Study, for instance, the panorama of the 900 folks who died with Jim Jones.
Thanks for a great interview.......very useful because it is so "normal" to keep arguing with cult members but it makes life hell for both sides. Keep talking and maintain mutual respect but keep explaining why you think and act differently. Occasionally a penny drops and the more pennies drop the better....
Exactly
Excellent discussion and I agree with Gary’s post. I’d be interested to know how Amanda’s father got out of his cult? What worked in his case? Maintaining a positive relationship with the ‘member’ as a friend or relative is important.
Yes I agree that cults tend to proliferate during times of cultural turbulence. But cultural turbulence and cults can grow like crazy now due to social media in the internet age and right wing propaganda outlets that pose as legitimate news sources. There is no national consensus anymore about truth. Some have dubbed this the 'age of unreason'. The country is divided into to two camps, one is fact, evidence and science based the other is fiction, hate and conspiratorial based. What used to be considered fringe lunacy has now made its way into the mainstream of of government and society. Q anon Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert are actually members of congress and more Q supporters are running for seats in congress.