Thesis Statement About Cults

Emily Mullins

Ms. Ledbetter

Speech 106

26 June 2017

Cults: Separation from One Self

Specific Goal: To inform others about types of cults and the abusiveness that often times follows.

Thesis Statement: Cults consist of different types of people, can be abusive and they are controlled in a dissociative totalitarianism manner, and also separate cult members from their families which may trigger negative behavior and loss of oneself to joining members.

I. Introduction

A. Attention Getter: Cults are not always religious groups; they can serve as therapeutic or self-help groups. However, some cults are known for their abusive behavior which later leads to a change in personality that can impact members permanently. For instance, thirty-nine members

Motivate Audience: As time has moved forward, cult members have moved forward as well. In past history, cult members were very common and easy to pick out in town. They made bold moves by consistently handing things out, such as flyers and flowers, recruiting people to join. They also wore distinct attire that usually consisted of some type of linen fabric. However, cults present day cults have transitioned into more modern clothing and are often times difficult or impossible to pick out. It is very important that the community is able to recognize the indications that a cult may be forming or already formed. Common signs of a cult are sudden separation from family and friends, becoming distant and secretive, and there is a distinguished leader in the group, and they are constantly raising money for their group through numerous activities.

C. Establish Credibility: I have always had an interest in the psychological aspect of cults and their members. My senior year at Cullman High School, I wrote a research paper involving mental prisons and institutions. This paper took hours of research and hard work. In the paper I spoke directly about certain types of cults such as “The Manson Family” and what was going through their minds and how it affected those around

A cult is defined as an unorthodox group that is centered around one person or object.

1. Cults are not always a religious group, although that is typically what is most common in today’s society. Some forms of cults are therapeutic, commercial, educational, self-help, pseudo-scientific, and various spiritual groups. Therapeutic cults typically contain members who have all went through similar, tough situations. Spiritual groups contain members who are usually more involved due to religious reasons. (What Cults are: Information about Cults)

2. There are several different classifications of cults. These cults are characterized by their group members. There are eastern cults that are influenced by spiritual enlightenment and reincarnation. Political, racist, or terrorist cults are pushed by their belief that the society is changing, or a revolution is going on, or they believe they are dethroning the enemy. “Psychotherapy, human potential, mass transformational cults are motivated by belief in striving for the goal of personal transformation and personal improvement.” (Categories of Cults)

[Transition: In addition to the different types of people involved in cults, abusive and dissociative totalitarianism control, is common in majority of