This week, Steve and Matt are once again joined by Rob Biernacki to discuss a topic very near and dear to us: cults and the tactics they use. Cults have a long and storied history within the martial arts. This episode gives you the tools you need to identify when you're being exploited by a cult-like organization.
Who is vulnerable to recruitment:
People seeking security- People seeking belonging- People seeking specialness/unearned superiority.
Tactics used by cult-like organizations to manipulate their members:An initial act of dominion- Reverence to a mysterious mystical figure- Secret knowledge- Separating you from the rest of your support network and society- Hierarchy where questioning authority is prohibited and punished- Escalating requirements of personal contribution- Ostracizing former members- Aggressively protecting the cult’s reputation.
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