How Do Cults Exploit Our Basic Human Needs for Belonging and Acceptance?

Isolation from non-group influences is another prevalent tactic. Many cults actively encourage or enforce physical and emotional separation from family, friends, and society at large. This isolation can take various forms, from communal living to strict schedules that leave little room for personal time. By minimizing external influences, cults make it easier to control what members think and believe, reinforcing the group’s narrative as the sole source of truth.