What is a cult, and why do some people join?

Anna Elizabeth Young was arrested last week in Cobb County, accused of abusing a child and killing another in Florida in the religious boarding school she ran.

Officials have classified Young as a cult leader who co-founded what her daughter said was a “violent” organization.

What are cults?

A cult is an ideological organization often formed by charismatic leaders who demand high levels of commitment, according to the International Cultic Studies Association, a Florida-based nonprofit that studies cults.

Cults employ “unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control,” such as isolation from family and friends, suspension of individuality, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of leaving, to advance the goals of the leader. Cults are at high risk of becoming abusive to members, in part because of the power dynamics that arise between the charismatic leader and the followers.

“You have multiple people subservient to the leader, trying to please,” executive director of the ICSA Dr. Michael Langone said. “People who have been stuck in these systems will often justify that kind of abuse.”

Why join a cult?

Anyone can be attracted to a cult. Research suggests people who join are often:

■ Experiencing significant stress, according to the ICSA.

■Late in adolescence (i.e. those entering college), as they might be separating from families and may be open to new groups.

■Lonely and desiring community.

What makes a cult dangerous to its followers?

Extreme groups demand that followers sever all ties to people and organizations, making them more dependent on the cult itself. They must also show an “immediate and unquestioning” obedience to rules and regulations that may be arbitrary, according to an article by Dr. Adrian Furnham in Psychology Today. Followers often perform long hours of tedious work, making recruits physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Finally, groups make exit costs very high, as leaving is associated with “failure, persecution, and isolation.”