Would You Be a Cult Leader or Follower?

See if you're magnetic enough to gain IRL followers!

Some people are just natural-born cult leaders, with all the charisma and charm to con a group of good-hearted people into following them. Is that you?

Answer a few simple questions, and we'll tell you how likely you are to lead a cult!

An illustration of a woman offering a strange beverage to the viewer.

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Questions Overview

1. When you meet someone new, your impulse is to...
  1. Smile and act friendly.
  2. Be a bit standoffish and aloof until I know who they are.
  3. Act like they're my BFF. Everyone's welcome!
  4. Ignore them completely. I don't need new friends.
2. If you were putting on a play, you'd most want to be the...
  1. Director
  2. Star
  3. Stage crew
  4. Extra
3. Would you say you're good at winning arguments?
  1. Absolutely. I'm confident and in command!
  2. Sure! I can hold my own in a debate.
  3. Eh. I'm smart, but not great in conversation.
  4. No way. I'd rather just pick a side and cheer.
4. Let's say your car gets a flat tire. How do you handle it?
  1. Change it myself, no problem.
  2. Call a tow truck or mechanic to help.
  3. Flag down another driver to help.
  4. Sit and mope and cry until someone saves me, probs.
5. In your friend group, you're usually the one...
  1. Making plans and coordinating hangs.
  2. Getting invited to things.
  3. A little bit of both!
6. Choose the slightly sinister superpower you'd want most:
  1. Reading minds
  2. Erasing memories
  3. Speaking telepathically
7. Do you stan any celebrities?
  1. YES, omg so many. I'm obsessed!
  2. Eh. I'm a fan, but not a stan.
  3. No way. Not for me.
  4. Idek what that means.
8. If you ever became leader of a country, you'd want to be a...
  1. King or queen. Everyone has to love me!
  2. Dictator. You don't gotta like me, but do as I say.
  3. President. I want to play fair. Mostly.
9. Would you ever want to be a parent?
  1. Yes! I want little minions to do my bidding... I mean kids.
  2. Sure. Could be fun!
  3. Probably not. That sounds stressful.
  4. Nah, but I'll watch other people's kids for them.
10. How big is your online following?
  1. I've got thousands of followers.
  2. I've got hundreds of followers.
  3. I've got a handful of followers.
  4. I'm not online like that.

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All About Cults

Cults are creepy, no doubt about it, and the creepiest part is that you don't really know if you're in one until it's too late. That's why we talked to a clinical psychologist about how they operate and what to watch out for:


Recognizing a Cult
Clinical psychologist Natalie Feinblatt, PsyD, gives us a quick definition: "A cult is a group that abuses and exploits its members. Oftentimes, there is an amount of secrecy around the beliefs or inner workings of the organization as opposed to transparency... They often have a very top-down structure, which means that the people on the bottom are not allowed to question or challenge anybody above them."[1]

Dr. Feinblatt tells us to be wary of anyone trying too hard to "introduce you to a new way of thinking" or "secret knowledge" in a way that doesn't allow you to question those beliefs. She also says to be on the lookout for a charismatic figurehead at the center of things.[2]


Cult Recruiting Tactics
Dr. Feinblatt says that "Cults tend to be most successful at recruiting people who are in stages or phases of transition in their life... And then the other way is, quite frankly, through deceptive means... They will try to draw you in by saying, 'Hey, come take this free strep test,' or 'Hey, come watch this free movie.' And you won't realize until you're already there [that] they're trying to sell [you] on something."[3]


Getting Out of a Cult
Dr. Feinblatt says that, when trying to leave a cult, seeing a therapist or a support group is a great idea, since these resources can provide you with necessary perspective and resources for understanding your situation and getting clear of it. "A lot of it is about learning how to exist in the "real world..." To help you rebuild and know who you actually are, versus what the cult wanted you to be."[4]

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References

  1. ↑ Natalie Feinblatt, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Natalie Feinblatt, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ Natalie Feinblatt, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ Natalie Feinblatt, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview