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Social Issues
| Term Paper Title |
Social Issues |
| # of Words |
2879 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) |
11.52 |
Social Issues
[Category]:
Social Issues
[Paper Title]:
Social framework in cult behaviour
[Text]:
Page 1
Cults have been characterized as domineering and persuasive. Cults are
willing to prey on
any social class and gender in order to attain another member. The increasing
popularity of
joining cults is reflected on “economic status, social class, and emotional
state” (Singer p.16,
1995). A conflict perspective suggests that poor economic stability, social
class, and no authority
attest to the fact that more people are joining cults, and that increasing
each might lessen the
chance of joining a cult. Authors Deikman, Levine, and McMahon argue that
cults merely prey
on those who are weak and of poor judgment. As social structures, cults serve
merely to
legitimate class subordination in ways that ensure joiners will worship and
follow the leader
(Singer p.30, 1995). Authors Dawson and Allen argue that cults look for
specific behaviours:
1. poor economic stability
2. social class
3. no authority
4. gender
Trends in Canadian cult joining by economics, class, authority, and gender
support the
view that these behaviours are typical of followers (Hoggart p.65, 1995).
Societal elements continue to let people have low incomes, low class, and no
authority
within a job. There is no regulation of cults and no regulation of how many
people join. Societal
elements continue to ignore people and continue to keep low economies, low
class, and no
authority within our society.
A conflict perspective argues the extent to which characteristics and
behaviours cults look
for when seeking out a new member.
One specific cult is the Catholic Church. Many people would not dare think of
a church
Page 2
as a cult, but, the church looks for specific characteristics of a new
member. Once a member
joins, they are there for life. If they decide to leave, they are shunned
from the church’s society
and are not acknowledged as a Catholic any longer.
Economic Stability
Conflict theorists, such as Weber, agree that “economic interests are
important in shaping
human action”(Kendall p.15, 2000). Most members of a cult do not have a lot
of money. Pre
members usually have recently sold a house or are unemployed. Cult leaders
prey on these people
because of low economics. Members with no funds are vulnerable to the cult
since they are more
likely to stay within the group because they have no other place they can go.
Cults will prey and
persuade other pe
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