Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Beth Walters

Abstract

Cults, thousands of which exist in the United States, present a societal problem due to their ability to rob followers of free will, sever familial ties, and even incite violence, such as the case of the Manson Family. Their leaders' manipulation of followers can be dangerous, resulting in emotional and physical abuse. There is a lack of meaningful literature on how personality traits may affect cult leaders’ abilities to recruit and maintain members. The purpose of this study was to examine how Cluster-B personality traits (narcissism, borderline, antisocial, and histrionic) relate to cult leaders’ abilities to manipulate. The qualitative case study involved analysis of publicly available archival data on six high-profile male cult leaders. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis and viewed through the theoretical framework of trait theory. The two key themes that were identified encompass (a) the fluidity of manipulation tactics that cult leaders use when challenged and (b) the shift in manipulation tactics from fostering a view of themselves as a prophet to claiming that they are a savior or messiah. Leaders exhibited different five-factor personality traits when challenged. The findings show that Cluster-B personality traits exist on a spectrum and are often used in tandem to master manipulation tactics. Research on nonviolent cults is recommended. The study may contribute to positive social change by improving experts' understanding of how cult leaders work, which could enable experts to devise interventions to help potential cult followers and their families.

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