Interesting information that I thought that I would share: By Rick Ross, Expert Consultant and Intervention Specialist rickross Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader. 1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability. 2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry. 3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement. 4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions. 5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil. 6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances. 7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader. 8. Followers feel they can never be good enough. 9. The group/leader is always right. 10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing truth or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible. Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsaf e group/leader. 1. Extreme obsessiveness regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration. 2. Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the followers mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused- - as that persons involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens. 3. Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as persecution. 4. Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior. 5. Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyz e situations without group/leader involvement. 6. Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede any personal goals or individual interests. 7. A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor. 8. Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader. 9. Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful. 10. Former followers are at best- considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 15:02:06 +0000
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