In addition to the pull of charismatic leaders, the social support of fellow cult members, and the isolation of cult members from dissenting viewpoints, why else do cult members behave as they do?
a. They are people of low intelligence.
b. The leaders are authoritarian and the followers are unintelligent.
c. The members usually are suicidal and depressed.
d. There is a high degree of cognitive dissonance in members' minds.
Question 2
Dissonance theory helps us understand the apparently irrational behavior of cult members, such as those in the Heaven's Gate cult and at Jonestown, who committed mass suicide.
All of the following EXCEPT ________ tend to increase dissonance and hence the extreme dissonance-reducing commitment to the cult or cause and the beliefs of the leaders.
a. the sacrifice of money and possessions
b. giving up other friends and relationships outside the cult
c. the negative self-concepts of many people who join cults
d. the amount of hard work that is done on behalf of the cult
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