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Are Terrorists Cultists?
Arthur A. Dole, Ph.D., ABPP
Abstract
Are terrorists cultists? Or, are cultists terrorists? To open exploration of
these questions within a speculative framework, I begin by examining the
definitions of basic terms, relying heavily on previous analyses by Dole and by
Langone, Stout, Lifton, Zimbardo, and others. After a review of extremely
harmful acts by terrorists and cultists since 2001, I discuss how often, for
what purposes, and under what circumstances such groups use violence. As
examples I select two terrorist groups and two cultic groups and compare them on
selected abusive and beneficial characteristics, using a modified version of the
Group Psychological Abuse Scale as a rough yardstick. I then discuss possible
counter actions appropriate to some of the similarities and differences among
cultists and terrorists. What research is needed to support prevention and
control? Can aspects of exit consultation or other methods of behavioral control
be applied to members of terrorist groups? When, if at all, might soft power or
constructive action in the spirit of Martin Luther King be effective? I conclude
that some but not all terrorists are similar in their dynamics to cultists and
that many cultists are not similar to terrorists.
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