Persuasion: The Elements Of Social Psychology And Cults

Persuasion is a process by which a message induces change in beliefs, attitudes or behaviors. From the things that we have learned in Chapter 7, one can see how people's minds can be changed using different elements from social psychology, especially in gangs or cults. Groups thought of as "cults" (groups of people with very strong beliefs) have a lot in common with those who are thought of as "gangs" in our society. They are very similar in certain behaviors. For example, both groups control members' exercise of freedom in thought, expression and belief; both demand obedience without question from affiliated members; both have self-appointed autocratic leaders; and once people join, they tend to go through certain personality changes. Cults,