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30 Groups And Organizations That Walk Like A Cult, Talk Like A Cult, But Aren’t Considered One
Interview With Expert
A cult is an organized group with unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. It is usually headed by a charismatic leader who tries to isolate its members from the rest of society and dominate them through psychological manipulation.
However, the exact definition can vary both in popular culture and academia. So, Reddit user Foreigndrunks wanted to learn more about how different people interpret them and asked everyone on the platform to share real-life examples that dodge the cult label but still reflect the vibe.
Continue scrolling to check out the answers and the chat we had with psychoanalyst Robin Stern, Ph.D.. You'll find it between the entries.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Child beauty pageants; the people who attend them and the parents who put their kids through them. An absolute shower of dirty filthy nonces whichever way you look at it.
Robin Stern, Ph.D., is a psychoanalyst, senior advisor to the director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, and author of The Gaslight Effect: How to Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use to Control Your Life.
She told Bored Panda, "The main building blocks of a cult include a leader or central figure with narcissistic traits, who asserts authority by defining reality for the group.
"The cult's vision and belief system are enforced through strict rules that dictate how members must think and behave. Disagreement or dissent is actively discouraged, often through punishment or ostracism, creating an environment where questioning the leader or the group's ideology becomes taboo," the psychoanalyst explained.
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#2
Jehovas witnesses. Officially it's a normal religion but in my opinion it's definitely a cult.
However, the facade can be much more appealing. "Sometimes, from the outside, the performative happiness and unified front of a group can seem appealing to someone grappling with loneliness or discontent," Stern added.
When you're lost, it can seem like a beacon of hope. "People often join cults because they are vulnerable or seeking a sense of belonging and purpose, which cult leaders are all too happy to provide."
Stern said, "Those who struggle with boundaries or rely heavily on others to define what is 'right' may be particularly susceptible," as "individuals with a history of pathological accommodation—constantly sacrificing their needs to please others—can be drawn to the cult's promise of acceptance."
Fear of standing out or being different also makes people more likely to join and conform once they are inside, the psychoanalyst highlighted.
#4
Mormons.
I know a lot of religions can lean towards "culty". But, I work with quite a few Mormon and they all seem to give that cult vibe. From the stories of their missions to their special underwear... it just all screams "Cult".
Once somebody's in, the group will do everything to keep them. "Leaving a cult is challenging for several reasons. Members are often enmeshed in gaslighting dynamics, where the leader and others manipulate their perception of reality. This can lead to self-gaslighting, where individuals doubt their own judgment and truth," Stern said.
The psychoanalyst highlighted that since leaving also means giving up a sense of community and belonging, even the thought of it can feel profoundly isolating. "Many face internal doubts, wondering, What if I’m wrong? Confronting the truth about their involvement can bring overwhelming feelings of shame, making it even harder to admit they've been manipulated or seduced into a cult."
#7
Mom groups.
I’m a newish mom and I’ve been scared off. It’s a whole new layer of “pseudoscience” and isolation from differences of opinion.
Even if someone does escape, it can take them a while to start appreciating their newfound freedom and rebuild a sense of identity.
According to a 2023 study, former cult members experience an "in-between" period after leaving and often find themselves in a confusing, chaotic state.
As they work to regain access to their own values and feelings while also forming new bonds with family and friends outside the cult, they often struggle to discuss their ordeal with those who haven’t experienced it themselves.
"Cult dynamics often exploit fundamental human needs for connection, purpose, and identity," Robin Stern added. "Recognizing these vulnerabilities and fostering critical thinking, emotional intelligence, giving yourself permission to feel and to honor those feelings, and setting strong boundaries can help people resist such manipulation.
"Support networks and professional help are critical for those seeking to leave, as the process requires both emotional and practical resources to rebuild their lives outside the cult," she said.
#13
Cheerleading
My daughter did competition for a few years
It definitely felt like a cult with the participation parts that parents play.
#14
The NRA. As a gun owner, I can't stand being lumped in with them. They don't share my politics at all. But many states require you to be a member in order to get your LTC. Total b******t.
#16
Toxic positivity. Mental health initiatives in the workplace. These are not labeled cults, but they are totally cultish. Edit: they usually come down to nothing more than emails exhorting you to take care of yourself and links to appropriate websites.
#20
I am really into yoga and am looking for a yoga retreat to go to. Some of them are very cult like based on their web pages. Yikes.
#22
People who push you to :
- Monetize your hobby.
- Industrialise your monetized hobby.
I'm not talking about people offering money for your services.
I am talking about people who look down on you for NOT making MORE money out of your hobby. While they themselves don't produce anything.
#23
NFTs, especially when the people advertising them say it's the next big thing, then commit art theft on people who don't want their art used
#31
Rae Dunn. Specifically the people ‘Rae Dunners’ who wait outside Marshalls/T.J. Maxx for the new releases and the Instagram accounts dedicated to them. It just gives me the ick.
#35
I’m scared to even say this because of how quickly algorithms will start pushing stuff of theirs, but BTS and their fan base. The smallest mention or a mere millisecond of viewing something involving them, and it’s all you’ll see for days in your recommendation across all platforms.
#36
The Boy Scouts of America.
Great experience overall. Probably the best place for kids to learn outdoors and survival skills, great opportunity to learn teamwork and leadership etc. I do think at it’s core it’s a great program.
But...
I now belong to 3 fake indian tribes I was hazed into and swore I’d never blab on. Constant religious indoctrination, military indoctrination, weird values from weird dads. Also: they told me to have a plan to k**l everyone I know???? Whole extended families lives revolve around it. Sometimes in prayers they refer to God/Yahweh as “the great master of all scouts.” The esoteric rituals and ceremonies are also weird.
Not even mentioning the obvious...
#38
Rave attendees.
If you listen to EDM at all they expect you to be a consistent rave goer. If you don’t, you’re not “fun”
Raves are overrated.
#40
PCOS support groups. Specifically, the ones that push keto as the cure. Never mind that while keto can *potentially* help people living with PCOS, it's not a cure; as of this Reddit post, there *is* no cure. If you mention this, they will Lose. Their. S**t. (Meanwhile, I've spoken to not one, but *two* of my doctors, asking them if I should do keto, and both of them were like, "Oh, honey, no!") The toxic diet culture was part of the reason I have *absolutely hated* every PCOS group I've ever been in. (The other was that, as someone who has made peace with, and actually *embraced* the infertility aspect of this disorder, I felt alienated; there's nothing for people who *aren't* trying to have a baby, or grieving their infertility.)
#42
College.
There's folks from my alma mater who find out I went there and immediately ask what alum committee I'm on and where I stayed when I went to reunion and are aghast when I say I got a degree there 15 years ago and that will be the extent of my participation.
#43
Working for any fast food chain. They try to capitalize on the whole “we’re a family” and try to create a sense of togetherness to make people less miserable, when in reality everyone is just there to get a paycheck as a means to pay for either rent or w**d
#46
The whole process around purchasing a Birkin handbag is super culty. No sane person owns a Birkin.
#48
Musical Theatre.
Have you ever walked into a rehearsal for a musical? That s***s culty even down to the chanting
What do you think ?
A̷͇̘̓͜l̷̼͇̣͒̌ͅȩ̷͍͙͗̅̀͊̏̾͘x̶̋̍ 1 year ago
You know, sometimes it feels like people don't know the difference between cult and a few people who really like something..
MonsterMum 1 year ago
Steiner education, imo. I made the mistake of putting my children in one steiner school and deeply regret it. I was blamed for the younger one's asd because I had them vaccinated. Other parents criticised me for giving my kids steroids (they would never do such an irresponsible thing). I like my kids to breathe so let them have their asthma medicine.
A̷͇̘̓͜l̷̼͇̣͒̌ͅȩ̷͍͙͗̅̀͊̏̾͘x̶̋̍ 1 year ago
You know, sometimes it feels like people don't know the difference between cult and a few people who really like something..
MonsterMum 1 year ago
Steiner education, imo. I made the mistake of putting my children in one steiner school and deeply regret it. I was blamed for the younger one's asd because I had them vaccinated. Other parents criticised me for giving my kids steroids (they would never do such an irresponsible thing). I like my kids to breathe so let them have their asthma medicine.
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