Crowd Control vZine Vol. 1 No. 1 from Cattails Publishing LLC

From the Editor: Welcome to our first edition of the Crowd Control vZine/Newsletter. Manipulative relationships and groups run....read more

Welcome to our first edition of the Crowd Control vZine/Newsletter. Manipulative relationships and groups run rampant within our society. Right now. Statistics drawn from research done on domestic violence, abusive relationships, and cults tell us that at least 8 to 10 million people are known to be effected by such situations each year. Even conservative researchers agree that the reality is at least ten times that number. Preliminary research suggests it is more likely that 85% to 95% of U.S. adults have been either directly or indirectly affected by extremely manipulative relationships or groups.

Crowd Control is all about exposing this problem. Thank you for joining me.
— Beth

No they aren't. I have been working in this field of manipulative relationships and groups for more than 20 years now. I can tell you with no hesitation that cults and extremist groups are not all about religion or religious beliefs.

There are at least sixteen different types of groups that use extreme levels of manipulation in order to control their members. Only one of those sixteen types is religion. We'll be talking about those groups later, but for now let's take a brief look at the other types of ideology - the other beliefs - that can be used by an extremely manipulative group.

Tell your loved ones about these different types - forewarned is forearmed.
Free "Types of Cults" brochure

Political cults/groups: These groups focus on political power. Some of them are very active and have had candidates running for President of the US. Many of these groups work or attempt to work at the state and local level.

Paramilitary groups: These frightening groups are focused on being ready for war. This could be focused on an invasion of the US, the breakdown of society, the aftermath of a catastrophic event, or a combination of these. These groups are geared toward either survival or on guerrilla-style warfare and defense, or both. They are known for stockpiling supplies and weaponry, including advanced weaponry. Many of these groups hide their paramilitary ideology from the outside world, drawing new members in under the guise of concerns about the economy.

Finances: Extreme manipulators will use whatever draws people in. Many of us are very concerned with finances and wealth-building. We want to be financially successful. Some financial "gurus" are legitimate, but many are not. Many are simply using "financial expertise" as a way to draw in followers. Many of the financial-wizard businesses and offers are built on pyramid schemes, which are often not only unethical but also illegal.

Selling groups: Certain groups use the lure of employment as a re-seller to gain control of their targets and actually advertise in newspapers to draw in their victims. They promise the possibility of large commissions and prestige as a "top salesperson" but those promises are empty. The reality is a grueling, relentless schedule of door-to-door sales of various products. They use a continuing cycle of debt to the company coupled with incessant travel and exhaustion to keep their victims enmeshed and in line.

Destructive businesses: These are closely related to the above form of destructive groups. "Company towns" and "company stores" are a historical form of this type. Currently, this is most often seen in a small to medium-sized business, generally owned by one person or a small group of owners, in which the owner infiltrates and takes control over areas of their employees' lives that have nothing to do with the business.

Diet groups: Anytime you want something badly enough, that desire can be used against you. This includes the desire to loose weight and become healthier. There are indeed those highly manipulative people who use other people's desire to loose weight as a lure to gain control over their targets.

We have just briefly examined five of the sixteen types of destructive cults and groups; we'll continue with the next ten types next issue.

Beth Peterson has been studying extreme manipulation, coercive persuasion, and destructive groups & relationships for more than two decades. She is the author of "People Who Play God" and "The Hero's Guide to Protecting Yourself Against Harmful Relationships".

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Feeling Crowded? The Rogue Scholar's Tele-Tale — Beth E Peterson, BFA MA

Beth wears many hats. She is also a trained working artist (although cartooning is not her forté). Her art gallery can be viewed at www.wingedblue.com and for more of the Rogue Scholar, subscribe to the Heroes at Large vZine!