Skip to main content

Why do people join cults? - Janja Lalich

5,552,519 Views

20,293 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Today, there are thousands of cults around the world. Broadly speaking, a cult is a group or movement with a shared commitment to a usually extreme ideology that’s typically embodied in a charismatic leader. But what exactly differentiates cults from other groups – and why do people join them? Janja Lalich describes how cults recruit and manipulate their members.

Cult indoctrination techniques include the use of:

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Janja Lalich
  • Director Hernando Bahamon
  • Art Director Andrés Landazábal
  • Animator José Arce
  • Compositor Jorge Jaramillo
  • Composer Manuel Borda
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

More from The Way We Think