Anthro Insights Stories

Category: Self-Help Groups

  • It’s easy to feel sorry for Nancy Salzman?

    “From all the former NXIVM members I’ve met, and believe me, I’ve met a lot of them, NO ONE has had anything nice to say about Nancy Salzman.”– Janja Lalich I re-watched The Vow (Season 2) last night and thought I might flush out some of my impressions. The star of this season cuts a pitiful figure;…

  • The Bizarre Asceticism of Aum Shinrikyo

    ” Do your training, Do your training, Do your training, Do your training, Do your training, Do your training, Do your training …” Why is asceticism such an optimal tenet for cultic groups? To begin with, it establishes a series of challenges the follower must overcome. For every test passed, a deeper devotion to the…

  • How Allison Mack Represents What We Don’t Understand about Cults.

    “The fact of the matter is she gained so much pleasure out of other people’s pain, myself included. I saw the evil glimmer in her eyes and the sick sadistic smile on her face whenever she would punish us. She took great pride and joy knowing her total control, having blackmail to make us do…