How Cults Exploit Fervor and Awe to Recruit and Control Members: An Interview With Dr. Yuval Laor

The psychological state of fervor and the emotion of awe might not come to mind when thinking about how cults recruit and control their members. However, cult indoctrination and control depend on the exploit of emotions, particularly in the initial stages. Emotions are the drivers for all human behavior, such as attraction or aversion. This new model is particularly needed in this moment of strategizing how to amplify cooperation and trust but understanding how people’s minds can get hacked.