-
Does your group discourage doubts, criticism or
ideas that differ from their belief system?
Yes____No___
-
Do you tend to rationalize whatever the group
does even when it goes against your sense of right and wrong?
Yes___ No___
-
Do you often feel exhausted from lengthy group
activities, meetings and projects?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group have its own unique words, cliches,
slogans, chants, prayers and doctrinal phrases that reinforce the group
viewpoint?
Yes___ No___
-
Are doubts viewed as a lack of faith, dedication,
commitment or disloyalty?
Yes___ No___
-
Have "your thoughts" become "the enemy?"
Yes___ No___
-
Do you often find yourself doing more and more
things in the group or because of group peer pressure that you would not
have done on your own?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group publicly humiliate or criticize
members?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group have a system of punishments and
rewards for behavior?
Yes___ No___
-
Group paranoia: Does your group obsessively think
other groups or people with different beliefs are out to get them?
Yes___ No___
-
Does the prospect of leaving your group seem scary,
difficult?
Yes___ No___
-
Do you feel the need to leave in secret?
Yes___ No___
-
Have you been told something bad might happen
if you leave?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group/belief system think they have/are
the only or highest truth, or have the solution for the world’s problems?
Yes___ No___
-
Are your leader’s ideas or belief system considered
beyond reproach or sacred?
Yes___ No___
-
Do you follow a particular individual or belief
system that requires unquestioning obedience and loyalty?
Yes___ No___
-
) Do members of your group feel specially chosen,
superior, exclusive, elite?
Yes___ No___
-
Do you feel the need to save or convert others
to your belief system or ideology?
Yes___ No___
-
Is your group secretive to outsiders about its
inner workings, teachings, activities or beliefs?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group equate purity and goodness to
being in your group, and impurity or evil to those outside your group?
Yes___ No___
-
Do you place your group’s mission or agenda above
your own goals and ideals? Do group interests come before your own interest
Yes___ No___
-
Do you find yourself thinking in a we-they, us-versus-them
mind set?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group/system have a clear outside enemy?
Yes___ No___
-
Do you see less and less of your family and friends
who do not belong to your group or who do not subscribe to your group’s
belief system?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group use frequent public testimonials,
confessions, or sharings that reinforce the group’s mission or agenda?
Yes___ No___
-
Is communication within, into and out of your
group controlled or censored in any manner?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group criticize, shun, abandon or demean
individuals who leave the group?
Yes___ No___
-
Do members seek approval or get permission from
group leader(s) for personal life choices?
Yes___ No___
-
Do you feel pressured to attend meetings, events,
lectures, seminars? And do you feel guilty if you don’t attend?
Yes___ No___
-
Do you feel pressured to give a portion of your
income to the group, or spend money on courses, books or special projects?
Yes___ No___
-
Are the group’s financial needs more important
than your own economic well-being?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group discriminate against anyone regarding
race, gender, belief, or sexual orientation?
Yes___ No___
-
Does your group have a totalitarian structure:
a strict, top-down centralized control?
Yes___ No___
Do you wonder if you have been in a destructive
group?
Do you...
...have difficulty forming new friendships
and intimate relationships?
Yes___ No___
...have low self-esteem, poor self-image or
loss of identity?
Yes___ No___
...have difficulty making simple decisions
and choices?
Yes___ No___
...often feel depressed, anxious and nervous?
Yes___ No___
...feel isolated, lonely, guilty, cynical?
Yes___ No___
...feel like you are just now growing up, becoming
a mature adult?
Yes___ No___
...have short-term memory difficulties?
Yes___ No___
...feel you have nothing to believe in?
Yes___ No___
...often feel anger and rage towards the group?
Yes___ No___
...have nightmares or unpleasant dreams?
Yes___ No___
...find it difficult or impossible to stop
mental or other group ritualistic practices?
Yes___ No___ |
