Political parties and religious cults may seem drastically different. But some underlying psychology shows they can overlap and blend together, especially when taken to the extreme.
Political parties are a hallmark of democracy. People unite behind shared ideologies and policies they believe will benefit society. Religious cults, on the other hand, are often seen as bizarre, isolated groups ruled by an authoritarian leader.
Despite these differences, experts have long observed some striking similarities between political extremism and cult psychology. Understanding what they have in common provides insight into politics and human behavior.
The Allure of Belonging
A major draw of cults is the sense of community and belonging they provide. Members joining a cult may feel disillusioned, disconnected or unstable. The cult offers an instant community and purpose.
This parallels why people become die-hard party devotees. Being part of a political tribe can provide a sense of meaning and identity. Just as cult members derive self-worth from belonging, highly partisan individuals may tie their identity to party membership.
The Charismatic Leader
Cults frequently center around a charming, authoritative leader. Their followers lavish them with praise and attribute almost divine qualities to them.
While not to the same extremes, political parties also tend to lionize their leaders. Think Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Devout party members idolize these leaders similarly to how cult followers do. They overlook, rationalize or defend their missteps and failures.
Demand for Loyalty
Both cults and political parties demand staunch loyalty from members. They often use exclusionary tactics, punishing members who dare criticize or question the group’s ideology.
Cults outright use shaming, harassment and expulsion. Political parties often smear or attempt to politically destroy vocal dissenters in their ranks. Loyalty to the group comes first.
The Bubble Effect
Cults intentionally isolate their members from outside views which could sow doubt about the cult. They instill an us vs. them outlook.
Partisan politics breeds a similar bubble effect. Highly partisan individuals tend to consume news that echoes their own views. They are dismissive of other perspectives. This isolationism fuels an us vs. them mentality.
Of course, there are limits to the analogy. Most political followers are not brainwashed victims stripped of free will like cult members. And parties allow more dissent than a cult ever would.
But the parallels are striking. They show political behavior, even when seemingly mainstream, can come to resemble “cult psychology” when taken too far.
Understanding this empowers us to become more self-aware, avoid insulation and see past tribal labels to have meaningful dialogue. Because the overlaps between politics and cultism highlight vulnerabilities in human thinking we must guard against.
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