The Cult You’re Likely an Unwitting Member Of
What comes to mind when you think of cults? The Jonestown Massacre? Heaven's Gate? The Manson Family? Most of us view cults as strange phenomena that are far removed from our own lives. Yet, cult-like behavior plays a more significant role in American society than you might think, most notably in our two-party political system. The two-party system and its highly polarizing effect on society, combined with the decline in religious affiliation, have allowed for the formation of cult-like dynamics in the American political sphere. By choosing to identify with one of the major parties or political leaders, individuals are instilled with a sense of community with other like-minded individuals while simultaneously sharing a strong animosity for those from the other party or "out-group." These in-group/out-group dynamics, along with other aspects of our current political environment, share striking similarities to cults, and cult-like behavior is much more salient in our daily lives than one might think.
Cult-like thinking applies easily to politics: In both, a leader wields social power, offering their own worldview as the solution to suffering. We see this today in the public's idealization of certain political figures who promise to "Make America Great Again" or "Restore The Soul of The Nation." Members choose to either believe in or reject one approach, which establishes an in-group and out-group. Our in-group and out-group dynamics are so much stronger in the United States partly because we only have two major political parties. In contrast, most other democratic countries have anywhere from 5 to 10. Without any other parties to choose from, Americans often choose to align themselves with the party they view as the one of morals and reason, automatically labeling the opposing party as one that is evil and a threat in contrast. Although not all Americans choose to subscribe to a certain political party, the intense polarization within American politics today has proved to be a defining characteristic of the present moment. In fact, the U.S. today is more polarized than any other democracy around the world. In a 2020 study of nine countries, researchers found that U.S. affective polarization has increased more dramatically since the 1970s than all eight of the other countries studied— the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden. Affective polarization in the U.S. is a major contributor to the "us" vs. "them" mentality that is a notable characteristic of cults.
You may be asking, "If the U.S. has always had only two political parties, then why are these cult-like dynamics showing up so intensely right now?" Historically, cult-like behavior has risen alongside periods of larger existential questioning, tumult, or unrest. The sixties and seventies were influenced by cult behavior as Americans were living through the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Kennedy assassination. During events like these, individuals may feel lost and unsure of what to believe, allowing them to find comfort in being a part of an alternative group where someone will tell them what to do, think, say, or believe. For a long time, organized religion has been the main outlet in which individuals can join a tight-knit community and adopt a lens through which they can understand the world. Religion has played a key role in fulfilling humanity's innate desire for connection and belonging to something larger than ourselves. However, Americans today are more disaffiliated with religion than ever before. A 2023 Gallup poll found that 45% of Americans identified religion as being very important in their lives, compared to 61% of Americans 20 years ago. The consequence of this is that a large swath of Americans no longer have religion as an outlet and have been finding new communities to replace this inherent need for belonging, purpose, and connection. That is where our political system comes in.
Americans today are more likely to view their party affiliation as a core component of their social identity. In a 2021 study, participants were presented with a set of hypothetical Americans, each listed with their corresponding political affiliation, race, ethnicity, and other characteristics. When researchers asked which hypothetical individuals they felt the most in common with, participants consistently reported feeling most connected to those of the same political affiliation, regardless of differences in race, ethnicity, religion, and more. These differences are readily observable today as Democrats and Republicans are increasingly likely to only trust or associate with members of their own party, operating under separate social groups, news outlets, and even geographic locations. A 2021 study found that even within cities and neighborhoods themselves, Democrats and Republicans are segregated by party. The study noted that for about one in five Republicans and two in five Democrats, less than a quarter of their neighbors belonged to the opposite political party. In this increasingly isolated environment, Americans are more susceptible to the in-group and out-group biases that are key components of cults.
One of the reasons that in-groups and out-groups are such a significant feature of cults is that the interests of the in-group serve as an identity template guiding members on how to think, feel, and act. In this way, individuals are insulated from the chooser's paradox that comes with developing their identity, instead choosing to define themselves based on what a 'Democrat' would do or how a 'Republican' would respond. Furthermore, with the existence of separate news outlets for each party, Americans, like cult followers, are encouraged to surrender their critical thinking abilities by looking to their chosen news outlet to tell them what to believe. Additionally, partisan television networks and social media algorithms reinforce one's preexisting views, making individuals less open to alternative perspectives.
Other characteristics of cults in the American political system are the discouragement of dissent, high exit costs, community-reinforcing rituals, peer pressure, and isolation from outside relationships. The pressures of adhering to party loyalty exemplify these cult-like dynamics, as political leaders who criticize their party or shift in allegiance can face severe backlash and be labeled as 'traitors,' much like when Senator Schumer announced his plans to vote with Republicans to advance a partisan spending bill, inspiring “outrage and betrayal” among Senate Democrats. These risks serve as high exit costs, a common cult tactic used to maintain control over members and limit critical thinking abilities. Furthermore, cults reinforce member loyalty through community rituals, similar to the rallies, conventions, debates, and elections that reinforce party loyalty in the political sphere. Lastly, group members in both cults and political parties can be pressured to cut ties with outsiders, a trend increasingly evident in the post-election environment.
While the presence of cult-like dynamics in politics is not inherently bad and is, at some level, unavoidable, it is important to recognize when these cult-like behaviors can be taken too far in ways that cause undue harm to members. This can take the form of extremist political groups whose members idolize their leader and see them as being able to do no wrong. For example, some media outlets have described 'MAGA' as exemplifying cult-like characteristics due to Donald Trump's narcissistic personality traits, allowing his followers to view him as an infallible authority. The current period of economic insecurity, combined with Trump's authoritarian personality, has made Americans more susceptible to his anti-establishment, populist appeals that blame some "other" group as the reason for their suffering. MAGA followers operate under this logic by viewing Trump as an ultimate authority and the only person who can fix society's problems. They remain loyal to him throughout all his controversies and even engage in illegal acts on his behalf, a common practice among the most destructive of cults where followers sublimate their own wants and needs to the cult leader.
Cult-like dynamics in the political sphere have contributed to an increasingly polarized environment between Democrats and Republicans, reducing the possibility of compromise and undermining democracy. Political violence and extremism are thus more likely as politicians and voters feel so threatened by the other side that they’re willing to take extraordinary measures to keep the other side out of power. By understanding historical cult dynamics, Americans are armed with an additional lens through which to evaluate the current political sphere, allowing us to recognize these dangerous influences we might not have noticed otherwise.