PETALING JAYA: Studies have shown that people get lured into deviant teachings due to several factors, such as being lonely and rejected, says a clinical psychologist.
Dr Justine Thong Jian Ai said other reasons were those looking for a greater truth and meaning, life transition, dissatisfaction of mainstream groups, and a lack of belonging.
“While ‘brainwashing’ techniques including the isolation of members away from family and friends (moving into a commune) have been associated with such groups, yet not all require individuals to move away,” she said when contacted.
“Fostering distrust toward others outside the deviant groups may be one way to reinforce social isolation.”
Thong said typically, deviant groups were fringe belief systems (a set of beliefs that detached a group of people from society), developed, perpetuated or enforced by a singular, charismatic leader.
The common characteristics of its leaders and founders included charisma and persuasive skills, authoritarianism, as well as the belief of superiority in their ideas and insights, Thong added.
Meanwhile, an academic said deviant movements were always about power and control, and these characteristics were presented among its leaders.
The dean of Cyberjaya Universiti Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan said leaders display narcissism.
“This is why sex is often used as a tool to exert their sense of authority.
“In terms of why sexual abuse in such group occur among children, you have to remember that rape is not about sex, it is about power and showing dominance while being in control over them.
“Children are unable to give consent, and this why sexual abuse takes place,” she said.
