Brainwashing and Manipulation in Cults: The Manson Family

We all have a natural need to believe in our own abilities, that we can’t be manipulated. Perhaps this belief stems from thinking we are too smart, too aware, or too independent to fall victim to psychological influence. However, this doesn’t change the fact that the tendency to manipulate and be influenced is inherent in everyone’s life. We can understand it by looking at extreme examples like cults, where manipulation works in its most blatant form.

Take Charles Manson, for instance – he didn’t personally kill anyone, yet he convinced others to commit murder on his behalf, becoming more infamous than many serial killers. This highlights how powerful manipulation can be, influencing people in ways we might not readily acknowledge. Recognizing this vulnerability in ourselves is the first step to understanding and protecting against manipulation in all its forms.

By definition, persuasive manipulation can take various forms: positive and negative. The negative form uses brainwashing, alienation of human freedoms, and obstruction of basic rights. It is often a precursor to a sect like Manson Family.

Persuasive manipulation include:

• Providing false information,
• -Distorting or concealing key facts,
• -Inducing phenomena,
• Limiting the thoughts of sect members.

Charles Manson used these tactics to control his followers, mostly young women who felt disconnected from society, leading them to commit several murders in the late 1960s in California.

His childhood was marked by abuse, poverty, and neglect by social services, forcing him to commit crimes to survive. Rebellion and disregard for authority were constants in his life.

All psychiatrists noted in Charles Manson an incredible ability to control other people’s emotions. He used this skill to feed his ego and raise a “family” of followers. It helped him form relationships and simultaneously oppose the society he hated so much.

He spent a lot of time in various prisons, where he learned how to manipulate people. When he was released, it was perfect timing for him – the “wrong man at the right place.” In the USA, it was the “Summer of Love.” Tens of thousands of young people opposed the existing reality. Manson efficiently targeted young women eager for acceptance. He was a charismatic figure with a guitar, who quickly attracted a lot of attention.

• “Manson had this uncanny ability to become whoever the person needed him to be. Manson saw our weaknesses and brokenness and fed on that for his own survival and manipulation to fill his need or [get something from] someone who could provide him with something he wanted.” -Dianne Lake, Manson Family Surviver

Sheila Isenberg, in her book “Women Who Love Men Who Kill,” was among the first to explore the fascination with Manson. She attributed it to “hyperempathy syndrome,” where women with low self-esteem seek validation through relationships with important or famous people. Manson exploited this by making these women feel valued and playing the role they needed to see.

Manson’s story is a harrowing example of how an individual’s traumatic past can culminate in the creation of a manipulative and destructive cult leader. His ability to exploit the vulnerabilities of others, combined with a society in turmoil, allowed him to amass a devoted following willing to commit heinous acts at his behest. This case underscores the importance of understanding the psychological tactics employed by cult leaders and the socio-cultural factors that enable such figures to gain influence. It serves as a reminder of the potential for charismatic manipulation to lead to devastating consequences, emphasizing the need for vigilance and support systems to protect susceptible individuals from falling prey to such dangerous influences.