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alexanderjamie 's review for:
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
by Amanda Montell
dark
funny
informative
medium-paced
Montell’s “Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism” explores the ways in which cults and cult-like groups use language to influence the thought patterns of their members.
Whether it through be thought-terminating cliches which prevent questioning the central ideology, the use of in-group jargon to create group solidarity, or creation of a us-vs-them paradigm fostering social isolation, cult leaders manipulate language to take control over member’s minds. Through love bombing and loaded language, they hook members in and use group identification to make it harder to leave.
On the whole though, the book seems to discuss cults more generally than really do deep analysis on linguistic usage. It perhaps is in the nature of the work that Montell is trying to achieve with a wide survey of example from suicide cults to cultish fitness groups. As Montell says, the language of cults is everywhere. I learner quite a bit about cults, who they prey on, and how and I would recommend it for anyone interested in the phenomenon.
Whether it through be thought-terminating cliches which prevent questioning the central ideology, the use of in-group jargon to create group solidarity, or creation of a us-vs-them paradigm fostering social isolation, cult leaders manipulate language to take control over member’s minds. Through love bombing and loaded language, they hook members in and use group identification to make it harder to leave.
On the whole though, the book seems to discuss cults more generally than really do deep analysis on linguistic usage. It perhaps is in the nature of the work that Montell is trying to achieve with a wide survey of example from suicide cults to cultish fitness groups. As Montell says, the language of cults is everywhere. I learner quite a bit about cults, who they prey on, and how and I would recommend it for anyone interested in the phenomenon.