Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 6, 2006, Page 28
[of] rather than ‗Accommodation‘ [to] the world.‖ According to Millon and Davis, (1996, p.
429), these people are ―active-independents who seek to shape the social world of others.‖
Each might be an individual who ―actively intrudes upon and violates the rights of others, as
well as transgresses established social codes through deceitful or illegal behaviors‖ (Millon.
T. &Davis, R., 1996, p. 446).
Also, according to Millon, the ASPD personality exhibits a ―Self-focused‖ dimension. Instead
of being ―Other-focused,‖ these individuals tend to consume resources for their personal
benefit instead of considering others‘ needs. They exploit and manipulate others in the
pursuit of their personal wants and needs. Finally, Millon states that persons with ASPD
have a ―pleasure-seeking‖ dimension that seeks to avoid pain. Millon says that ―many
antisocials possess a ‗lust for life,‘ a passion with which they are willing to pursue
excitement and hedonistic pleasures‖ (Millon, T. &Davis, R., 1996, p. 448). The presence of
a pleasure-seeking dimension in persons with ASPD might help explain some cult leaders‘
sexual excesses. For example, a male cult leader might strictly forbid members to engage in
sexual relationships because the ostensible ideals of the cult incorporate an ascetic
regimen but the leader may then engage in sexual relations with available female cult
members, whether married or single, child or adult. And when questioned regarding such
sexual practices, the leader then might engage in an elaborate and sophistical rationale to
justify his behavior.
The Antisocial in Society
When the term ―antisocial‖ is applied to behavior, the term signifies manipulative, self-
focused behaviors in contrast to ―prosocial,‖ outward, community-building behaviors.
Antisocial behaviors clearly transgress society‘s standards of morality, fairness, and justice.
The issue is not that the person with ASPD avoids people, but rather that he or she
evaluates the world of others with approximately the same self-serving point of view of the
piranha that evaluates a river full of swimming tourists. That is to say, the individual with
ASPD and the piranha both seek the society of others to ―take care of needs.‖ Thus, when
the outside observer observes the acts and behaviors of someone with ASPD, the
perspectives and actions of the individual appear to be based upon a set of principles that
are diametrically opposed to the best interests of society.
According to Hare (1993, p.2), a Canadian forensic psychologist who has extensively
researched antisocial personalities, the antisocial population in North America (United States
and Canada) contains a subgroup of approximately 3 out of 10 persons who have such
extensive personality deficits and extreme behavior patterns that they are more accurately
classified as being psychopathic personalities. According to Hare, psychopaths have severe
and pronounced personality deficits. The presence of psychopathy causes the affected
individual to have little or no empathic identification with others, and as a result, the
psychopath seems to act without the restriction or constraint of conscience (Hare, 1993, p.
173).
Additionally, Hare states that psychopathy is not limited just to the criminal population but
can affect any walk of life, so that professionals such as doctors and lawyers, as well as
―blue-collar‖ workers, can be similarly afflicted. According to Hare, many psychopaths are
never arraigned and convicted of crimes, but rather remain under-identified in society, even
though they commit frequent illegal and unethical actions that leave behind a trail of broken
lives. Important to the present discussion is that Hare lists cult leaders along with many
other occupations as possible havens for psychopaths. In Hare and Babiak‘s book, Snakes in
Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work (May 2006), extended illustrations focus on how
psychopathic personalities might tend to operate in the business world.
Using Hare‘s analysis, cult leaders who exhibit psychopathic behaviors can be identified. For
example, a recent report in the San Francisco Chronicle tells about the surviving relatives of
[of] rather than ‗Accommodation‘ [to] the world.‖ According to Millon and Davis, (1996, p.
429), these people are ―active-independents who seek to shape the social world of others.‖
Each might be an individual who ―actively intrudes upon and violates the rights of others, as
well as transgresses established social codes through deceitful or illegal behaviors‖ (Millon.
T. &Davis, R., 1996, p. 446).
Also, according to Millon, the ASPD personality exhibits a ―Self-focused‖ dimension. Instead
of being ―Other-focused,‖ these individuals tend to consume resources for their personal
benefit instead of considering others‘ needs. They exploit and manipulate others in the
pursuit of their personal wants and needs. Finally, Millon states that persons with ASPD
have a ―pleasure-seeking‖ dimension that seeks to avoid pain. Millon says that ―many
antisocials possess a ‗lust for life,‘ a passion with which they are willing to pursue
excitement and hedonistic pleasures‖ (Millon, T. &Davis, R., 1996, p. 448). The presence of
a pleasure-seeking dimension in persons with ASPD might help explain some cult leaders‘
sexual excesses. For example, a male cult leader might strictly forbid members to engage in
sexual relationships because the ostensible ideals of the cult incorporate an ascetic
regimen but the leader may then engage in sexual relations with available female cult
members, whether married or single, child or adult. And when questioned regarding such
sexual practices, the leader then might engage in an elaborate and sophistical rationale to
justify his behavior.
The Antisocial in Society
When the term ―antisocial‖ is applied to behavior, the term signifies manipulative, self-
focused behaviors in contrast to ―prosocial,‖ outward, community-building behaviors.
Antisocial behaviors clearly transgress society‘s standards of morality, fairness, and justice.
The issue is not that the person with ASPD avoids people, but rather that he or she
evaluates the world of others with approximately the same self-serving point of view of the
piranha that evaluates a river full of swimming tourists. That is to say, the individual with
ASPD and the piranha both seek the society of others to ―take care of needs.‖ Thus, when
the outside observer observes the acts and behaviors of someone with ASPD, the
perspectives and actions of the individual appear to be based upon a set of principles that
are diametrically opposed to the best interests of society.
According to Hare (1993, p.2), a Canadian forensic psychologist who has extensively
researched antisocial personalities, the antisocial population in North America (United States
and Canada) contains a subgroup of approximately 3 out of 10 persons who have such
extensive personality deficits and extreme behavior patterns that they are more accurately
classified as being psychopathic personalities. According to Hare, psychopaths have severe
and pronounced personality deficits. The presence of psychopathy causes the affected
individual to have little or no empathic identification with others, and as a result, the
psychopath seems to act without the restriction or constraint of conscience (Hare, 1993, p.
173).
Additionally, Hare states that psychopathy is not limited just to the criminal population but
can affect any walk of life, so that professionals such as doctors and lawyers, as well as
―blue-collar‖ workers, can be similarly afflicted. According to Hare, many psychopaths are
never arraigned and convicted of crimes, but rather remain under-identified in society, even
though they commit frequent illegal and unethical actions that leave behind a trail of broken
lives. Important to the present discussion is that Hare lists cult leaders along with many
other occupations as possible havens for psychopaths. In Hare and Babiak‘s book, Snakes in
Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work (May 2006), extended illustrations focus on how
psychopathic personalities might tend to operate in the business world.
Using Hare‘s analysis, cult leaders who exhibit psychopathic behaviors can be identified. For
example, a recent report in the San Francisco Chronicle tells about the surviving relatives of
