The interdisciplinary study of cults as social phenomena—examining their formation, recruitment tactics, internal dynamics, leadership structures, belief systems, and methods of control. Cultology draws on sociology, psychology, anthropology, and religious studies to understand both
destructive cults (e.g., Jim Jones, Heaven’s Gate) and broader social formations that share cult-like features. It analyzes mechanisms such as isolation, thought reform, charismatic authority, and groupthink. Cultology is not about
sensationalism but about rigorous inquiry into how groups can override individual autonomy and
critical thinking.
Example: “Her cultology research identified six common traits across disparate groups, from high‑control
religious sects to multi‑level
marketing organizations—showing that cultic
dynamics are not limited to obvious cults.”