Exhorted by their leader, some 900 members of the Reverend Jim Jones' People's Temple picked up paper cups and drank purple Kool-Aid laced with the deadly poison cyanide. Psychologically, the mass suicide at Jonestown in 1978 is not so incredible as it might seem. The inhabitants of Jonestown were isolated in the jungles of Guyana, intimidated by guards, and lulled with sedatives. They were also
cut off from friends and relatives and totally accustomed to obeying rigid rules of conduct, which primed them for Jones' final "loyalty test." Of greater psychological interest is the question of how people reach such a state of commitment and dependency. Why do people join groups such as the People's Temple? The People's Temple was a classic example of a cult. A cult is a group in which the leader's personality is more important than the beliefs she or he preaches. Cult members give their allegiances to this person, who is regarded as infallible, and they follow his or her dictates without question. Almost always, cult members are victimized by their leaders in some way or another. Psychologist Margaret Singer has studied and aided hundreds of former cult members. Her interviews reveal that in recruiting new members, cults use a powerful blend of guilt, manipulation, isolation, deception, fear, and escalating commitment. In this respect, cults employ high-pressure indoctrination techniques not unlike those used in brainwashing. In the United States alone, an estimated 2 to 5 million people have succumbed to the lure of cults. In the last paragraph, what is the meaning of succumbed?
a. disagreed with
b. gave help
c. gave in
d. advanced
C
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Read each situation below and complete the items that follow by writing E next to each activity that is effective and N next to each activity that is NOT effective.
At the beginning of the semester, Kaitlin’s managerial finance professor provided his office hours and office phone number to the class and mentioned that he only checks his e-mail once or twice a week. On a recent Tuesday night, Kaitlin found out that she would have to miss managerial finance the next day because of a family emergency out of town. She hated to miss class, especially because she has had trouble understanding some important concepts, causing her concern about her progress in the course. 1. Kaitlin e-mailed her professor that she would be missing class on Wednesday. 2. When Kaitlin got back in town, she called her professor’s office and made an appointment to meet him during office hours.
Why did the Demeter Association choose this particular name for their
group? a. It represents many of the mythologies and mythological characters throughout the world. b. The return of her daughter Persephone symbolizes the changing seasons. c. Their association requires farmers to meet challenging standards and strict requirements. d. "Da Meter" is a Greek word that represents the holistic nature of a quality farm.
All of the supporting details in a descriptive paragraph must serve to explain the
dominant impression. A. True B. False
la cuenta / al señor
What will be an ideal response?