Marks of a Destructive Cult

Mind Control (undue influence)	Manipulation by the use of coercive persuasion or behavior modification techniques without informed consent.
Charismatic Leadership	Claiming divinity or special knowledge and demanding unquestioning obedience with power and privilege. Leadership may consist of one individual or a core of leaders.
Deception	Recruiting and fundraising with hidden objectives and without full disclosure.
Exclusivity	Secretiveness or vagueness by followers regarding activities or beliefs.
Alienation	Separation from family, friends, society, a change in values and substitution of the cult as the "new family"; evidence of subtle or abrupt personality changes.
Exploitation	Can be financial, physical, psychological; pressure to give money, to spend a great deal on courses or give excessively to special projects and to engage in inappropriate sexual activities, or child abuse.
Totalitarian World View	Also known as the "we/they" syndrome, effecting dependence, promoting goals of the group over the individual and approving unethical behavior while claiming goodness.