Self Quiz
A group starts with two people.
And two individuals can find themselves embroiled in many of the same fundamental destructive group dynamics that large organisations fall prey to.
Are you "UNDER THE INFLUENCE" of a destructive group or belief system?
Find out with this SELF QUIZ:
Does your group discourage doubts, criticism or ideas that differ from their belief system? Yes........ No........
Do you tend to rationalise whatever the group does even when it goes against your sense of right and wrong? Yes ........ No ........
Do you often feel exhausted from lengthy group activities, meetings and projects? Yes ........ No ........
Does your group have its own unique words, clichés, slogans, chants, prayers and doctrinal phrases that reinforce the group viewpoint? Yes ........ No ........
Are doubts viewed as a lack of faith, dedication, commitment or disloyalty? Yes ........ No ........
Have "your thoughts" become "the enemy?" Yes ........ No ........
Do you often find yourself doing more and more things in the group or because of group peer pressure that you would not have done on your own? Yes ........ No ........
Does your group publicly humiliate or criticise members? Yes ........ No ........
Does your group have a system of punishments and rewards for behaviour? Yes........ No........
Group paranoia: Does your group obsessively think other groups or people with different beliefs are out to get them? Yes ........ No ........
Does the prospect of leaving your group seem scary, difficult? Yes ........No........
Do you feel the need to leave in secret? Yes........ No........
Have you been told something bad might happen if you leave? Yes........ No........
Does your group/belief system think they have/are the only or highest truth, or have the solution for the world's problems? Yes........ No........
Are your leader's ideas or belief system considered beyond reproach or sacred? Yes........ No........
Do you follow a particular individual or belief system that requires unquestioning obedience and loyalty? Yes........ No........
Do members of your group feel specially chosen, superior, exclusive, elite? Yes........ No........
Do you feel the need to save or convert others to your belief system or ideology? Yes........ No........
Is your group secretive to outsiders about its inner workings, teachings, activities or beliefs? Yes........ No........
Does your group equate purity and goodness to being in your group, and impurity or evil to those outside your group? Yes........ No........
Do you place your group's mission or agenda above your own goals and ideals? Yes........ No........
Do group interests come before your own interest Yes........ No........
Do you find yourself thinking in a we-they, us-versus-them mind set? Yes........ No........
Does your group/system have a clear outside enemy? Yes........ No........
Do you see less and less of your family and friends who do not belong to your group or who do not subscribe to your group's belief system? Yes........ No........
Does your group use frequent public testimonials, confessions, or sharings that reinforce the group's mission or agenda? Yes........ No........
Is communication within, into and out of your group controlled or censored in any manner? Yes........ No........
Does your group criticise, shun, abandon or demean individuals who leave the group? Yes........ No........
Do members seek approval or get permission from group leader(s) for personal life choices? Yes........ No........
Do you feel pressured to attend meetings, events, lectures, seminars?
And do you feel guilty if you don't attend? Yes........ No........
Do you feel pressured to give a portion of your income to the group, or spend money on courses, books or special projects? Yes........ No........
Are the group's financial needs more important than your own economic well-being? Yes........ No........
Does your group discriminate against anyone regarding race, gender, belief, or sexual orientation? Yes........ No........
Does your group have a totalitarian structure: a strict, top-down centralised control? Yes........ No........
Do you wonder if you have been in a destructive group?
Do you ...have difficulty forming new friendships and intimate relationships? Yes........ No........
...have low self-esteem, poor self-image or loss of identity? Yes........ No........
...have difficulty making simple decisions and choices? Yes........ No........
...often feel depressed, anxious and nervous? Yes........ No........
...feel isolated, lonely, guilty, cynical? Yes........ No........
...feel like you are just now growing up, becoming a mature adult? Yes........ No........
...have short-term memory difficulties? Yes........ No........
...feel you have nothing to believe in? Yes........ No........
...often feel anger and rage towards the group? Yes........ No........
...have nightmares or unpleasant dreams? Yes........ No........
...find it difficult or impossible to stop mental or other group ritualistic practices? Yes........ No........
This quiz has no scientifically predetermined number of "yes" answers to indicate a destructive group. However, answering "yes" to any of the above questions means you may need to examine your group and its influence in your life in those areas.