The Cult Leader As Psychopath

Cultic groups and relationships are formed primarily to meet specific emotional needs of the leader, many of whom suffer from one or another emotional or character disorder. Few, if any, cult leaders subject themselves to the psychological tests or prolonged clinical interviews that allow for an accurate diagnosis. However, researchers and clinicians who have observed these individuals describe them variously as neurotic, psychotic, on a spectrum exhibiting neurotic, sociopathic, and psychotic characteristics, or suffering from a diagnosed personality disorder.

It is not our intent here to make an overarching diagnosis, nor do we intend to imply that all cult leaders or the leaders of any of the groups mentioned here are psychopaths. In reviewing the data, however, we can surmise that there is significant psychological dysfunctioning in some cult leaders and that their behavior demonstrates features rather consistent with the disorder known as psychopathy.

Dr. Robert Hare, one of the world’s foremost experts in the field, estimates that there are at least two million psychopaths in North America. He writes, “Psychopaths are social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations, and empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret.”

Personality disorders, as a diagnosis, relate to certain inflexible and maladaptive behaviors and traits that cause a person to have significantly impaired social or occupational functioning. Signs of this are often first manifested in childhood and adolescence, and are expressed through distorted patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself. In simple terms this means that something is amiss, awry, not quite right in the person, and this creates problems in how he or she relates to the rest of the world.

The psychopathic personality is sometimes confused with the “antisocial personality,” another disorder; however, the psychopath exhibits more extreme behavior than the antisocial personality. The antisocial personality is identified by a mix of antisocial and criminal behaviors–he is the common criminal. The psychopath, on the other hand, is characterized by a mix of criminal and socially deviant behavior.

Neuropsychiatrist Richard M. Restak stated, “At the heart of the diagnosis of psychopathy was the recognition that a person could appear normal and yet close observation would reveal the personality to be irrational or even violent“. Indeed, initially most psychopaths appear quite normal. They present themselves to us as charming, interesting, even humble. The majority “don’t suffer from delusions, hallucinations, or memory impairment, their contract with reality appears solid.” Some, on the other hand, may demonstrate marked paranoia and megalomania. In one clinical study of psychopathic inpatients, the authors wrote “We found that our psychopaths were similar to normal’s (in the reference group) with regard to their capacity to experience external events as real and with regard to their sense of bodily reality. They generally had good memory, concentration, attention, and language function. They had a high barrier against external, aversive stimulation….In some ways they clearly resemble normal people and can thus ‘pass’ as reasonably normal or sane. Yet we found them to be extremely primitive in other ways, even more primitive than frankly schizophrenic patients. In some ways their thinking was sane and reasonable, but in others it was psychotically inefficient and/or convoluted.”


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What Makes A Religious Group A Cult

By Cindy V. Culp

When it comes to cults, there’s an old joke among religious scholars: A cult is a cult is a cult — unless it’s my religious group.

That jest highlights the tendency many people have to treat the identification of cults almost like the pinpointing of pornography. They don’t have a good definition of what makes a cult, but they’re sure they’ll know one when they see it.

Experts’ approach to the subject is far more complex, whether discussing the Amish, the Branch Davidians, the Mormons or Homestead Heritage. Only a few scholars use the word “cult.” Most say it has become too loaded of a word and prefer terms such as “new religious group” or “alternative religious movement.”

Experts also have differing opinions about what puts a group into the question mark category. A few give the label to any religious group that doesn’t hold a specific set of doctrinal beliefs. Others say the only reliable dividing line is whether a group obeys the law. A lot linger somewhere in the middle.

Rick Ross, who heads up a religious research institute in New Jersey, is one expert who sees no problem in using the word cult. To him, there’s no reason not to use the term except for political correctness.

“Whether they call them cults, new religious movements or whatever, you see the same structure in behavior, the same structure in dynamics,” Ross said. “Groups that fit this pattern are very often unstable.”

Ross differs from some cult-watching organizations in that he doesn’t label a group a cult simply because of its theological beliefs. Rather, groups should be judged by their behavior, he said.

One classic sign of a cult is that it is personality-driven, Ross said. That means it has a charismatic leader or group of leaders who hold a tremendous amount of sway over members.

Another common characteristic is isolation, Ross said. Sometimes that isolation is physical, with members’ comings and goings being restricted.

But most often, isolation takes the form of members becoming completely absorbed in the group and its activities, Ross said. If members work, go to school and socialize only with each other, isolation is a real possibility. An especially troubling sign, he said, is when members are asked to cut off contact with family members.

“I call it discordant noise,” he said. “Anyone or anything that would raise troubling questions about the group is marginalized to the extreme, cut off.”

Also common is a persecution complex, he said. Members often have an “us- versus-them” attitude, perceiving simple disagreements as attacks.

“They say criticizing them is to go against God,” Ross said. Another giveaway, he said, is when groups teach that anyone who leaves is flawed. Healthy groups generally believe people can have good reasons for leaving. Not so with cults, he said.

On the opposite side of the spectrum is Tim Miller, a professor of religious studies at the University of Kansas. Not only does he not use the word “cult,” but he takes issue with the characteristics that have been attached to the word.

The problem with them, Miller said, is that they don’t distinguish between good and bad expressions of those characteristics. For example, some of the most successful mainstream religious organizations have charismatic leaders.

The anti-cult movement often acts as if there are easy answers to the question of whether a group is dangerous, Miller said. But things are rarely black and white. Most involve judgment calls and points of view. What may seem sinister to one person may be perfectly normal to another, he said.

“I don’t know where you draw the line, frankly, except at the law,” Miller said.
William Dinges, a professor of religious studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., said one question he asks when evaluating religious groups is what kind of fruit they produce. That’s helpful because while the customs of some groups could be called cultic under the criteria of anti-cult organizations, they don’t truly fit that mold. The Amish are one example, he said.

One term that can be used to describe such groups are “radicalized expressions of religious commitment,” Dinges said. Characteristics include having a distinct boundary between it and others; being demanding of members; being galvanized around a charismatic personality; and having an intensified sense of mission.

Like Miller, Dinges says determining whether such groups are dangerous is subjective. Among the factors to weigh is whether they make it emotionally impossible to leave, whether they maintain members’ dignity, the amount of freedom they give members and whether there is a structure for airing and addressing conflict.

People also must consider how accepted certain behaviors are within that particular religious tradition, Dinges said. For example, becoming a monk may seem strange to many people, but it’s a very accepted part of the Catholic tradition.

Such factors also must be weighed in evaluating the stories of people who have come out of a group, Dinges said. In some cases, people’s horror stories stem from truly bad things that happened to them, he said,

In other instances, though, stories are tainted by a change in ex-members’ viewpoints, Dinges said. People can have mistaken or highly romanticized notions about what life in a particular group will be like, then become bitter when reality doesn’t match expectations.

Sometimes that happens because a group engages in false recruitment activities, he said. Other times it’s because people jump into situations without thoroughly understanding them.

“You have to educate yourself and, in a sense, know yourself. Trust your intuition.” Ron Enroth, a professor of sociology at Westmont College in California, says all the spiritually abusive groups he has studied share common characteristics. They’re so similar that when he talks to ex-members and starts hearing details of their stories, “I almost feel like saying, ‘Stop, let me tell you the rest of the story.’ ”

One feature of such groups, Enroth said, is control-oriented leadership. Communication with outsiders is limited and questioning isn’t allowed inside the group. Sometimes the control extends into intimate areas of followers’ lives, he said. In such cases, members are expected to ask permission to take vacations or switch jobs. Lifestyle rigidity is also common, with some groups having an almost unfathomable list of rules. One he studied outlawed striped running shoes because they supposedly were connected to homosexuality, he said. Another forbid members to use the word “pregnant.” Instead they were commanded to say a woman was “with child.”

Such groups are also spiritual elitists, Enroth said. They use arrogant or high-minded terms to describe themselves and often have disparaging descriptions for other churches, he said.

“They present themselves as the model Christian church or the model Christian organization...and say they provide unparalleled fellowship and superior spirituality,” Enroth said.

In addition, such groups are usually paranoid and perceive any criticism as persecution, Enroth said. They paint people who leave as defectors and say attacks against them are ultimately the work of Satan.

“By describing criticism as slander, they can almost be shielded from criticism,” Enroth said.

Enroth believes the number of spiritually abusive groups is growing due to a spike in the number of independent churches in evangelical and fundamentalist circles. People like them because they are less formal and less hierarchical than traditional churches, he said.

But with that independence also comes the potential for trouble, he said.

“They are, in a sense, spiritual Lone Rangers,” Enroth said. “That’s where the potential for sliding off the cliff comes into play.”



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30 Children Died While Under Care From New Jersey DYFS

In the last five years more than 30 children under care from New Jersey DYFS have died from abuse or neglect. The state had issued annual reports detailing what happened in each child-death case, but under the new rules put into place by the Corzine Administration such reports will no longer be released. Senator Diane Allen, R-Burlington, was angered saying “I do not understand why the Corzine Administration would refuse to release information vital to holding our child welfare system accountable to taxpayers,” Allen stated. “When it comes to protecting our children, we need more accountability, not less.”

“These reports have constantly reminded us that New Jersey is failing our children. They have, over the years, forced those in power to face and at lease partially deal with the issues. As a Legislator who has pleaded with the majority party for years to increase support and funding for DYFS, I fear that hiding this information will make it even harder to get the Governor to do the right thing.” Allen said. I am being critical of the Corzine Administration’s lack of transparency about one of the most vital functions our government undertakes – protecting our children from the horrors of abuse.”

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Deceased Husband Purchases Mortgage

Carol Mead 1536 Dorsett Dock Road Point Pleasant NJ not only abused her grandchild by illegally consenting to have elective cosmetic surgery, she makes outrageous money as a school crossing guard for Point Pleasant Borough NJ. As you will see from the background report on Carol Mead she makes close to $100,000 a year helping school children cross the street. Carol Mead also goes by the alias George L Mead.

Notice on the background report that her deceased husband of approximately 20 years George Mead, still has residence in her home. The deceased George Mead was even able to purchase a mortgage with Carol Mead from PNC Bank in 2006. Click on document above.

Robert Maher who presently resides with Carol Mead at 1536 Dorsett Dock Road Point Pleasant NJ and who resigned as a crossing guard for the Borough of Point Pleasant NJ also goes by the alias Robert Mead.

As you have seen by viewing the posts in this blog, criminals like to blend into the community as pastors, elders, church goers and now crossing guards. Carol Mead is the mother-in-law of child molester and violent criminal Pastor Richard Maranitz.

Manasquan lawyer Joseph Jasaitis who knew about this fraud decided not to report it to the proper law enforcement agencies.

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Bureau Commander
Lieutenant Richard Larsen
Watch Commander - 4pm-12am Shift
Lieutenant James Jensen
Watch Commander - 12am-8am Shift
Lieutenant Michael Whittles
Patrol Unit
Sergeant Todd Springsteen
Sergeant Kenneth Cooper
Sergeant Leon Downs
Sergeant Robert Lokerson
Sergeant Kevin Collins
Cpl. Steven Savoie	Cpl. Gary Colberg	P.O. Charles Ackerman
P.O. Leon Downs	P.O. Robert J. Wells	P.O. Kevin Aurin
P.O. David Radsniak	P.O. Loren Mac Iver	P.O. Brad McNally
P.O. Gene Capoano	P.O. Joseph Torre	P.O. Christopher Leonhardt
P.O. Brian Fennessy	P.O. Christopher Woit	P.O. James Kavanagh
P.O. David Scalabrini	P.O. Siveen Greenan	P.O. Ryan Grohowski
P.O. Joshua Gunnell	P.O. Christopher Phillips
Traffic Safety Unit
Lieutenant Michael Colwell
C.G. Tom Bollard	C.G. Theresa Gahr	C.G. Phillis Willever
C.G. Alice VanNote	C.G. Che' Langan	C.G. Marie Saporito
C.G. Jo Connors	C. G Carol Mead	C.G. Barbara Wooley
C.G. Mary Sue Hammell	C.G. Donna Pellegrino	C.G. Robin Aiello
C.G. Sharon Haugh	C.G. Rose Scura	C.G. Stacey Henry
C.G. Elsie Heckel	C.G. Tracey Stewart	C.G. Anna Koster

Subject Details: MEAD, CAROL | New Search Person # 1 Title of Respect MRS First Name CAROL Middle Name F Last Name MEAD Primary Address 1536 DORSET DOCK RD City POINT PLEASANT BORO State NJ ZIP Code 08742 ZIP +4 4337 Latitude 40.0686455 Longitude -74.0776978 Phone Number (732) 295-8221 Do Not Call YES Date of Birth N/A Age 65 Gender FEMALE Marital Status MARRIED Education SOME COLLEGE Estimated Income $75,000 - $99,999/YR Presence of Credit Card YES Estimated Current Home Value 35,000 Home Purchase Price 64,000 Home Purchase Date 1983-09-00 Full Name MRS CAROL F MEAD Race WESTERN EUROPEAN Family General Magazine 1 Presence of Children NO County Code 029 Mailing Responder MULTI Refinance Term in Months 348 Refinance Amount In Thousands 2 Delivery Point Check Digit 363 Census Tract 711400 Political Contributor R Cooking Enthusiast YES Automotive Buff YES Refinance Rate Type FIXED Mortgage Lender Name NBD BK/MOUNT PROSPECT Refinance Lender Name PNC BK NATIONAL ASSN Wealth Rating 60TH PERCENTILE Length of Residence 12 YEARS Outdoor Enthusiast YES Donates to Environmental Causes YES Mortgage Loan Type CONVENTIONAL ISPSA 5 Carrier Route C027 Book Reader YES Refinance Loan Type CONVENTIONAL Contributes to Charities YES Census Block 1 Health And Fitness Magazine 2 Gardener YES Pet YES State Code 34 Person # 2 Title of Respect MR First Name GEORGE Middle Name L Last Name MEAD Primary Address 1536 DORSET DOCK RD City POINT PLEASANT BORO State NJ ZIP Code 08742 ZIP +4 4337 Latitude 40.0686455 Longitude -74.0776978 Phone Number (732) 295-8221 Do Not Call YES Date of Birth N/A Age 75 Gender MALE Marital Status MARRIED Education LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA Estimated Income $75,000 - $99,999/YR Presence of Credit Card YES Estimated Current Home Value 35,000 Home Purchase Price 64,000 Home Purchase Date 1983-09-00 Full Name MR GEORGE L MEAD Race WESTERN EUROPEAN Family General Magazine 1 Presence of Children NO County Code 029 Mailing Responder MULTI Refinance Term in Months 348 Refinance Amount In Thousands 2 Delivery Point Check Digit 363 Census Tract 711400 Political Contributor R Cooking Enthusiast YES Automotive Buff YES Refinance Rate Type FIXED Mortgage Lender Name NBD BK/MOUNT PROSPECT Refinance Lender Name PNC BK NATIONAL ASSN Wealth Rating 60TH PERCENTILE Length of Residence 12 YEARS Outdoor Enthusiast YES Donates to Environmental Causes YES Mortgage Loan Type CONVENTIONAL ISPSA 5 Carrier Route C027 Occupation SELF EMPLOYED Book Reader YES Refinance Loan Type CONVENTIONAL Contributes to Charities YES Census Block 1 Health And Fitness Magazine 2 Gardener YES Pet YES State Code 34 Business Owner YES Person # 3 Title of Respect MR First Name ROBERT Last Name MEAD Primary Address 1536 DORSET DOCK RD City POINT PLEASANT BORO State NJ ZIP Code 08742 ZIP +4 4337 Latitude 40.0686455 Longitude -74.0776978 Phone Number (732) 295-8221 Do Not Call YES Date of Birth N/A Age 74 Gender MALE Education SOME COLLEGE Estimated Income $75,000 - $99,999/YR Presence of Credit Card YES Estimated Current Home Value 35,000 Home Purchase Price 64,000 Home Purchase Date 1983-09-00 Full Name MR ROBERT MEAD Race WESTERN EUROPEAN Family General Magazine 1 Presence of Children NO County Code 029 Mailing Responder MULTI Refinance Term in Months 348 Refinance Amount In Thousands 2 Delivery Point Check Digit 363 Census Tract 711400 Political Contributor R Cooking Enthusiast YES Automotive Buff YES Refinance Rate Type FIXED Mortgage Lender Name NBD BK/MOUNT PROSPECT Refinance Lender Name PNC BK NATIONAL ASSN Wealth Rating 60TH PERCENTILE Length of Residence 12 YEARS Outdoor Enthusiast YES Donates to Environmental Causes YES Mortgage Loan Type CONVENTIONAL ISPSA 5 Carrier Route C027 Occupation PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL Book Reader YES Refinance Loan Type CONVENTIONAL Contributes to Charities YES Census Block 1 Health And Fitness Magazine 2 Gardener YES Pet YES State Code 34

Background Wizard - Background Report

Subject Details: MEAD, GEORGE | New Search Person # 1 Title of Respect MRS First Name CAROL Middle Name F Last Name MEAD Primary Address 1536 DORSET DOCK RD City POINT PLEASANT BORO State NJ ZIP Code 08742 ZIP +4 4337 Latitude 40.0686455 Longitude -74.0776978 Phone Number (732) 295-8221 Do Not Call YES Date of Birth N/A Age 65 Gender FEMALE Marital Status MARRIED Education SOME COLLEGE Estimated Income $75,000 - $99,999/YR Presence of Credit Card YES Estimated Current Home Value 35,000 Home Purchase Price 64,000 Home Purchase Date 1983-09-00 Full Name MRS CAROL F MEAD Race WESTERN EUROPEAN Family General Magazine 1 Presence of Children NO County Code 029 Mailing Responder MULTI Refinance Term in Months 348 Refinance Amount In Thousands 2 Delivery Point Check Digit 363 Census Tract 711400 Political Contributor R Cooking Enthusiast YES Automotive Buff YES Refinance Rate Type FIXED Mortgage Lender Name NBD BK/MOUNT PROSPECT Refinance Lender Name PNC BK NATIONAL ASSN Wealth Rating 60TH PERCENTILE Length of Residence 12 YEARS Outdoor Enthusiast YES Donates to Environmental Causes YES Mortgage Loan Type CONVENTIONAL ISPSA 5 Carrier Route C027 Book Reader YES Refinance Loan Type CONVENTIONAL Contributes to Charities YES Census Block 1 Health And Fitness Magazine 2 Gardener YES Pet YES State Code 34 Person # 2 Title of Respect MR First Name GEORGE Middle Name L Last Name MEAD Primary Address 1536 DORSET DOCK RD City POINT PLEASANT BORO State NJ ZIP Code 08742 ZIP +4 4337 Latitude 40.0686455 Longitude -74.0776978 Phone Number (732) 295-8221 Do Not Call YES Date of Birth N/A Age 75 Gender MALE Marital Status MARRIED Education LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA Estimated Income $75,000 - $99,999/YR Presence of Credit Card YES Estimated Current Home Value 35,000 Home Purchase Price 64,000 Home Purchase Date 1983-09-00 Full Name MR GEORGE L MEAD Race WESTERN EUROPEAN Family General Magazine 1 Presence of Children NO County Code 029 Mailing Responder MULTI Refinance Term in Months 348 Refinance Amount In Thousands 2 Delivery Point Check Digit 363 Census Tract 711400 Political Contributor R Cooking Enthusiast YES Automotive Buff YES Refinance Rate Type FIXED Mortgage Lender Name NBD BK/MOUNT PROSPECT Refinance Lender Name PNC BK NATIONAL ASSN Wealth Rating 60TH PERCENTILE Length of Residence 12 YEARS Outdoor Enthusiast YES Donates to Environmental Causes YES Mortgage Loan Type CONVENTIONAL ISPSA 5 Carrier Route C027 Occupation SELF EMPLOYED Book Reader YES Refinance Loan Type CONVENTIONAL Contributes to Charities YES Census Block 1 Health And Fitness Magazine 2 Gardener YES Pet YES State Code 34 Business Owner YES Person # 3 Title of Respect MR First Name ROBERT Last Name MEAD Primary Address 1536 DORSET DOCK RD City POINT PLEASANT BORO State NJ ZIP Code 08742 ZIP +4 4337 Latitude 40.0686455 Longitude -74.0776978 Phone Number (732) 295-8221 Do Not Call YES Date of Birth N/A Age 74 Gender MALE Education SOME COLLEGE Estimated Income $75,000 - $99,999/YR Presence of Credit Card YES Estimated Current Home Value 35,000 Home Purchase Price 64,000 Home Purchase Date 1983-09-00 Full Name MR ROBERT MEAD Race WESTERN EUROPEAN Family General Magazine 1 Presence of Children NO County Code 029 Mailing Responder MULTI Refinance Term in Months 348 Refinance Amount In Thousands 2 Delivery Point Check Digit 363 Census Tract 711400 Political Contributor R Cooking Enthusiast YES Automotive Buff YES Refinance Rate Type FIXED Mortgage Lender Name NBD BK/MOUNT PROSPECT Refinance Lender Name PNC BK NATIONAL ASSN Wealth Rating 60TH PERCENTILE Length of Residence 12 YEARS Outdoor Enthusiast YES Donates to Environmental Causes YES Mortgage Loan Type CONVENTIONAL ISPSA 5 Carrier Route C027 Occupation PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL Book Reader YES Refinance Loan Type CONVENTIONAL Contributes to Charities YES Census Block 1 Health And Fitness Magazine 2 Gardener YES Pet YES State Code 34 Report Fraud