Additionally, the apocalypse itself often denotes violent times and therefore the group may feel that defense is essential. Further, when everything is interpreted as either good or bad, groups may give great importance to relatively small events in an effort to demonize their enemies. Finally, a serious expectation of the apocalypse can blind judgement. Intense commitment to a charismatic leadership is another feature that may be associated with the tendency for a group to slip over the edge and become involved in violence. Let us be clear that charismatic leadership is a normal and present in almost all kinds of organizations.
Charismatic leaders motivate their follows to act on faith, trust and commitment.
Intense investment with the charismatic leader, in an environment that tolerates no questioning of the authority or ideas of the leader, is the kind of environment that may be conducive to violence somewhere down the line. Social encapsulation is the final feature. By creating social and physical boundaries which separates the group from the outside, the group loses negative feedback, or even a sense of perspective of how they are viewed by outsiders. The Branch Davidians lived in a complex outside of Waco and were, for the most part, isolated from outside influence. The Heaven's Gate group was quasi-nomadic for two decades, experiencing very little contact with the outside world.