The average cult uses a combination of the majority of the above described techniques, which result in a potential recruit being broken down physically and mentally and made highly vulnerable to suggestion. After snapping, the subject is left in a state of hyper suggestibility where the critical ability is severely impaired. Simultaneously there is usually a sudden personality change, a change for the worse. It is this change of personality and the relative inability of the subject to critically evaluate, that provokes family and friends of the average victim to react. Unless they are given some guidance in how to cope, the cult member will rapidly become more and more alienated from them.
Society needs to become aware of how everyone is vulnerable to manipulation.
People need to be educated about mind control techniques, so they can recognise and leave an environment where psychological coercion exists, before becoming a victim. Society needs to become aware that there is a lot of good material on cults to be found in the media. It is useful for updating one's information. More mental health professionals need to be trained to help cult victims. Hopefully some of the popular misconceptions have been overcome in this article.