The reasons why a person joins a NRM (cult)

The reasons behind the joining of a new religious movement or NRM are often numerous. It is thought by many that new recruits are gullible, idealistic individuals who are fooled by a conniving cult member. While this may be the case some of the time it should also be pointed out that there is this underlying assertion that everyone can be susceptible to these "masters" of trickery. There are many theories as to why one joins a new religious movement and do they do so freely. Theories such as the relative-deprivation theory and the Lofland-Stark model of conversion will be reviewed and di…