A nonreligious cult called Free People becomes more popular among youth. It focuses on working with individuals aged 18-21 years, all genders, and belonging mainly to poor or low-income communities with problems in families. The cult promotes the idea of freedom, which can be achieved by refusing all burdens of modern life. It can be done by altering conscience with the help of drugs that are distributed during meetings. The final goal of the cult is the achievement of total freedom by leaving families and living with other members of the group, and using drugs most of the time.
The popularity of the cult can be explained by the correct choice of the target audience. Young people aged 18-21 often have problems in families because of the changes in their mentalities peculiar to their age. Additionally, they can be easily persuaded to join a certain movement as they have a strong need to feel belonging and important (Ferentz, 2014). Finally, children from poor and low-income families are at the group risk for acquiring dependence because of their desire to disregard existing problems, which means that they can be easily persuaded to engage in self-destructing activities.
Considering the nature of the cult, positive behavior change can be attained in several ways. First, it is vital to work with families to solve problems between members and demonstrate to young people that they are loved and needed (Ferentz, 2014). Second, they should be provided with an opportunity to socialize either by entering some educational establishments or by finding a job that will improve their financial state and help to resolve the majority of problems (Ferentz, 2014). Finally, cognitive behavioral therapy can be viewed as a potent tool to reconsider their attitudes to the cult and their participation in it.
Reference
Ferentz, L. (2014). Letting go of self-destructive behaviors. Routledge.