This aspect of threat and fear kept people within his ranks despite the behavior he was showing them. Their own signed statements gave them a warning that should they leave the Temple, these would haunt them and show the rest of the world what they were really like. He conducted surveillance on their movements, enticed false confessions to crimes they could not have committed in continued tests of loyalty. He began using psychological techniques within his close-knit flock, they would sign blank sheets of paper as confessions where the actual confessions would be added later by Jones. His narcissism was being fed by his public persona, pushing and encouraging his desire for control, subservience, and dominance. Internally a dark side was emerging where a close group around him were witnessing a controlling, dominant and arrogant side of Jim Jones. Narcissistic Behaviour and Lack of Empathy This was very much the public side of the Temple, the giving, supporting and encouraging side which boosted Jones’s ego and his image as a caring individual who simply wishes to help people.
HE PATHOLOGICAL FEAR OF INTERACTION WITH MEN SERIES
Jim JonesĪs Jones expanded his empire across States, he continued his community work with a series of children’s homes, nursing homes for the elderly and supporting children with special needs, all the time raising his profile and increasing his following. In 1960 the Peoples Temple became affiliated with the Christian Church, hence the Disciples of Christ title, increasing his profile further. He became involved in local organisations, supporting community projects and gained more and more popularity. This for Jones was a method of attracting people to his church and primarily an income revenue while he concentrated his efforts on his preaching and increasing his supporters. Slowly his reputation for healing services grew where he claimed he could heal all ailments. He opened his own Community Unity Church, which he later renamed The Peoples Temple and he had spotted healing services around the area, realizing their potential for income and a method to support his ideas. Jim Jones was a Communist and began his experiences within religion in the Pentecostal services in Indiana. The influence he built and held over his followers cannot be underestimated. However such ideals could only be developed separately from the current corrupt and evil world and required its members to live away from such pressures. Classified as a new religious movement, Jim Jones believed that the world could be a better place if its members came together and enticed change. In 1955 he founded the People’s Temple of the Disciples of Christ, a religious movement which grew rapidly expanding across the United States with up to 5000 members by the early 1970’s. He showed an early interest in religion and religious movements. Born in Indiana in 1931, he was an intelligent child who educated himself from an early age on the world’s leaders and influencers. Jim Jones, whose real name was James Warren, was the leader of the People’s Temple. Related: Are Narcissists Dangerous? The 9 Traits of a Narcissistic Personality Jim Jones of Jonestown Jim Jones of Jonestown, David Koresh of the Branch Davidians and Warren Jeffs, the polygamist leader, all showed narcissist traits in abundance and all proved themselves to be very dangerous men. When faced with confrontation and a threat to their empire such leaders will resort to extraordinary lengths to preserve their power and their status. They excel at selecting the vulnerable, expanding their flock with confidence. They also show high levels of manipulation in being able to encourage and entice followers, gaining trust and confidence quickly and effectively. Loyalty is vital, compliance and respect an expectation and disobedience would not be tolerated. In many cult movements, members are required to and often willingly look up to their leader as a God which serves their purposes extremely well. Being able to exert control over others under the label of religion suits a narcissist very well. Being the center of attention and looked up to by a submissive obedient group of people feeds their ego and encourages their dominance.Ĭult leaders are often high up on the narcissistic scale with seven or eight of the identified traits.
Leading a cult can be the perfect role for a narcissist.