0 — Safe Group

 

Generally characterised by respect for individual autonomy, transparency, and freedom of thought. Members can question ideas, disagree with leaders, and make independent decisions without manipulation, punishment, or pressure. Information is shared openly, and members aren't expected to surrender excessive control over their personal lives, relationships, finances, or decision-making. Leadership may be influential but is subject to reasonable boundaries and accountability. Leaving is ordinarily possible without intimidation, retaliation, or significant loss of relationships and support.

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Key characteristics: respect for autonomy and boundaries; transparency about leadership, beliefs, finances, and practices; freedom to question and disagree; healthy relationships inside and outside the group; appropriate accountability for leaders; no expectation of unquestioning obedience; freedom to leave without punishment.

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Overall: no meaningful pattern of coercive or high-control behaviour.

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1 — Benign Group

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May display one or two mild cult-like characteristics, but these are limited in scope and don't create a meaningful risk of harm. The group remains broadly respectful of autonomy; members are generally free to question, disagree, and decide independently. Some aspects of the culture may feel insular, charismatic, or strongly ideological, but this doesn't substantially interfere with members' lives or wellbeing.

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Overall: mild cult-like characteristics may be present, but the group is generally safe and nonthreatening.

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2 — Mostly Benign Group

 

Displays several minor cult-associated characteristics that generally remain limited and aren't, in themselves, significantly harmful. There may be stronger expectations around conformity, loyalty, leadership, or participation, and members may feel some pressure to adopt group norms — but they generally retain meaningful autonomy. Worth observing if characteristics become more pronounced, especially in how members who question or leave are treated.

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Overall: some cult-like characteristics evident, but overall risk of significant harm remains relatively low.

 

 

 

 

 

3 — Verge of Cultish

 

Remains generally safe, but a number of high-control characteristics have become noticeable — unusually tight-knit, strongly ideological, or centred on influential leaders, with stronger-than-normal expectations of loyalty, conformity, or participation. These don't necessarily cause harm yet, but may create conditions where coercive practices could develop. Particular attention should be paid to how the group responds to dissent, criticism, boundaries, and departures.

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Overall: approaching the threshold where cult-like characteristics become significant enough to warrant closer scrutiny.​

 

 

 

 

 

4 — A Bit Cultish

 

Cult-like characteristics are clearly noticeable: excessive loyalty, conformity, information control, charismatic authority, social pressure, or discouragement of outside influences. These may feel uncomfortable or restrictive, particularly for members who question the group. They aren't necessarily pervasive or severe enough to be consistently harmful for most members, but some individuals — especially the more vulnerable or deeply involved — may experience real negative effects. This can be an important warning point: the group may function acceptably for some while causing meaningful harm to others.

 

Overall: cult-like dynamics are apparent and warrant concern, even where significant harm isn't widespread.

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5 — Cultish

 

Cult-like behaviours are pronounced and form an established pattern. Members may face increasing pressure to conform, obey leadership, adopt prescribed beliefs, or prioritise the group over outside relationships and responsibilities. Information may be selectively controlled, criticism discouraged, and dissent framed as disloyalty or personal failure, making it harder to maintain independent perspectives or outside relationships. The likelihood of exploitation and harm rises substantially here.

 

Overall: the group has moved beyond isolated characteristics into a recognisable pattern of high-control behaviour with increased potential for exploitation and harm.

 

 

 

 

 

6 — Cult

 

Practices and beliefs create a substantial risk of exploitation and harm. Control may extend across relationships, family, finances, employment, education, sexuality, appearance, personal beliefs, access to information, or contact with outsiders. Members may face significant psychological or social pressure to comply, and leaving can become difficult due to fear, dependency, loss of relationships, threats, shame, isolation, or practical consequences. Harm may affect physical, psychological, emotional, social, or financial wellbeing.

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Overall: substantial high-control dynamics with a significant risk of harm to members.

 

 

 

 

 

7 — Significantly Harmful Cult

 

Harm is widespread and a significant feature of members' experiences. Practices may substantially interfere with autonomy, relationships, education, employment, finances, health, or future opportunities. Control and exploitation become systematic rather than incidental, and members may be encouraged or compelled to sacrifice important parts of their lives for the group, its leaders, or its ideology. Questioning, resisting, or leaving can bring rejection, intimidation, loss of family relationships, financial hardship, or other retaliation — effects that may persist long after leaving.

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Overall: causes significant harm to many members, with pronounced consequences for their lives and futures.

 

 

 

 

 

8 — Likely Destructive Cult

 

Behaviours, ideology, and systems of control are explicitly harmful. Coercion and exploitation may be deeply embedded in the group's culture and leadership structures, with significant restrictions on autonomy, relationships, access to information, finances, or independent decision-making. The group may normalise conduct that would ordinarily be recognised as abusive or seriously harmful. Consequences can include severe psychological distress, family separation, financial devastation, and major disruption to education or employment.

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Overall: highly damaging structure and practices, with significant harm a predictable consequence of participation for many members.

 

 

 

 

 

9 — Highly Destructive Cult

 

Practices are profoundly damaging and represent a severe threat to autonomy, safety, and physical wellbeing. Control may be pervasive, touching virtually every aspect of members' lives, with severe psychological manipulation, isolation, exploitation, intimidation, or abuse. Members may have very limited ability to question leadership, access independent information, maintain outside relationships, or leave safely. The group may tolerate, encourage, or directly perpetrate practices placing members at serious risk of harm. Leaving may require substantial external assistance.

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Overall: represents a severe threat to the safety, autonomy, and wellbeing of members.

 

 

 

 

 

10 — Extremely Destructive Cult

 

The most extreme end of the scale: severe and pervasive systems of coercion, manipulation, exploitation, and control. Members' autonomy may be almost completely undermined, with extensive control over relationships, information, finances, movement, health, sexuality, family life, and personal decision-making. Extreme psychological, emotional, physical, or financial harm may occur, sometimes normalised or explicitly justified by the group's ideology. Members may face extreme difficulty leaving and serious risk if they attempt to resist, escape, or expose the group. In the most extreme circumstances, practices may create a credible risk of serious injury or death — through violence, dangerous practices, deprivation of basic needs, medical neglect, suicide-related dynamics, or other life-threatening conditions.

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Overall: the extreme end of destructive high-control behaviour, where participation can pose an exceptional threat to a person's autonomy, safety, wellbeing, and life.

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