@wundayatta Thanks, but what that tells me is that this is a ripe field for some psychologist to explore. The racks are replete with books on the havoc they wreak once they have decided to form a cult, or slipped into it because it simply fit their character. But there is little out there on what turns them into the type to begin with.
@Crashsequence2012 Ha! Too funny. But before I invest in your materials, I’m going to need to see the Dacha your earnings have built. It better compare favorably with the $1 billion one that the Ruskie Machismo Cult has allowed Vladimir Putin to build for himself. Otherwise, no sale. :-)
@Coloma You might want to listen to Diane Benscoter’s TED talk and consider what she points to in memetics before settling on that conclusion.
@Jeruba Thanks for all those excellent references. I will explore each. I may or may not read them through. But even ones that don’t cover the area I am researching may lead me to references that help.
@YARNLADY Interesting comment. Jim Jones was a car salesman before becoming a false messiah.
@Pied_Pfeffer Thank you. That is extremely helpful.
@Ron_C No, I am looking to write about someone who does. It’s a promise I made my daughter shortly before she died. I can’t say more than that about it now, but will do so in the foreword to the book.
@Coloma Ha! My wife thinks I worship my beloved Spoony THE Cat.
@Dutchess_III Hum. I wonder if abuse as a child is a common thread.
@Pandora Great point. Researching what leads to narcissistic personality disorder might take me right where I want to study. Personally, as rotten as all we human beings are, I think anyone extremely narcissistic is way more than a wee bit crazy.
@Nullo Is that right? Any way I can document that?