Cult Expert Deconstructs Keith Raniere's Psyche | Rick Alan Ross

Rick Alan Ross is a cult deprogrammer who has been helping people escape cults since 1982. He recently appeared on HBO's "The Vow", which examined NXIVM, a self-help organization-turned-sex cult. Rick has intervened in more than 500 deprogramming cases in various countries. His book is called “Cults Inside Out” which demonstrates many of the tactics the groups use for control and manipulation - and, more importantly, some of the most effective methods he and other experts have used to reverse that programming.

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[aliciaflores]

He could smell vulnerability but not his B.O.

[AlwaysAnonymously]

Just because he's quiet doesn't mean he's not a malignant narcissist.

[katwil]

I don’t know if there is more to this interview, but this was more of a general description of the cult as portrayed in the HBO documentary. It did not get into Raniere’s psyche, at all.

[DominikJuric]

When people are blackmailed and lied to and when trust is betrayed, these are not adult decisions.

[JustMeELC]

One minor correction....
Nancy Salzman was Prefect not precept ;o)

[esval]

Thanks for sharing this interview! I am a big Rick Alan Ross' fan. I'm reading his book but the edition came before the NXIVM scandal and I wanted to see his thoughts on this cult.

[steelcom]

As soon as I saw the motto of the sorority subgroup DOS ("Dominus Obsequious Sororium"), I knew at least one thing. Their leader was no genius. I noticed the midde word wasn't Latin at all, but English. Furthermore there is no "-ious" ending in Latin. Nonetheless it somewhat reads as "Lord of the Compliant (or Obsequious) Sisterhood. But the real translation would be: "Dominus Sodalitatis Obsequentis". If Raniere wanted to keep the acronym he could've written: "Dominus Obsequentis Sodalitatis". In any case Raniere's translation is pure rubbish.

[marekmelsa]

If someone is charismatic is very subjective, for many people was Ranieri unfortunately very charismatic. It´s not about speaking loudly!

[mimithe]

You basically just described every cult leader....deep down they are all the same

[onlyonce]

Would like to know more about his psyche.

[sgtgiggles]

People that are extremely intelligent struggle to connect with people who are less intelligent. They tend to feel frustrated that people around them can’t grasp concepts that they find simple. Reniere had no problem connecting and engaging with the average joe.

[ytugtbk]

Interestingly, his description of Raniere matches exactly today's leadership in the DNC.

[RangerJohnreid]

How did this guy get these ideas about himself? How can you use people and see women as things to abuse, use, lie to….? I’ve read several times that he thought or taught that he is the most smartest man in the world! And women believed him! Could they have been seduced by him? Could they have been in love with who they thought he was?
Why Didn’t it occur to any of these women that this guy wasn’t God? Indeed, his teachings were unlike Christ!

[orangewarm]

10 years old? so he was born like that? i'd like to see what his parents were like. Maybe his mother spoiled him.

[xanthiamcdermott]

They called her prefect pronounced pre fec t

[IaneHowe]

The reality is he had all these people around him who chose to overlook his wrong behavior for what they called the greater good. He didn't invented anything she did had the real ideas and let him take the fame cause she wasn't confident enough. Now they come out and say he is wrong. If you hear anyone saying that mem act the way they do cause women annoy them would react. Or the problem in the world is poverty that cause danger to rich people, not greed would react. Or let me brand you ask collateral, ask forever devotion and obedience would react. Yet these people heard that and applauded him. Sorry I dont feel sorry for u.

[orangewarm]

the psyche wasnt really deconstructed.

[jbt]

What in god's name did all these women see in Keith Raniere? Are humans that gullible? I'd say yes they are from the evidence in this cult.

[iddclasses]

Just one comment. To say that this group was a lot like other groups isn’t a useful description.

[jeffwinkler]

The glare on dudes face is distracting