cultishness
Fanatical group mentality
Cultishness is the quality of resembling or suggesting a cult—intense, insular devotion to a person, idea, or thing.
It implies blind loyalty, groupthink, or zealous behavior that outsiders find unsettling: The cultishness of his followers made rational debate impossible.
The term often carries negative connotations, suggesting manipulation or unhealthy attachment.
Intense emotional intensity
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- zealotryExcessive devotion to beliefs
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
veneration · reverence · dedication · commitment · adherence · steadfastness · loyalty · faithfulness
Exclusive social group
- ingroupExclusive social circle
- insularityNarrow detachment from broader views
- clannishnessExcessive in-group loyalty
- sectarianismPrejudiced loyalty to subgroups
elitism · cabal · isolation · segregation · selectiveness · gatekeeping · unwelcoming · closed-mindedness
Persistent mental attachment
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- infatuationShort-lived intense attraction
- preoccupationAbsorbing mental focus
enthrallment · addiction · monomania · engrossment · absorption · immersion · craving · single-mindedness
Formal event marking occasions
- ritesFormal ceremonial acts
- chantingRhythmic repetitive vocalization
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- liturgyFormal worship structure
vestments · coven · indoctrination · secrecy · symbolism · iconography · mantras · gatherings
Pursuit of sweeping change
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
- intoleranceUnwillingness to accept differences
- fundamentalismStrict adherence to core tenets
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
absolutism · intransigence · uncompromising · ideologue · puritanism · proselytism · coercion · manipulation
fervor
Intense emotional intensity
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- zealotryExcessive devotion to beliefs
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
worship · veneration · reverence · dedication · commitment · adherence · steadfastness · loyalty · faithfulness · ardor
clique
Exclusive social group
- ingroupExclusive social circle
- insularityNarrow detachment from broader views
- clannishnessExcessive in-group loyalty
sectarianism · elitism · cabal · isolation · segregation · selectiveness · gatekeeping · unwelcoming · closed-mindedness · parochialism
fixation
Persistent mental attachment
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- infatuationShort-lived intense attraction
preoccupation · enthrallment · addiction · monomania · engrossment · absorption · immersion · craving · single-mindedness · idolization
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
- ritesFormal ceremonial acts
- chantingRhythmic repetitive vocalization
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
liturgy · vestments · coven · indoctrination · secrecy · symbolism · iconography · mantras · gatherings · practices
radicalism
Pursuit of sweeping change
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
- intoleranceUnwillingness to accept differences
- fundamentalismStrict adherence to core tenets
bigotry · absolutism · intransigence · uncompromising · ideologue · puritanism · proselytism · coercion · manipulation · exploitation
cultishnessskepticism
Disposition toward doubt
critical thinking · freethinking · independent thought · rationality · questioning
cultishnessindividualism
Doctrine of personal independence
nonconformity · pluralism · tolerance · open-mindedness · eclecticism
cultishnessintellectual humility
Awareness of cognitive fallibility
reasonableness · level-headedness · moderation · nuance · epistemic humility
cult, occult, occultism, cults, occultist, cultist, cultism, cultish, cultlike