Extremist leaders are addicts. Addiction is a powerful force. The addiction to power and/or money can affect the brain much like other types of addiction. The overwhelming desire to feed any form of addiction can eventually lead to a type of psychopathy. In the most dangerous circumstances charismatic leaders, under the influence of their addiction, can make a powerful and potentially deadly discovery. They can discover, and put into action, a set of manipulative tactics that prey on vulnerable segments of society.
Garry Scarff I know Diane Benscoter, personally. While in OSA & keeping tabs on the Oregon affiliate of the Cult Awareness Network, I reported her to the police & got her arrested & jailed. Just another example of my deluded past with the cult.http://holysmoke.org/cos/docs/garry-scarff-deposition2.txt