How is amway a cult

MLMs hook people with the promise of becoming independent business owners with unlimited earning potential. But for many, getting caught up in an MLM turns out to be a nightmare. Often, it has to do with the cult-like tactics used to recruit and motivate participants.

The comparison between cults and MLMs is not a new one. Douglas M. Brooks, an attorney who specializes in representing victims of pyramid schemes, deceptive MLM programs and business opportunity scams, agreed that Amway is one of the prime examples of how MLMs mirror cults. All of these factors, he said, are consistent with the popular perception of what a cult is. To this day, former distributors continue making the comparison. And Amway is just one of many MLMs that function in this way.

But what is the true definition of a cult? The term might conjure images of men and women dressed in long, hooded robes, chanting together and drinking toxic Kool-Aid in pursuit of enlightenment. And that is an extreme example of what a cult might look like.

According to Hassan, a cult is an organization that exercises undue influence over its members to make them dependent and obedient. Undue influence is defined as persuasion that takes over any free will or judgment; as a legal term, it refers to a person or group taking advantage of their position of power over others.

In cults and other organizations that employ mind control, undue influence is first imposed on victims by showering them with praise and affection and promising a fantasy world or elite status. Behavior Control: This type of control is all about dictating who a person is and what they do. Behavior control can include restricting what types of food a person eats, what they wear, when they sleep and who they are allowed to associate with. Financial exploitation, manipulation or dependence is also often a key component of behavior control.

Individualism is discouraged and groupthink is encouraged. Information Control: To exert undue influence, cults will often withhold or distort information to make it more acceptable or simply flat-out lie. Information control involves using deception, discouraging access to non-cult sources of information, encouraging spying on each other and producing propaganda such as newsletters, YouTube videos, movies and other media.

Often, only positive thoughts are allowed; constructive criticism or questions are immediately shut down. These are just some of the examples of how cults and other mind-controlling organizations employ the BITE model of undue influence.

They likely sound very familiar to current and former MLM participants. One of the reasons MLMs are successful at recruiting new members is because the introduction is made through someone familiar.

Typically, the first pitch you get is from a friend or family member who invites you to a meeting. However, the details of this meeting are purposely kept vague. The key is getting you to that first meeting. MLM members will shower prospective recruits with warm welcomes and excitement, saying how wonderful it is that they came, what an exciting opportunity it is and congratulate them for joining.

The meeting starts when someone high up in the company inevitably gives their rags-to-riches story. They explain how bad things were before, how they were trapped by debt and a dead-end job.

Meeting attendees are encouraged to pursue the same happy ending. Meetings are a big part of the MLM culture. A large amount of pressure is placed on recruits to come to weekly meetings, as well as special events such as product parties and conferences. They pay out of pocket to attend these events. She attended meetings often, as much as once or twice per week. Is this true? A: No, Amway Corporation is a business and, similar to other large and established companies, has a distinct environment defined by shared business goals.

Shared business philosophies should not be misinterpreted as a cult. Amway really is a microcosm of the world, with more than 3 million entrepreneurs worldwide representing nearly every culture, ethnic background, and political and religious belief finding in the Amway business a way to meet their goals. Q: Why do Amway meetings appear to some people like a cult? A: Amway meetings are full of energy, enthusiasm, and excitement - just like most sales motivation meetings - because this is a proven way to motivate people to sell AMWAY[-branded] products and build their businesses by sponsoring others.

Some people aren't accustomed to that. Yet, most successful companies know that enthusiastic meetings increase morale and boost results in any sales force. This enthusiasm motivates our distributors to help and support one another, and that builds sales.

Amway distributors are like most sales people.