a closed system whose followers have been unethically and deceptively recruited through the use of manipulative techniques of thought reform or mind control

a group of people under the control of an authoritarian leader who uses deception and psychological manipulation to enhance his/her power, wealth or vanity

a group (often called cult) with strange beliefs (especially religious ones) and which exploits or destroys its own members or others

a group that deliberately uses deception, manipulation and psychological abuse to control the thoughts and actions of its members as opposed to a group that acts morally and ethically

an authoritarian regime, which uses deception when recruiting as well as mind-control techniques to make a person dependent and obedient, he said

a pyramid-shaped authoritarian regime with a person or group of people that have dictatorial control

The term "destructive cult" (sometimes called doomsday cult) is sometimes used to refer to that small number of religious groups that have intentionally killed people, either the group members themselves or others outside of the group.