Self Quiz
A group starts with two people. And two individuals can find themselves embroiled in many of the same fundamental destructive group dynamics that large organizations fall prey to.
Are you "UNDER THE INFLUENCE" of a destructive group or belief system?
Find out with this SELF QUIZ:
1. Does your group discourage doubts, criticism or ideas that differ from their belief system? 
Yes____No___
2. Do you tend to rationalize whatever the group does even when it goes against your sense of right and wrong? 
Yes____No___
3. Do you often feel exhausted from lengthy group activities, meetings and projects?
Yes____No___
4. Does your group have its own unique words, cliches, slogans, chants, prayers and doctrinal phrases that reinforce the group viewpoint?
Yes____No___
5. Are doubts viewed as a lack of faith, dedication, commitment or disloyalty?
Yes____No___
6. Have "your thoughts" become "the enemy?" 
Yes____No___
7. Do you often find yourself doing more and more things in the group or because of group peer pressure that you would not have done on your own? 
Yes____No___
8. Does your group publicly humiliate or criticize members? 
Yes____No___
9. Does your group have a system of punishments and rewards for behavior? 
Yes____No___
10. Group paranoia: Does your group obsessively think other groups or people with different beliefs are out to get them?
Yes____No___
11. Does the prospect of leaving your group seem scary, difficult?
Yes____No___
12. Do you feel the need to leave in secret?
Yes____No___
13. Have you been told something bad might happen if you leave?
Yes____No___
14. Does your group/belief system think they have/are the only or highest truth, or have the solution for the world’s problems? 
Yes____No___
15. Are your leader’s ideas or belief system considered beyond reproach or sacred? 
Yes____No___
16. Do you follow a particular individual or belief system that requires unquestioning obedience and loyalty?   
Yes____No___
17. Do members of your group feel specially chosen, superior, exclusive, elite? 
Yes____No___
18. Do you feel the need to save or convert others to your belief system or ideology? 
Yes____No___
19. Is your group secretive to outsiders about its inner workings, teachings, activities or beliefs?
Yes____No___
20. Does your group equate purity and goodness to being in your group, and impurity or evil to those outside your group? 
Yes____No___
21. Do you place your group’s mission or agenda above your own goals and ideals? Do group interests come before your own interest 
Yes____No___
22. Do you find yourself thinking in a we-they, us-versus-them mind set? 
Yes____No___
23. Does your group/system have a clear outside enemy? 
Yes____No___
24. Do you see less and less of your family and friends who do not belong to your group or who do not subscribe to your group’s belief system? 
Yes____No___
25. Does your group use frequent public testimonials, confessions, or sharings that reinforce the group’s mission or agenda? 
Yes____No___
26. Is communication within, into and out of your group controlled or censored in any manner? 
Yes____No___
27. Does your group criticize, shun, abandon or demean individuals who leave the group? 
Yes____No___
28. Do members seek approval or get permission from group leader(s) for personal life choices? 
Yes____No___
29. Do you feel pressured to attend meetings, events, lectures, seminars? And do you feel guilty if you don’t attend? 
Yes____No___
30. Do you feel pressured to give a portion of your income to the group, or spend money on courses, books or special projects? 
Yes____No___
31. Are the group’s financial needs more important than your own economic well-being? 
Yes____No___
32. Does your group discriminate against anyone regarding race, gender, belief, or sexual orientation? 
Yes____No___
33. Does your group have a totalitarian structure: a strict, top-down centralized control? 
Yes____No___
34. Do you wonder if you have been in a destructive group? 
Yes____No___
35. Do you have difficulty forming new friendships and intimate relationships?  
Yes____No___
36. Do you have low self-esteem, poor self-image or loss of identity?  
Yes____No___
37. Do you have difficulty making simple decisions and choices?  
Yes____No___
38. Do you often feel depressed, anxious and nervous?  
Yes____No___
39. Do you feel isolated, lonely, guilty, cynical?  
Yes____No___
40. Do you feel like you are just now growing up, becoming a mature adult?  
Yes____No___
41. Do you have short-term memory difficulties?  
Yes____No___
42. Do you feel you have nothing to believe in?  
Yes____No___
43. Do you often feel anger and rage towards the group?  
Yes____No___
44. Do you have nightmares or unpleasant dreams?  
Yes____No___
45. Do you find it difficult or impossible to stop mental or other group ritualistic practices?  
Yes____No___

This quiz has no scientifically predetermined number of "yes" answers to indicate a distructive group. However, answering "yes" to any of the above questions means you may need to examine your group and its influence in your life in those areas.

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