Cults in the Classroom: Tools to Spark Curiosity in Psychology

Sage College Publishing Podcast

Summary

What makes cults so fascinating, and how can they become a powerful tool for teaching psychology? Dr. Wind Goodfriend, social psychologist and Sage author, provides the complete toolkit for a class where the psychology of cults becomes a catalyst for sparking curiosity, critical thinking, and active engagement among students.

This episode dives into how cults, with their gripping narratives and psychological intricacies, can be used to explore everything from social influence to cognitive dissonance. Wind shares insights from her popular course "The Psychology of Cults," offering a roadmap for educators to teach about the psychology of persuasion, brainwashing, and human behavior in ways that resonate deeply with students.

What We Talk About

Here’s what’s covered in the episode:

• Using Cults as a Teaching Tool: Creative ways to incorporate cult studies into lessons, whether for a single class or an entire semester.
• Fostering Critical Thinking: How controversial and complex topics like cults challenge students to engage with the nuances, question assumptions, and build their analytical skills.
• Exploring Real-World Applications: Stories and case studies on infamous cults that connect psychological theories to real-life scenarios.
• Creating Engaged Classrooms: How psychology instructors can make learning more relatable and memorable, encouraging lifelong curiosity.

Wind also shares activities, assignments, and resources she uses to engage students while guiding them to understand psychological manipulation tactics and how to apply those lessons beyond the classroom.

About the Author

Dr. Wind Goodfriend is a Professor of Experimental Psychology and Assistant Dean for Liberal Arts at Buena Vista University, where she has been a dedicated educator for 19 years. Known for her impactful teaching, she has been named Faculty of the Year three times and earned the prestigious Wythe Award for Excellence in Teaching. Her research focuses on combating relationship violence, sexism, and homophobia.

An accomplished author, Wind’s latest textbook, Psychology and Our Curious World, published by Sage, adds to her portfolio of 12 books, dozens of journal articles, and contributions to psychology in pop culture. She also created and appeared in The Great Courses docuseries on cult manipulation. A passionate mentor, her work continues to inspire students and enrich psychology education.

You can email Wind at [e-mail].