Charles Manson Research Paper

Words: 1327
Pages: 6

Kae Naphen April 25, 2024 ANTH 4 High Demand Group The Manson Family The sensationalism behind the Manson Family murders makes it easy to view the cult fanaticism in a narrow mindset that in turn hails Charles Manson as exactly what he believes he is, a mastermind. However, if we look at the circumstances surrounding his rise in socialite circles in the 60s, the political turmoil of the time, and the way he was able to manipulate and entice his followers, he turns out to be an entirely predictable cult leader. High demand groups thrive off obedience and control. This is born from trusting the leader, in this case Manson, implicitly and believing all outside influence to be uninitiated and an attempt to sway you from the correct path. Manson found himself as the messiah for the rich socialites who were too ashamed to admit …show more content…
Charles Manson was as a child nothing special, and rather completely forgettable. He was a foster child who had an unstable home life as he bounced from family member to family member and was in and out of jail before finding his place in Berkeley, California. Specifically, he found his place as a mentor to young women who were willing to follow him to Hollywood as he attempted a music career (Serratore). Here is where he laid down the foundations for his group. He was close enough to many influential Hollywood stars and executives that allowed him access to more impressionable young people who were looking for not just the spotlight but access to the elite. Manson’s charismatic personality, “lax social codes of the late 1960s, in which runaway hippies mingled freely with Hollywood royalty,” and his ability to tell people exactly what they wanted to hear is what primed him to take on the role as this prophet figure. He became close with the Beach Boys drummer, Dennis Wilson, and through him grew his web of