title: Death in Jonestown: techniques of political control by a paranoid leader.
abstract: Jim Jones and Jonestown are discussed from a "political control" point of view. Seven basic techniques of political control are identified: Control of property and income, weakening of family ties, a sociopolitical caste system, control of egression (escape), control of verbal expression, cognitive control and emotional control. Jonestown is identified as a mini-totalitarian state ruled by a delusional and paranoid person.
mesh_terms: D005197:Famous Persons; D006172:Guyana; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008399:Mass Behavior; D010258:Paranoid Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012933:Social Identification; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology