High-control groups, commonly referred to as cults, are typically defined by their methods of authority and control over a group of people with a common belief system. Research in psychology and sociology identifies recurring characteristics of cults, such as charismatic leaders, gradual isolation from external relationships, regulation of members’ daily behavior, and the use of guilt, fear, or public humiliation to enforce loyalty.

Historical examples include the Peoples Temple under Jim Jones, which initially attracted followers through promises of social justice, protection, and care within a community. He became a prominent figure in the 1960s, as he “curried favor with public officials and the media” by donating “to numerous charitable causes,” while focusing on “social equality and racial justice” for his followers (“Jonestown.” History, 27 Feb. 2025). He became increasingly controlling of his followers, forcing them to give their money and belongings directly to him while isolating them from the public. After moving to Jonestown in Guyana, he facilitated the death by suicide of himself and 900 of his followers with promises of salvation. 

Similarly, NXIVM, led by Keith Raniere, presented itself as a self-improvement organization before employing coercive tactics, financial exploitation, and psychological abuse in the 1990s and early 2000s. Initially touted as a path to financial freedom for its members, the New York Times ran an exposé in October 2017 that revealed a cult-like devotion to Raniere and layers of female enslavement (Meier, Barry. “Inside a Secretive Group Where Women Are Branded.” The New York Times, 17 Oct. 2017). Over the course of the investigation, “several women who were in the group […stated that] Nxivm consisted of distinct circles, each led by a ‘master’ who would control a number of [women]. The name of the organization was later revealed to be called Dominus Obsequious Sororium, which loosely translates from Latin to ‘lord over the obedient female companions’” (McLaughlin, Kelly, and Nicole Einbinder. “NXIVM Timeline: Keith Raniere Trial, Conviction, and Collapse.” Business Insider, 8 Sep. 2021).

These groups and others like them throughout history recruit individuals who are in periods of transition or vulnerability. The groups are rooted in the appeal of community and self-help while increasingly isolating their followers and warping their view of the world. Control is primarily psychological rather than physical. Leaders establish authority by positioning themselves as uniquely knowledgeable or enlightened, discouraging trust in outside institutions, and controlling access to information. Practices such as food restriction, sleep deprivation, and enforced confessions are commonly documented strategies used to weaken resistance and deepen dependency.

In The Scammer, Devonte’s role within the dorm community reflects these established patterns of coercive control. His influence develops gradually, beginning with emotional support and shared ideology before expanding into control over food, movement, relationships, and personal identity. The group’s increasing isolation from family, campus authorities, and peers parallels real-world cases in which loyalty to a leader replaces external accountability. Through Jordyn’s first-person perspective, the narrative illustrates the draw of Devonte’s group and its promises of community and freedom from oppression. As his actions become increasingly harmful, she repeatedly ignores them, instead dismissing them as a byproduct of his alluring promises. Her character reflects the mentality typical in cult followings, forcing an internal conflict over her desire to belong and her sense of self-preservation.