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What is Bounded Choice?
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What is Bounded Choice?
The Concept of Bounded Choice
Dr. Lalich’s original and groundbreaking theory of “bounded choice” was the culmination of her doctoral research, which was a comparative study of two seemingly very different cults: Heaven’s Gate (awaiting pickup by a UFO to their true home, the Level Above Human) and the Democratic Workers Party, a radical leftist cult whose goal was to change this world through social revolution.
The bounded choice framework highlights four interlocking features present in cults: charismatic authority, transcendent belief system, systems of control, and systems of influence. It explains how normal, intelligent people can give up years of their lives – and sometimes their very lives – to exploitative leaders and extreme ideologies that appear bizarre or unrealistic, at best.
Dr. Lalich’s work illuminates how, through abuse of power and well-known indoctrination methods, members are led into a state of “bounded choice,” in which they make seemingly irrational decisions in a context that makes perfect sense to them and is, in fact, consistent with their highest aspirations. Unfortunately, they are succumbing to the illusion of choice.
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Created by Andrew Pledger
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![](https://framerusercontent.com/images/gn9CMNFyuaJr5w7zC4NA8SFK3M.png)
Dr. Lalich’s original and groundbreaking theory of “bounded choice” was the culmination of her doctoral research, which was a comparative study of two seemingly very different cults: Heaven’s Gate (awaiting pickup by a UFO to their true home, the Level Above Human) and the Democratic Workers Party, a radical leftist cult whose goal was to change this world through social revolution.
The bounded choice framework highlights four interlocking features present in cults: charismatic authority, transcendent belief system, systems of control, and systems of influence. It explains how normal, intelligent people can give up years of their lives – and sometimes their very lives – to exploitative leaders and extreme ideologies that appear bizarre or unrealistic, at best.
Dr. Lalich’s work illuminates how, through abuse of power and well-known indoctrination methods, members are led into a state of “bounded choice,” in which they make seemingly irrational decisions in a context that makes perfect sense to them and is, in fact, consistent with their highest aspirations. Unfortunately, they are succumbing to the illusion of choice.
![](https://framerusercontent.com/images/9SUrPEJByjK4qW8QKLK5YD0EzI.png)
Created by Andrew Pledger
Other Resources
![Bounded Choice Framework](https://framerusercontent.com/images/1cnovanxJIb7x2OI6DiJPSX1v4.png)
![Four Dimensions of Bounded Choice](https://framerusercontent.com/images/N03oUATsc1YpCEzpEh8UQSEKM8s.png)
![](https://framerusercontent.com/images/Ajh4Vcs3VUTcAQMgCRhuAW1bVo.jpg)
Created by Andrew Pledger
Other Resources
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What is a Cult?
Video & Article
![](https://framerusercontent.com/images/SrIslB5Q4DnZoGqBEsJqGz0WXc.png)
Common Indoctrination Techniques
Article
![](https://framerusercontent.com/images/IKttBvB5IWHVNtFVRVHYSt3goKM.png)
Characteristics of a Cult Leader
Documentary
![](https://framerusercontent.com/images/STZRT7BZlBMYCkJhtVDPl4IcY8.png)
![](https://framerusercontent.com/images/STZRT7BZlBMYCkJhtVDPl4IcY8.png)
The Concept of Bounded Choice
Dr. Lalich’s original and groundbreaking theory of “bounded choice” was the culmination of her doctoral research, which was a comparative study of two seemingly very different cults: Heaven’s Gate (awaiting pickup by a UFO to their true home, the Level Above Human) and the Democratic Workers Party, a radical leftist cult whose goal was to change this world through social revolution.
The bounded choice framework highlights four interlocking features present in cults: charismatic authority, transcendent belief system, systems of control, and systems of influence. It explains how normal, intelligent people can give up years of their lives – and sometimes their very lives – to exploitative leaders and extreme ideologies that appear bizarre or unrealistic, at best.
Dr. Lalich’s work illuminates how, through abuse of power and well-known indoctrination methods, members are led into a state of “bounded choice,” in which they make seemingly irrational decisions in a context that makes perfect sense to them and is, in fact, consistent with their highest aspirations. Unfortunately, they are succumbing to the illusion of choice.
Read More
![Bounded Choice Framework](https://framerusercontent.com/images/1cnovanxJIb7x2OI6DiJPSX1v4.png)
![Bounded Choice Framework](https://framerusercontent.com/images/1cnovanxJIb7x2OI6DiJPSX1v4.png)
![Four Dimensions of Bounded Choice](https://framerusercontent.com/images/N03oUATsc1YpCEzpEh8UQSEKM8s.png)
![Four Dimensions of Bounded Choice](https://framerusercontent.com/images/N03oUATsc1YpCEzpEh8UQSEKM8s.png)