There always has been and likely will be a percentage of the population that WANTS to feel like a victim. Of these, there is a smaller population that WANTS to be dominated, push around, perhaps even slapped around and humiliated.
There are also people who just have a need to be different. They adopt dress and behaviors that mark them out from the majority in order to feel superior or above it all or perhaps it is an attempt to legitimize their own feelings of isolation.
Others seem to crave some sort of legalistic coercion. They may see it as *structure*. And it may just give them a context in which to fight off innate anti-social compunctions.
It can be any cult, within or apart from a major religious
group.
Very good points.