Guidance Offered for Engaging with Relatives Holding Extreme Political Views
Experts in cult recovery and high-control groups are providing strategies for individuals to navigate conversations with relatives who hold extreme political views, such as those associated with the MAGA movement. Steven Hassan, Ph.D., founder and director of Freedom of Mind Resource Center and author of 'The Cult of Trump,' advises remembering the person before their current beliefs and approaching them with warmth and curiosity. He suggests asking open-ended questions like 'Tell me more about why you believe this to be true?' or 'Where did you get this information from?' and then actively listening and mirroring their responses to build rapport. Daniella Mestyanek Young, a cult survivor and author of 'Uncultured,' emphasizes that many individuals are ensnared by manipulative belief systems due to loneliness, fear, or a need for significance, rather than intentionally choosing misinformation. She recommends gentle rebuttals, such as stating that information has been debunked or comes from known disinforma... 
