-Claim a monopoly of truth, intolerant, only members have access to the religious path that offers salvation, often involves removal from normal life and family, members are recruited through self-selection, family tradition or voluntary
-World rejecting, in opposition, reject wider society and dominant norms and values, replace with their own
Increase in membership as a result of globalisation for some like ISIS. Moonies ( a NRM) also benefitted initially by spread of message, but also had an impact due to media spreading message about brainwash
-some sects have even able to have an impact e.g. Taliban set up most extreme form of religious regime ever witnessed, based on extremely harsh interpretation if the Koran
-sects have traditionally recruited from the most disadvantaged members of society, as they are more likely to give up life. Also gives deprived a way of coping. However, the appeal ex[anded to the relatively deprived mc in the 70s who sought to compensate for lack of spiritual life