The sunk cost fallacy, which describes people's tendency to continue investing in losing propositions because of their prior investments, helps explain why individuals remain in cults even when faced with red flags. Former Jonestown member Laura Johnston Kohl admitted to ignoring warning signs about Jim Jones due to the time and effort she had already dedicated to the cause. "I let him address my priorities, and put blinders on for other things," she said. Even after the tragic ending, Laura continued to seek the sense of community Jonestown had promised. The more someone has sacrificed for a cult, the harder it becomes to acknowledge that their investment was misplaced.
Section: 1, Chapter: 5
