Recruitment Techniques
Manson did not have many rules to follow to be allowed in his Family. Everyone had to be willing to do whatever it took to please him and they had to share similar beliefs and back stories. The women had to be attractive or else he would find other uses for them. The members were often runaways off of the street and this is were he 'collected' them.
Characteristics of Cult Members
All of the cult members had similar backgrounds. They all needed somewhere to be accepted and have love because they all came from broken homes and troubled pasts. All of the members had drug problems with most of the murders happening under a use of drugs. The members were all very gullible and had a low tolerance for uncertainly as they didn't ask questions and went along with whatever Manson said to them without thinking it over or understanding it properly. He was a father figure to many of his followers and they lived the same type of life that he did with promises of happiness and love. These people were often run aways and had low self-esteem. These people were all happy to be there as when they weren't off on murderous rampages, they would all be together in a very hippie lifestyle.