This paper deals with violent denouements that occur in certain religious cultic groups. Using a psychoanalytic perspective, complex group phenomena are studied and illustrated with case studies. Amongst these phenomena, a particular group process, designated as a group process of idealization, is seen to fuel impasses within the group as well as with society, bringing these cultic groups to resort to violence to deal with the strain of such deadlocks. Many psychological phenomena, such as splitting, projection and idealization are analysed and illustrated as they relate to the use of violence in the setting of particular group dynamics. The search for absolutes, a refusal of temporality as well as the constant battle against the contingencies of human and social realities specify certain cultic groups that resort to violence. These elements are viewed as results of powerful groups processes rather than the starting point of violent denouements.