Recovery from Cults (book)
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 Book Cover |
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| Author | Michael Langone, editor |
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| Cover artist | Justine Burkat Trubey, book design |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject(s) | cults |
| Genre(s) | non-fiction |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company |
| Released | June 1995 |
| Pages | 432 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-393-31321-2 |
Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse a 1995 book edited by Michael Langone, director of the International Cultic Studies Association (formerly the American Family Foundation), published by W. W. Norton & Company, treats the theories of mind control as related to cults.
The book has 22 contributors including Ph.D.’s, therapists, and pastors. Designed as a reference for individuals seeking help post New Religious Movements/Cults/Sects experiences,[1] it contains a section for families. It also provides advice for psychotherapists, and covers a wide array of topics.
Contents |
[edit] Reviews
- British Medical Journal
Tim Jerram writes in the British Medical Journal that: "The book advises those rescued from the new style cults to seek "exit counselling," which seems to be mainly standard counselling and psychotherapy allied to specific knowledge about cults. Psychological and frank psychiatric problems are readily acknowledged, but there is little analysis of the actual effectiveness of the method, and it is admitted that there seems to be little difference in outcome between those who leave cults ("walkaways") and those ejected by them ("castaways") [2]
He goes on to state that "the general tone" of the work is reflected by frequent mention of the phrase "loved one" to describe those close friends and family members who have joined cults, but little actual analysis of what types of individuals are prone to join cults; and/or the cult leaders themselves[2]. Jerram also stated that though it is hard to define a cult specifically, "a useful concept is that the beliefs of the cult are irrelevant: although cults are most often religious, they can also have political, psychotherapeutic, or New Age beliefs". He went on to state that the crucial issue is that "it is their actions which define them." Jerram iterates that most often the motivations of a cult are either to advance the cult leader or leadership's objectives or financial gain; but can often also be sexual and/or criminal in nature[2].
- Cultic Studies Journal
Writing in the Cultic Studies Journal, Arthur A. Dole, Ph.D. stated that "The book includes informative sections on understanding mind control, experiences of leaving cults, guidelines for facilitating recovery, and special issues such as child abuse and teen Satanism."[3] He specified that the book grew out of study groups through the American Family Foundation[3]. Commenting on current psychological theory and practice, he stated: "cult behaviors can be better understood in terms of current theory and research in social psychology, clinical psychology, and psychiatry. Thus destructive groups misuse social persuasion and are often led by sociopaths."[3].
Dr. Dole's main concern with the work was that it was not expansive enough. Among other necessary topics that could be discussed in another volume included: successful prevention programs; case histories of ex-cult members years after the experience; cults in court—wins and losses and their consequences; how to respond to the violent and suicidal group; illustrations (from tape recordings) of the distinctive processes of exit consultation; rehabilitation and psychotherapy; how to choose an effective helper; how highly visible destructive groups manipulate celebrities, academics, big business, the church, and the military; and ethical principles for helpers."[3].
[edit] Contributors
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[edit] Quotes from the book
- Different from new religions
Cults differ from "new religions" ... in that cults make extensive use of unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control to advance the leader's goals.[4].
- Different from authoritarian groups
Cults differ from merely authoritarian groups, such as boot camp or certain monastic orders, in that the latter are explicit about their goals, are contractual rather than seductive, and usually are accountable to authorities outside the group[4].
- Paul R. Martin
Paul R. Martin Ph. D., the director of the American recovery center for ex-cultists Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center in Ohio, wrote in Chapter 10 of Recovery from Cults, "Post-Cult Recovery: Assessment Rehabilitation":
"In attempting to understand what has happened to the ex-cultist, it is often helpful to employ the victim, or trauma, model. According to this model, victimization and the resultant distress are due to the shattering of three basic assumptions held about the world and the self. These assumptions are: "the belief in personal invulnerability, the perception of the world as meaningful, and the perception of oneself as positive" (Janoff-Bulma, 1985, p. 15). The ex-cultist has been traumatized, deceived, conned, used and often emotionally, physically, sexually, and mentally abused while serving the group and/or the leader. Like other trauma victims (for example, of criminal acts, rape, and serious illness), former cultists often reexperience the painful memories of their group involvement. They also lose interest in the outside world, feel detached from society, and may show limited emotions (Janoff-Bulman, 1985, pp.16,17)."[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Recovery from Cults, XBK info: A guide to life after leaving the Brahma Kumaris, 2006
- ^ a b c Review, Tim Jerram, British Medical Journal 1994;308:1175 (30 April)
- ^ a b c d Review, Arthur A. Dole, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2, 1993
- ^ a b Introduction, Page 5 Available online, from Google books
- ^ Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse, Michael Langone, editor ISBN 0-393-31321-2 , Ch. 10.
[edit] External links
- Recovery from Cults, at publisher's site, W. W. Norton.
- Excerpted chapters, at Cultic Studies Review site.
- Available online, through Google books, Pages displayed by permission, W. W. Norton & Company
- Reviews
- Review, Arthur A. Dole, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2, 1993
- Review, Tim Jerram, British Medical Journal 1994;308:1175 (30 April)
- Review, by John A. Saliba, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Vol. 34, No. 4 (Dec., 1995), pp. 531-532 doi:10.2307/1387351. (requires subscription)
