70 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 9, 2018
Born and Raised in a [Sect]: You Are Not Alone
By Lois Kendall
Reviewed by Gillie Jenkinson
Progression Publishing/Lois Kendall, PhD.
2016. ISBN-10: 0995556202 ISBN-13: 978-
0995556201 (paperback). 472 pages. $17.99
(Amazon.com).
It is now well established in the clinical and
research literature that, to recover, former cult
members need to understand their experience.
Born and Raised in a [Sect]… gives a
comprehensive overview of theories that are
pertinent to second-generation adult former cult
members (SGAs) from the perspectives of both
developmental psychology and specialist cultic
studies. This book is a mix of personal reflection
by way of moving poetry, academic study, and
self-help. To achieve this blend, Dr. Lois
Kendall brings together findings from her PhD
research (with some of the technical bits
omitted), other research, and quotes from
autobiographies. Former members, family
members, and mental health professionals will
learn about a number of different theories and
expand their repertoire through this publication.
The book is a huge undertaking that has been
much needed because there is little published
about SGAs, and nothing else to this depth. Dr.
Kendall’s contribution is helping to fill that gap.
Dr. Kendall, who was herself raised in a sect,
declares her motivation for publishing this book
by stating that
This is a book written about the second
generation for the second generation ...so that
those who have grown up in sects and left and
who feel very affected by their experiences will
know that they are not alone, there are others to
relate to who have also suffered. (p. xliii)
She challenges social scientists, noting the harm
we can do when we do not acknowledge the
damage that is caused by deeply held bias
evidenced in myths that continue about the cult
experience and former cult members. Dr.
Kendall addresses this research bias and raises a
challenge to society in general when she states
that “What happens in sects, and how
communities and societies respond to sects, may
affect children the most” (p. xli).
The book is structured in such a way that it leads
the reader into the difficult and controversial
field of cultic studies, into which SGAs emerge
when they leave their groups, and which may
have impact on their postcult recovery process
(p. xli). Dr. Kendall explains that she adopted
the term sect because of these controversies in
the cultic-studies field, and she notes that
defining the problem is slippery and difficult (p.
4).
Chapter Overview
To summarize briefly the content of each
chapter:
• Chapter 1: What is a sect? —Contains an
overview of different terms used and
provides an in-depth look at the definition of
extremist authoritarian sect also explains
the rationale for adopting the term sect.
• Chapter 2: How did I get here?—Explores
how and why SGA’s parents (first
generation, or FGAs) became involved in a
sect, and explores whether those who join
have a particular personality type also
explores why, in some groups, there are no
children.
• Chapter 3: Is this a bad dream?—
Explores how the structure and hierarchy of
a sect impacts families, and what the
families may be like identifies how children
in the same sect may be treated differently,
and parenting styles reviews additional
psychological theories about the basic needs
of all children, finishing with a discussion of
how social influence occurs.
• Chapter 4: It’s not your fault!—Looks at
child maltreatment, neglect, and abuse, and
also some pertinent psychological theories
also considers the impact of the
psychopathology of the cult leader, which
Born and Raised in a [Sect]: You Are Not Alone
By Lois Kendall
Reviewed by Gillie Jenkinson
Progression Publishing/Lois Kendall, PhD.
2016. ISBN-10: 0995556202 ISBN-13: 978-
0995556201 (paperback). 472 pages. $17.99
(Amazon.com).
It is now well established in the clinical and
research literature that, to recover, former cult
members need to understand their experience.
Born and Raised in a [Sect]… gives a
comprehensive overview of theories that are
pertinent to second-generation adult former cult
members (SGAs) from the perspectives of both
developmental psychology and specialist cultic
studies. This book is a mix of personal reflection
by way of moving poetry, academic study, and
self-help. To achieve this blend, Dr. Lois
Kendall brings together findings from her PhD
research (with some of the technical bits
omitted), other research, and quotes from
autobiographies. Former members, family
members, and mental health professionals will
learn about a number of different theories and
expand their repertoire through this publication.
The book is a huge undertaking that has been
much needed because there is little published
about SGAs, and nothing else to this depth. Dr.
Kendall’s contribution is helping to fill that gap.
Dr. Kendall, who was herself raised in a sect,
declares her motivation for publishing this book
by stating that
This is a book written about the second
generation for the second generation ...so that
those who have grown up in sects and left and
who feel very affected by their experiences will
know that they are not alone, there are others to
relate to who have also suffered. (p. xliii)
She challenges social scientists, noting the harm
we can do when we do not acknowledge the
damage that is caused by deeply held bias
evidenced in myths that continue about the cult
experience and former cult members. Dr.
Kendall addresses this research bias and raises a
challenge to society in general when she states
that “What happens in sects, and how
communities and societies respond to sects, may
affect children the most” (p. xli).
The book is structured in such a way that it leads
the reader into the difficult and controversial
field of cultic studies, into which SGAs emerge
when they leave their groups, and which may
have impact on their postcult recovery process
(p. xli). Dr. Kendall explains that she adopted
the term sect because of these controversies in
the cultic-studies field, and she notes that
defining the problem is slippery and difficult (p.
4).
Chapter Overview
To summarize briefly the content of each
chapter:
• Chapter 1: What is a sect? —Contains an
overview of different terms used and
provides an in-depth look at the definition of
extremist authoritarian sect also explains
the rationale for adopting the term sect.
• Chapter 2: How did I get here?—Explores
how and why SGA’s parents (first
generation, or FGAs) became involved in a
sect, and explores whether those who join
have a particular personality type also
explores why, in some groups, there are no
children.
• Chapter 3: Is this a bad dream?—
Explores how the structure and hierarchy of
a sect impacts families, and what the
families may be like identifies how children
in the same sect may be treated differently,
and parenting styles reviews additional
psychological theories about the basic needs
of all children, finishing with a discussion of
how social influence occurs.
• Chapter 4: It’s not your fault!—Looks at
child maltreatment, neglect, and abuse, and
also some pertinent psychological theories
also considers the impact of the
psychopathology of the cult leader, which
