54 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 8, 2017
Pressure on the group member to make his
decision will progress over the 4-week trial
period. The first 2-hour meeting will be only the
parents (or those loved ones who have had a
significant impact on the person’s life) and the
group member.
152F
153 This week is designed to be
conversational in tone, where the parties can
neutrally present their concerns, talk about the
group generally, and start the education process
regarding thought reform.
153F
154 Assuming the
group member resists exiting the group after the
first week, the second meeting will be between
the parents, extended family members, close
friends, and the group member. The second
meeting will likely be more emotionally charged
because close family and friends are telling the
member how much they miss him, how worried
they are about his health, and how much they
care for him. Although this week lacks the
educational goals of exit interventions, it will
show the member how much support he has if he
decides to exit the group. Conversely, this week
provides the member with an opportunity to
show his family and friends how happy and
satisfied the group makes him.
154F
155
153 Alternatively, the time for the first week could be
simply a 2-hour period away from the group instead
of meeting with the family. Theoretically, this option
gives the cult member time away from the group to
reflect on his choices without inside pressure.
However, this model seems too passive because
nothing is preventing the cult from following the
member around and without any pressure from
outside the group, he may spend his 2 hours
obsessing over his authoritarian leader.
154 The group member will also be told of the 4-week
program during this meeting. It should be noted that
this week may not go as planned. This may be the
group member’s first time away from the group in
months, which may cause separation issues. Also, the
group member may be angry about his parents’
involvement, which could stall progress for the week.
Moreover, if the thought-reform process has run its
full course, the group member may be too zombielike
to be conversational. Regardless of how the meeting
progresses, the parents get 2 full hours of access.
155 The neutral, public forum is especially important
this week because the cult member will be up against
five to 10 people trying to convince him of something
against his beliefs. If the meeting were at a private
If the member remains in the group after 2
weeks, the third meeting is between the parents,
a former member of the group, and the current
member. During this meeting, the former
member will discuss the following: her
experience with thought reform, her reasons for
leaving the group, her experience after leaving
the group, and the process and resources she
used while exiting the group. In addition to
being able to relate with the current member, the
former member approaches the situation with a
different perspective by focusing on things
particularly relevant to the current member.
155F
156
Ideally, discussing these issues will force the
current member to question certain aspects of
the group, which ignites his critical thinking,
causing him to realize he can actually leave the
group.
If the member remains in the group after 3
weeks, the fourth meeting resembles a formal
drug or alcohol intervention with a professional
exit counselor or deprogrammer. The meeting in
week 4 places the most pressure on the member
to leave the group. The counselor or
deprogrammer will directly attack the group’s
practices and force the member to answer
questions about the group.
156F
157 While the other
weeks are focused on emotion and education,
the week 4 meeting is designed to force the
member to choose either the family or the group,
similar to a drug or alcohol intervention when
the addict must go to treatment or never see his
family again.
157F
158 Hopefully this ultimatum
convinces the member to leave the group.
residence, this would be giving the family a license to
coercively deprogram the member.
156 If the parents cannot find former members of the
particular group, they are encouraged to reach out to
former cult members who can relate to their loved
one. It is important for the current member to interact
with someone who has defeated the thought-reform
process.
157 Keep in mind that this meeting is still at a public
place. Thus, the deprogrammer still has to be civil
with the member and cannot be abusive.
158 Although making the member choose between the
family or the group seems harsh, the family had
limited to no access to the member before the 4-week
trial. Assuming the cult maintains its isolation
Pressure on the group member to make his
decision will progress over the 4-week trial
period. The first 2-hour meeting will be only the
parents (or those loved ones who have had a
significant impact on the person’s life) and the
group member.
152F
153 This week is designed to be
conversational in tone, where the parties can
neutrally present their concerns, talk about the
group generally, and start the education process
regarding thought reform.
153F
154 Assuming the
group member resists exiting the group after the
first week, the second meeting will be between
the parents, extended family members, close
friends, and the group member. The second
meeting will likely be more emotionally charged
because close family and friends are telling the
member how much they miss him, how worried
they are about his health, and how much they
care for him. Although this week lacks the
educational goals of exit interventions, it will
show the member how much support he has if he
decides to exit the group. Conversely, this week
provides the member with an opportunity to
show his family and friends how happy and
satisfied the group makes him.
154F
155
153 Alternatively, the time for the first week could be
simply a 2-hour period away from the group instead
of meeting with the family. Theoretically, this option
gives the cult member time away from the group to
reflect on his choices without inside pressure.
However, this model seems too passive because
nothing is preventing the cult from following the
member around and without any pressure from
outside the group, he may spend his 2 hours
obsessing over his authoritarian leader.
154 The group member will also be told of the 4-week
program during this meeting. It should be noted that
this week may not go as planned. This may be the
group member’s first time away from the group in
months, which may cause separation issues. Also, the
group member may be angry about his parents’
involvement, which could stall progress for the week.
Moreover, if the thought-reform process has run its
full course, the group member may be too zombielike
to be conversational. Regardless of how the meeting
progresses, the parents get 2 full hours of access.
155 The neutral, public forum is especially important
this week because the cult member will be up against
five to 10 people trying to convince him of something
against his beliefs. If the meeting were at a private
If the member remains in the group after 2
weeks, the third meeting is between the parents,
a former member of the group, and the current
member. During this meeting, the former
member will discuss the following: her
experience with thought reform, her reasons for
leaving the group, her experience after leaving
the group, and the process and resources she
used while exiting the group. In addition to
being able to relate with the current member, the
former member approaches the situation with a
different perspective by focusing on things
particularly relevant to the current member.
155F
156
Ideally, discussing these issues will force the
current member to question certain aspects of
the group, which ignites his critical thinking,
causing him to realize he can actually leave the
group.
If the member remains in the group after 3
weeks, the fourth meeting resembles a formal
drug or alcohol intervention with a professional
exit counselor or deprogrammer. The meeting in
week 4 places the most pressure on the member
to leave the group. The counselor or
deprogrammer will directly attack the group’s
practices and force the member to answer
questions about the group.
156F
157 While the other
weeks are focused on emotion and education,
the week 4 meeting is designed to force the
member to choose either the family or the group,
similar to a drug or alcohol intervention when
the addict must go to treatment or never see his
family again.
157F
158 Hopefully this ultimatum
convinces the member to leave the group.
residence, this would be giving the family a license to
coercively deprogram the member.
156 If the parents cannot find former members of the
particular group, they are encouraged to reach out to
former cult members who can relate to their loved
one. It is important for the current member to interact
with someone who has defeated the thought-reform
process.
157 Keep in mind that this meeting is still at a public
place. Thus, the deprogrammer still has to be civil
with the member and cannot be abusive.
158 Although making the member choose between the
family or the group seems harsh, the family had
limited to no access to the member before the 4-week
trial. Assuming the cult maintains its isolation
