24 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 3, 2012
ability to reflect on emotionally charged
moments is central to the therapeutic process.
It also is crucial for the therapist to utilize the
corrective of doubt against the comfort of
certainty. The therapist’s message in the face of
a client’s desire for certainty is that certainty is a
trap that “sweeps objections aside and makes
anything permissible if pursued with an appeal
to a higher justification” (Cullen, 2012).
References
Aberbach, David (1995). Charisma and attachment theory: A
crossdisciplinary interpretation. International Journal of
Psychoanalysis, 76(4), 845–855.
Blos, P. (1974). The genealogy of the ego ideal. The Psychoanalytic
Study of the Child, 29, 43–88.
Cullen, Murphy. The certainty of doubt. The New York Times, Feb. 12,
2012, p. SR12.
Ferenczi, S. (1933/1980). Confusion of tongues between adults and the
child. In M. Balint (Ed.), Final contributions to the problems and
methods of psycho-analysis [trans. E. Mosbacher] (pp. 156–167).
London, England: Karnac Books.
Freud, A. (1936). The ego and the mechanisms of defense. New York,
NY: International Universities Press (IUP).
Freud, S. (1921). Group psychology and analysis of the ego, Standard
Edition, 18, 65–145.
Freud, S. (1933). New introductory lectures on psycho-analysis,
Standard Edition, 22, 3–184.
Goldberg, L. (1993). Guidelines for therapists. In M. Langone (Ed.),
Recovery from cults (pp. 232–250). New York, NY: W. W. Norton.
Goldberg, L. (1997). A psychoanalytic look at recovered memories,
therapists, cult leaders, and undue influence. Clinical Social Work
Journal, 25(1), 71–86.
Goldberg, L. (2006). Raised in cultic groups: The impact on the
development of certain aspects of character. Cultic Studies Review,
5(1), 1–28.
Goldberg, L., &Goldberg, W. (1982). Group work with cultists. Social
Work, 27(2), 165–170.
Goldberg, L., &Goldberg, W. (1989). Family responses to a young
adult’s membership and return. Cultic Studies Journal, 6(1), 86–100.
Kernberg, O. (1980). Adolescent sexuality in light of group processes.
Psychoanalytic Quarterly. 49(1), 27–47.
Kernberg, O. (1986). Severe personality disorders: Psychotherapeutic
strategies. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Kernberg, O. (1995). Omnipotence in the transference and in the
countertransference. The Scandinavian Psychoanalytic Review, 18, 2–
21.
Kernberg, O. (2003). Sanctioned social violence: A psychoanalytic
view, part II. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 84(4), 953–
968.
Klein, M. (1933/1948). The early development of conscience in the
child. In M. Klein, Contributions to psycho-analysis, 1921–1945 (pp.
267–277). London, England: Hogarth Press.
Lalich, Janja. (2004). Bounded choice. Berkeley, CA: University of
California Press.
Lifton, R. (1961). Thought reform and the psychology of totalism. New
York, NY: The Norton Library.
Lifton, R. (1989). Thought reform and the psychology of totalism.
Chapel Hill, SC: The University of North Carolina Press.
Lifton, R. (1999). Destroying the world to save it: Aum Shinrikyo,
apocalyptic violence, and the new global terrorism. New York, NY:
Henry Holt.
Sandler, Joseph. (1960b). The concept of superego. The Psychoanalytic
Study of the Child, 15, 128–162.
Shaw, D. (2003). Traumatic abuse in cults: A psychoanalytic
perspective. Cultic Studies Review, 2(2), 101–129.
Singer, M. T., &Lalich, J. (1995). Cults in our midst. San Francisco,
CA: Jossey-Bass.
Spruiell, V. (1979). Freud’s concept of idealization. Journal of the
American Psychoanalytic Association, 27(4), 777–791.
Stein, Alexandra. (2007). Attachment, networks and discourse in
extremist political organizations: A comparative case study
(Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Minnesota, Twin
Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul).
Weber, M. (1965). On charisma and institution building. In S. N.
Eisenstadt (Ed.), Charisma and institution building: Max Weber and
modern sociology. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press.
West, L. J., &Martin, P. (1998). Pseudo-identity and the treatment of
personality change in victims of captivity and cults. In S. J. Lynn and J.
Rhue (Eds.), Dissociation, (pp. 268–288). New York, NY: Guilford
Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1965). The maturational processes and the
facilitating environment: Studies in the theory of emotional
development. Madison, CT: International Universities Press (IUP).
Zablocki, B. (1980). Alienation and charisma: A study of contemporary
American communes. New York, NY: Free Press.
About the Author
Lorna Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, PsyA is a
psychoanalyst in private practice, Dean of
Faculty at the Institute for Psychoanalytic
Studies, and former President of ICSA.
ability to reflect on emotionally charged
moments is central to the therapeutic process.
It also is crucial for the therapist to utilize the
corrective of doubt against the comfort of
certainty. The therapist’s message in the face of
a client’s desire for certainty is that certainty is a
trap that “sweeps objections aside and makes
anything permissible if pursued with an appeal
to a higher justification” (Cullen, 2012).
References
Aberbach, David (1995). Charisma and attachment theory: A
crossdisciplinary interpretation. International Journal of
Psychoanalysis, 76(4), 845–855.
Blos, P. (1974). The genealogy of the ego ideal. The Psychoanalytic
Study of the Child, 29, 43–88.
Cullen, Murphy. The certainty of doubt. The New York Times, Feb. 12,
2012, p. SR12.
Ferenczi, S. (1933/1980). Confusion of tongues between adults and the
child. In M. Balint (Ed.), Final contributions to the problems and
methods of psycho-analysis [trans. E. Mosbacher] (pp. 156–167).
London, England: Karnac Books.
Freud, A. (1936). The ego and the mechanisms of defense. New York,
NY: International Universities Press (IUP).
Freud, S. (1921). Group psychology and analysis of the ego, Standard
Edition, 18, 65–145.
Freud, S. (1933). New introductory lectures on psycho-analysis,
Standard Edition, 22, 3–184.
Goldberg, L. (1993). Guidelines for therapists. In M. Langone (Ed.),
Recovery from cults (pp. 232–250). New York, NY: W. W. Norton.
Goldberg, L. (1997). A psychoanalytic look at recovered memories,
therapists, cult leaders, and undue influence. Clinical Social Work
Journal, 25(1), 71–86.
Goldberg, L. (2006). Raised in cultic groups: The impact on the
development of certain aspects of character. Cultic Studies Review,
5(1), 1–28.
Goldberg, L., &Goldberg, W. (1982). Group work with cultists. Social
Work, 27(2), 165–170.
Goldberg, L., &Goldberg, W. (1989). Family responses to a young
adult’s membership and return. Cultic Studies Journal, 6(1), 86–100.
Kernberg, O. (1980). Adolescent sexuality in light of group processes.
Psychoanalytic Quarterly. 49(1), 27–47.
Kernberg, O. (1986). Severe personality disorders: Psychotherapeutic
strategies. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Kernberg, O. (1995). Omnipotence in the transference and in the
countertransference. The Scandinavian Psychoanalytic Review, 18, 2–
21.
Kernberg, O. (2003). Sanctioned social violence: A psychoanalytic
view, part II. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 84(4), 953–
968.
Klein, M. (1933/1948). The early development of conscience in the
child. In M. Klein, Contributions to psycho-analysis, 1921–1945 (pp.
267–277). London, England: Hogarth Press.
Lalich, Janja. (2004). Bounded choice. Berkeley, CA: University of
California Press.
Lifton, R. (1961). Thought reform and the psychology of totalism. New
York, NY: The Norton Library.
Lifton, R. (1989). Thought reform and the psychology of totalism.
Chapel Hill, SC: The University of North Carolina Press.
Lifton, R. (1999). Destroying the world to save it: Aum Shinrikyo,
apocalyptic violence, and the new global terrorism. New York, NY:
Henry Holt.
Sandler, Joseph. (1960b). The concept of superego. The Psychoanalytic
Study of the Child, 15, 128–162.
Shaw, D. (2003). Traumatic abuse in cults: A psychoanalytic
perspective. Cultic Studies Review, 2(2), 101–129.
Singer, M. T., &Lalich, J. (1995). Cults in our midst. San Francisco,
CA: Jossey-Bass.
Spruiell, V. (1979). Freud’s concept of idealization. Journal of the
American Psychoanalytic Association, 27(4), 777–791.
Stein, Alexandra. (2007). Attachment, networks and discourse in
extremist political organizations: A comparative case study
(Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Minnesota, Twin
Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul).
Weber, M. (1965). On charisma and institution building. In S. N.
Eisenstadt (Ed.), Charisma and institution building: Max Weber and
modern sociology. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press.
West, L. J., &Martin, P. (1998). Pseudo-identity and the treatment of
personality change in victims of captivity and cults. In S. J. Lynn and J.
Rhue (Eds.), Dissociation, (pp. 268–288). New York, NY: Guilford
Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1965). The maturational processes and the
facilitating environment: Studies in the theory of emotional
development. Madison, CT: International Universities Press (IUP).
Zablocki, B. (1980). Alienation and charisma: A study of contemporary
American communes. New York, NY: Free Press.
About the Author
Lorna Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, PsyA is a
psychoanalyst in private practice, Dean of
Faculty at the Institute for Psychoanalytic
Studies, and former President of ICSA.
