Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2002, Page 31
Despite the GPA Scale‘s promise, it is also desirable to supplement the self-report GPA with
other self-report scales and observational measures of psychologically abusive group
environments. In regard to the first goal, Dr. Nadine Winocur developed a related scale as
part of her doctoral dissertation at Pepperdine University. She and her colleagues report on
the Individual Cult Experience Index in Cultic Studies Journal, 14(2), 1997. Because of the
complexity of the second goal, the first step will be to write a carefully thought out
methodological essay on issues to consider in developing observational measures of abusive
groups.
In testing the GPA, AFF has found that families of individuals involved in cultic groups also
find the scale useful. In order to meet their needs more effectively AFF would like to develop
a companion scale for families. This scale will explore how families are affected by and
perceive cultic groups.
Research conducted at Ohio University, Boston University, Buckinghamshire College, and
Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center have utilized a battery of standardized
psychological instruments to assess harm in populations of former group members. See
Question 4 below.
How can we usefully classify psychologically abusive groups?
It would be helpful to write a critical review of existing classification systems, including
those proposed by sociologists (An ―unassigned‖ task at present).
The psychometric development of the GPA Scale may lead to an empirically based
classification scheme.
With regard to psychologically abusive groups, what is the relationship between person
variables, group variables, and psychopathology?
AFF‘s Executive Director, Dr. Michael Langone, whom Boston University named the 1995
Albert V. Danielsen Visiting Scholar, conducted a study at Boston University of the
International Churches of Christ movement. He used the GPA Scale and a new scale (the
DDD Scale—Deception, Dependency, and Dread Scale) to assess the abusiveness of the
Boston Movement, as rated by former members. He also used a psychological test battery
to assess the nature and degree of psychological distress experienced by former members
of the Boston Movement and two comparison groups: graduates of a mainstream campus
ministry and former members of a mainstream religion. This test battery is identical to that
used in an Ohio University study described below. Dr. Langone‘s report to the Danielsen
Institute is available from AFF.
A team of three psychology graduate students under the direction of Ohio University‘s Dr.
Steve Lynn gave a standardized test battery to clients of the Wellspring Retreat and
Resource Center and a matched comparison group of college students in order to assess the
nature and degree of psychopathology among former cult members. A report on this
research was published in Cultic Studies Journal, 16(1), 1999. Members of this team also
wrote a comprehensive review of the empirical literature in this field [Aronoff, J.B., Lynn,
S.J., &Malinoski, P.T. (in press). Are cultic environments psychologically harmful? Clinical
Psychology Review].
The Marshall and Kendall studies, mentioned above, are also using a standardized battery to
assess harm.
A team of four psychology graduate students under the direction of Pepperdine University‘s
Dr. David Foy have used the Los Angeles Symptom Checklist (a standardized instrument
designed to measure symptoms common to victimization populations) to measure distress
and the Group Experience Index (GEI) to assess the severity of exposure to cult-related
pressures and abuses in order to study the relationships between post-cult distress and
Despite the GPA Scale‘s promise, it is also desirable to supplement the self-report GPA with
other self-report scales and observational measures of psychologically abusive group
environments. In regard to the first goal, Dr. Nadine Winocur developed a related scale as
part of her doctoral dissertation at Pepperdine University. She and her colleagues report on
the Individual Cult Experience Index in Cultic Studies Journal, 14(2), 1997. Because of the
complexity of the second goal, the first step will be to write a carefully thought out
methodological essay on issues to consider in developing observational measures of abusive
groups.
In testing the GPA, AFF has found that families of individuals involved in cultic groups also
find the scale useful. In order to meet their needs more effectively AFF would like to develop
a companion scale for families. This scale will explore how families are affected by and
perceive cultic groups.
Research conducted at Ohio University, Boston University, Buckinghamshire College, and
Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center have utilized a battery of standardized
psychological instruments to assess harm in populations of former group members. See
Question 4 below.
How can we usefully classify psychologically abusive groups?
It would be helpful to write a critical review of existing classification systems, including
those proposed by sociologists (An ―unassigned‖ task at present).
The psychometric development of the GPA Scale may lead to an empirically based
classification scheme.
With regard to psychologically abusive groups, what is the relationship between person
variables, group variables, and psychopathology?
AFF‘s Executive Director, Dr. Michael Langone, whom Boston University named the 1995
Albert V. Danielsen Visiting Scholar, conducted a study at Boston University of the
International Churches of Christ movement. He used the GPA Scale and a new scale (the
DDD Scale—Deception, Dependency, and Dread Scale) to assess the abusiveness of the
Boston Movement, as rated by former members. He also used a psychological test battery
to assess the nature and degree of psychological distress experienced by former members
of the Boston Movement and two comparison groups: graduates of a mainstream campus
ministry and former members of a mainstream religion. This test battery is identical to that
used in an Ohio University study described below. Dr. Langone‘s report to the Danielsen
Institute is available from AFF.
A team of three psychology graduate students under the direction of Ohio University‘s Dr.
Steve Lynn gave a standardized test battery to clients of the Wellspring Retreat and
Resource Center and a matched comparison group of college students in order to assess the
nature and degree of psychopathology among former cult members. A report on this
research was published in Cultic Studies Journal, 16(1), 1999. Members of this team also
wrote a comprehensive review of the empirical literature in this field [Aronoff, J.B., Lynn,
S.J., &Malinoski, P.T. (in press). Are cultic environments psychologically harmful? Clinical
Psychology Review].
The Marshall and Kendall studies, mentioned above, are also using a standardized battery to
assess harm.
A team of four psychology graduate students under the direction of Pepperdine University‘s
Dr. David Foy have used the Los Angeles Symptom Checklist (a standardized instrument
designed to measure symptoms common to victimization populations) to measure distress
and the Group Experience Index (GEI) to assess the severity of exposure to cult-related
pressures and abuses in order to study the relationships between post-cult distress and
