Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 97
The Death of a Leader: Homicide as a Means of Group
Disengagement
Janet Haines, Ph.D.
School of Psychology
University of Tasmania
Australia
Christopher L. Williams, Ph.D.
School of Psychology
University of Tasmania
Australia
Ian Sale, FRANZCP
Discipline of Psychiatry
University of Tasmania
Australia
Jodi Glading, B.S., John Davidson, Ph.D.
School of Psychology
University of Tasmania
Australia
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a single case study of a cult group member who murdered the
group leader as a means of escaping the group. The authors undertook an
assessment to examine the pre-homicide and peri-homicide factors that influenced
the individual‘s homicidal behavior, in an endeavor to establish this man‘s motive for
ending the group leader‘s life. The authors administered psychological tests to assess
the individual‘s intellectual functioning, psychological adjustment, and group
psychological abuse. In addition, they employed a personalized guided-imagery
methodology to recreate the homicidal act so that they could examine the
individual‘s stage-by-stage psychophysiological and psychological responses to the
behavior. They then made a comparison of the individual‘s responses to the
homicidal act with his responses to other control scenes to establish the differential
influences operating at the time of the homicide. The results of the research highlight
the influences of psychological manipulation and the constriction of problem-solving
options that can operate as a function of cult-group membership.
Membership in cultic groups is associated with a range of specific influences, including
thought reform (Lalich, 1992 Lifton, 1991) and mind control (Langone &Chambers, 1991),
which function to maintain obedience and reduce individuality. In a situation in which mind
control is in operation, making everyday decisions can be problematic for group members.
It is hardly surprising, then, that a major decision on the part of a member to disengage
from a controlling group presents an enormous challenge.
Some researchers have suggested that there is little robust evidence of individuals‘ pre-cult
psychopathology (Martin, Langone, Dole, &Wiltrout, 1992) or maladjustment during the
period of membership (Aronoff, Lynn, &Malinoski, 2000). It is after individuals‘ separation
from the group that elevated levels of psychopathology become apparent (Aronoff et al.,
2000 Swartling &Swartling, 1992 Walsh, Russell &Wells, 1995). There is evidence to
The Death of a Leader: Homicide as a Means of Group
Disengagement
Janet Haines, Ph.D.
School of Psychology
University of Tasmania
Australia
Christopher L. Williams, Ph.D.
School of Psychology
University of Tasmania
Australia
Ian Sale, FRANZCP
Discipline of Psychiatry
University of Tasmania
Australia
Jodi Glading, B.S., John Davidson, Ph.D.
School of Psychology
University of Tasmania
Australia
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a single case study of a cult group member who murdered the
group leader as a means of escaping the group. The authors undertook an
assessment to examine the pre-homicide and peri-homicide factors that influenced
the individual‘s homicidal behavior, in an endeavor to establish this man‘s motive for
ending the group leader‘s life. The authors administered psychological tests to assess
the individual‘s intellectual functioning, psychological adjustment, and group
psychological abuse. In addition, they employed a personalized guided-imagery
methodology to recreate the homicidal act so that they could examine the
individual‘s stage-by-stage psychophysiological and psychological responses to the
behavior. They then made a comparison of the individual‘s responses to the
homicidal act with his responses to other control scenes to establish the differential
influences operating at the time of the homicide. The results of the research highlight
the influences of psychological manipulation and the constriction of problem-solving
options that can operate as a function of cult-group membership.
Membership in cultic groups is associated with a range of specific influences, including
thought reform (Lalich, 1992 Lifton, 1991) and mind control (Langone &Chambers, 1991),
which function to maintain obedience and reduce individuality. In a situation in which mind
control is in operation, making everyday decisions can be problematic for group members.
It is hardly surprising, then, that a major decision on the part of a member to disengage
from a controlling group presents an enormous challenge.
Some researchers have suggested that there is little robust evidence of individuals‘ pre-cult
psychopathology (Martin, Langone, Dole, &Wiltrout, 1992) or maladjustment during the
period of membership (Aronoff, Lynn, &Malinoski, 2000). It is after individuals‘ separation
from the group that elevated levels of psychopathology become apparent (Aronoff et al.,
2000 Swartling &Swartling, 1992 Walsh, Russell &Wells, 1995). There is evidence to
