Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 2 No. 1 1985, Page 89
CULT INVOLVEMENT:
SUGGESTIONS FOR CONCERNED PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
Abstract
Parents with a child in a cult, or professionals charged with helping such
parents, are confronted with a difficult problem. The following require
consideration and are discussed in this paper: 1) ethical issues, 2) collecting
valid information and utilizing resources, 3) effective communication, 4)
parental modeling of constructive behaviors, 5) cult-related education, and 6)
devising appropriate and ethical helping strategies, when such are warranted.
Parents (and sometimes other relatives) troubled about a family member‘s cult involvement
are frequently fearful and frustrated. They are sometimes not sure if their concern is
warranted. They worry about the adverse effects cult involvement appears to have on their
child, e.g., interruption of school, distancing from family, loss of independence, diminished
critical thinking, and financial exploitation. Yet they often feel helpless about doing anything
constructive. So often their well-intentioned attempts to help either don‘t work or only make
the situation worse.
Parents in such a predicament have four alternatives. First, they can tolerate their child‘s
cult involvement, ―biting the bullet‖ and hoping that somehow things will turn out alright.
Second, they can try to Ignore or deny the situation, sometimes going so far as to disown
the child. Third, they can attempt an involuntary deprogramming, which is risky and
expensive, but, to some, alluringly appealing in its apparent simplicity and relative
immediacy. Lastly, they can try to help their child voluntarily reevaluate his cult
involvement. This paper offers -suggestions on how parents can pursue the latter course of
action. In places it is addressed to parents, but it is aimed at professionals as well.
Ethical Considerations
Parents attempting to help their child voluntarily reevaluate his cult involvement face an
apparent ethical dilemma. On the one hand, they may condemn the cult for using
deceptively manipulative techniques of persuasion and control on members. On the other
hand, they may not be able to avoid at least a mild, partial use of such techniques in order
to facilitate a voluntary reevaluation of cult involvement.
This dilemma is more apparent than real because the ethical propriety of techniques of
persuasion and control depends upon the magnitude of deception and manipulation, the
goals of the interaction, and the context in which it takes place. These three variables differ
significantly in cultic and parent-child relationships. Figure 1, which presents a two
dimensional classification of social influence processes, may shed some light on this issue.

Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 2 No. 1 1985, Page 90
Figure I
A Two-Dimensional Classification of Social Influence Processes
Open/Respectful
Inspiration Personal Development
Quadrant Quadrant
Group-Centered-Goals-------------------------------------------Person-Centered Goals
Exploitation Caretaker
Quadrant Quadrant
Extremely Manipulative
The vertical dimension of Figure 1 represents a continuum of methods of influence. On one
end is total honesty and respect on the other end is extreme manipulation (i.e., the regular
use of tactics such as extensive control of information, deception, group pressure,
denigration of critical thinking, induction of guilt and anxiety which can only be relieved
through conformity, physical and/or psychological debilitation, and the induction of trance-
like states).
The horizontal dimension represents a goal continuum. The goal of the interaction can vary
from completely person-centered (i.e., aiming to help the influences achieve his goals or
needs) to completely group-centered (i.e., aiming to induce the influences to forswear his
personal goals or needs for those of the influencer).
The intersection of these two continua forms four quadrants, which are labeled in the figure.
In the self-development quadrant, the influencer uses open, respectful methods to fulfill the
goals or needs of the influences. In the caretaker quadrant, manipulative methods are used
to fulfill the goals or needs of the influences. In the inspiration quadrant, open, respectful
methods are used to induce the influences to sacrifice personal goals or needs for those
targeted by the influencer. And in the exploitation quadrant, manipulative methods are used
to persuade the influences to fulfill the influencer‘s goals or needs.
In our society, ethical influence Is usually confined to the self-development and inspiration
quadrants, in which typical. influencers might be psychotherapists and clergy, respectively.