Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1986 Page 33
the cult, or never to leave it, in order to gain relief from worldly pressures, to maintain
status in the cult hierarchy, or because they sincerely believe in the theology or practices of
the group.
Parents in Langone‘s study for the American Family Foundation (1984), responding to a
question which asked why deprogramming had failed, in some cases blamed the
ineffectiveness of deprogrammers and/or insufficient physical security during the process.
Pan of one response provided a more profound key, however ―The deprogramming left her
[the cult member] with nothing to hang on to ...―
One mother, urging preventive education in the high school curriculum wrote:
My husband and I have spent thousands of dollars in fruitless efforts to free
our daughter‘s mind. We have consulted lawyers, put pressure on the cult
and engaged psychologists. Last year we put our daughter through a seven-
day psychological marathon that failed completely. Our failures have been
devastating to us --financially and psychologically (Willis, 1983, 502).
For the parents, as Willis has indicated, there is a renewed sense of failure and grief if they
have attempted a rescue and failed. Supportive therapy is again indicated. If there are
younger children, they need to be protected from the in-cult sibling should he or she
attempt to recruit them. The children at home may also need support for their self-esteem.
It is important to maintain the family as a unit and to attend to the younger children rather
than to neglect them in favor of the primary crisis.
Notes
1. This is similar to the conclusion reached by the author after surveying ex-cult members
and those who had not responded to ―invitations‖ by cult recruiters. One major point of
difference between the two groups was the presence or absence of an ―inner locus of
control.‖
References
Adler, W. (1978). Rescuing David from the Moonies. Esquire, June 6,23-30.
Advisor (Subsequently the Cult Observer). (1983, August/September). $32 million
judgment against Krishnas. 1, 5.
Allen, S. (1982). Beloved son: A story of the Jesus cults. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Mirrell.
Anthony, D. &Robbins, T. (1981). New religions, families, and ―brainwashing.‖ In T.
Robbins &D. Anthony (Eds.), In gods we trust, 263- 274. New Brunswick: Transaction
Press.
Aronin, D. (1982). Cults, deprogramming, and guardianship: A model legislative proposal.
Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, 17, 163-286.
Beckford, J. A. (1978a). Cults and cures. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 5, 225-257.
Beckford, J. A. (1978b). Through the looking glass and out the other side. Archives des
Sciences Sociales des Religions, 45, 95-116.
Bromley, D. G. &Shupe, A. D., Jr. (1980). Financing the new religions: A resource
mobilization approach. Journal for the Scientific Study of religion, 19, 227-239.
Cult Observer. (1985, June). $39 million award vs. Scientology. 1-2. (From a differently
headed story by Fred Leeson in the Oregonian (Portland), May 18, 1985.)
Cult Observer. (1986, May/June). Court says Moon recruiting is beyond law. 14. (Summary
the cult, or never to leave it, in order to gain relief from worldly pressures, to maintain
status in the cult hierarchy, or because they sincerely believe in the theology or practices of
the group.
Parents in Langone‘s study for the American Family Foundation (1984), responding to a
question which asked why deprogramming had failed, in some cases blamed the
ineffectiveness of deprogrammers and/or insufficient physical security during the process.
Pan of one response provided a more profound key, however ―The deprogramming left her
[the cult member] with nothing to hang on to ...―
One mother, urging preventive education in the high school curriculum wrote:
My husband and I have spent thousands of dollars in fruitless efforts to free
our daughter‘s mind. We have consulted lawyers, put pressure on the cult
and engaged psychologists. Last year we put our daughter through a seven-
day psychological marathon that failed completely. Our failures have been
devastating to us --financially and psychologically (Willis, 1983, 502).
For the parents, as Willis has indicated, there is a renewed sense of failure and grief if they
have attempted a rescue and failed. Supportive therapy is again indicated. If there are
younger children, they need to be protected from the in-cult sibling should he or she
attempt to recruit them. The children at home may also need support for their self-esteem.
It is important to maintain the family as a unit and to attend to the younger children rather
than to neglect them in favor of the primary crisis.
Notes
1. This is similar to the conclusion reached by the author after surveying ex-cult members
and those who had not responded to ―invitations‖ by cult recruiters. One major point of
difference between the two groups was the presence or absence of an ―inner locus of
control.‖
References
Adler, W. (1978). Rescuing David from the Moonies. Esquire, June 6,23-30.
Advisor (Subsequently the Cult Observer). (1983, August/September). $32 million
judgment against Krishnas. 1, 5.
Allen, S. (1982). Beloved son: A story of the Jesus cults. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Mirrell.
Anthony, D. &Robbins, T. (1981). New religions, families, and ―brainwashing.‖ In T.
Robbins &D. Anthony (Eds.), In gods we trust, 263- 274. New Brunswick: Transaction
Press.
Aronin, D. (1982). Cults, deprogramming, and guardianship: A model legislative proposal.
Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, 17, 163-286.
Beckford, J. A. (1978a). Cults and cures. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 5, 225-257.
Beckford, J. A. (1978b). Through the looking glass and out the other side. Archives des
Sciences Sociales des Religions, 45, 95-116.
Bromley, D. G. &Shupe, A. D., Jr. (1980). Financing the new religions: A resource
mobilization approach. Journal for the Scientific Study of religion, 19, 227-239.
Cult Observer. (1985, June). $39 million award vs. Scientology. 1-2. (From a differently
headed story by Fred Leeson in the Oregonian (Portland), May 18, 1985.)
Cult Observer. (1986, May/June). Court says Moon recruiting is beyond law. 14. (Summary
