Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1992, Page 43
Psychological Abuse
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
American Family Foundation
Abstract
Psychological abuse refers to situations in which techniques of persuasion and
control are used to exploit and/or otherwise mistreat people. Its opposite,
respect, has four aspects: the honoring of mind, autonomy, identity, and
dignity (MAID). At heart, psychological abuse and respect are ethical
concepts. In treating victims of psychological abuse, it is important to address
the ethical dimension, for recognizing that they have been wronged is crucial
to victims‟ recovery of mind, autonomy, identity, and dignity. Affirmation of
the ethical dimension in individual cases of abuse also contributes to a
strengthening of the unwritten ethical rules that undergird pluralistic
societies.
According to dictionaries, “abuse” is at heart an ethical concept because it suggests wrongly
using someone. “Psychological abuse” refers to situations in which psychological techniques
of persuasion and control are used to exploit and/or mistreat people. Although aspects of
psychological abuse can be studied scientifically, the phenomenon cannot be properly
understood without analyzing its ethical dimension. This paper examines psychological
abuse and its implications for the treatment of victims and for the strengthening of
pluralistic societies. The paper does not describe the psychological techniques and behaviors
that result in abuse (for a description of the “how” of psychological abuse in the extreme
cases of cults, see Ofshe &Singer, 1986 Singer &Langone, 1990).
The range of phenomena falling under the category “psychological abuse” is broad.
Consider the following case sketches:
Case One. Lucy, a seemingly normal 18-year-old sitting on her front porch in a rural
Vermont town, is persuaded by two odd people to come away with them on the spot. Two
weeks later her parents receive a postcard from her. She says that she has joined a
nomadic religious group and is devoting her life to God. For two years her parents search
unsuccessfully for Lucy. Then one day Lucy calls home from a bus station. She had fled her
group in the middle of the night because she didn‟t think she would be able to resist their
pressure if she tried to leave openly. She is terrified that God will punish her with a horrible
death.
Case Two. Peter, a 24-year-old real estate salesman who has never exhibited any
interest in religion, agrees to attend a weekend “transformational training” strongly
recommended by a friend. During the training the trainer viciously attacks the trainees
because they don‟t have the courage to make their lives work. The trainer tears them down
and then builds them up according to his image of the New Humanity. Near the end of the
training Peter has a profound religious experience in which he becomes convinced that he is
God. Two days later the police pick him up in a subway where he is harassing passengers
because they will not bow down to him.
Case Three. Robert, a reformed alcoholic, is questioned by police following the murder
of a woman who lived across the street. During the interrogation, police deviously extract a
confession from Robert, who is persuaded that he must have murdered the woman during
Psychological Abuse
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
American Family Foundation
Abstract
Psychological abuse refers to situations in which techniques of persuasion and
control are used to exploit and/or otherwise mistreat people. Its opposite,
respect, has four aspects: the honoring of mind, autonomy, identity, and
dignity (MAID). At heart, psychological abuse and respect are ethical
concepts. In treating victims of psychological abuse, it is important to address
the ethical dimension, for recognizing that they have been wronged is crucial
to victims‟ recovery of mind, autonomy, identity, and dignity. Affirmation of
the ethical dimension in individual cases of abuse also contributes to a
strengthening of the unwritten ethical rules that undergird pluralistic
societies.
According to dictionaries, “abuse” is at heart an ethical concept because it suggests wrongly
using someone. “Psychological abuse” refers to situations in which psychological techniques
of persuasion and control are used to exploit and/or mistreat people. Although aspects of
psychological abuse can be studied scientifically, the phenomenon cannot be properly
understood without analyzing its ethical dimension. This paper examines psychological
abuse and its implications for the treatment of victims and for the strengthening of
pluralistic societies. The paper does not describe the psychological techniques and behaviors
that result in abuse (for a description of the “how” of psychological abuse in the extreme
cases of cults, see Ofshe &Singer, 1986 Singer &Langone, 1990).
The range of phenomena falling under the category “psychological abuse” is broad.
Consider the following case sketches:
Case One. Lucy, a seemingly normal 18-year-old sitting on her front porch in a rural
Vermont town, is persuaded by two odd people to come away with them on the spot. Two
weeks later her parents receive a postcard from her. She says that she has joined a
nomadic religious group and is devoting her life to God. For two years her parents search
unsuccessfully for Lucy. Then one day Lucy calls home from a bus station. She had fled her
group in the middle of the night because she didn‟t think she would be able to resist their
pressure if she tried to leave openly. She is terrified that God will punish her with a horrible
death.
Case Two. Peter, a 24-year-old real estate salesman who has never exhibited any
interest in religion, agrees to attend a weekend “transformational training” strongly
recommended by a friend. During the training the trainer viciously attacks the trainees
because they don‟t have the courage to make their lives work. The trainer tears them down
and then builds them up according to his image of the New Humanity. Near the end of the
training Peter has a profound religious experience in which he becomes convinced that he is
God. Two days later the police pick him up in a subway where he is harassing passengers
because they will not bow down to him.
Case Three. Robert, a reformed alcoholic, is questioned by police following the murder
of a woman who lived across the street. During the interrogation, police deviously extract a
confession from Robert, who is persuaded that he must have murdered the woman during
