Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1992, Page 50
in Bannerman, 1990). Clearly, our culture has become narcissistically preoccupied with self-
gratification and confused about ethics and the meaning of respect.
By overemphasizing self-gratification and maligning life‟s “shoulds,” the mental health field
has unfortunately contributed significantly to the new narcissism. The field can begin to
make amends to society by paying more attention to what it means to respect other people
and by standing by the victims of psychological abuse and encouraging them to express
their moral outrage. Only by listening to, understanding, and affirming that moral outrage
can society rediscover the meaning of respect and revitalize the rules of fair play that keep
genuine pluralism alive.
References
Bannerman, B. (1990). Satanic ritual abuse: The phenomenon resurfaces --are social
workers prepared? Dissertation, Graduate School of Social Work, University of
Southern Mississippi.
Cialdini, R. (1984). Influence: How and why people agree to things. New York: William
Morrow and Company, Inc.
Hart, S. N, &Brassard, M. R. (1987). A Major threat to children‟s mental health:
Psychological maltreatment. American Psychologist, 42 (2), 160-165.
Ofshe, R., &Singer, M. T. (1986). Attacks on peripheral versus central elements of self
and the impact of thought reforming techniques. Cultic Studies Journal, 31(1), 3-24.
Rosedale, H. L. (1989). Legal analysis of intent as a continuum emphasizing social context
of volition. Cultic Studies Journal, 6 (1), 25-31.
Shaver, K. G., &Drown, D. (1986). On causality, responsibility, and self-blame: A
theoretical note. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50 (4), 697-702.
Singer, M. T., &Langone, M. D. (1990). Psychotherapy cults. Cultic Studies Journal, 7(2),
101-125.
********************
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D., Editor of the Cultic Studies Journal, is the Executive Director
of the American Family Foundation, coauthor of Cults: What parents should know and
Satanism and occult-related violence, and Editor of the forthcoming Recovery from cults.
This article is an electronic version of an article originally published in Cultic Studies Journal, 1992, Volume 8,
Number 2, pages 206-218. Please keep in mind that the pagination of this electronic reprint differs from that of the
bound volume. This fact could affect how you enter bibliographic information in papers that you may write.
in Bannerman, 1990). Clearly, our culture has become narcissistically preoccupied with self-
gratification and confused about ethics and the meaning of respect.
By overemphasizing self-gratification and maligning life‟s “shoulds,” the mental health field
has unfortunately contributed significantly to the new narcissism. The field can begin to
make amends to society by paying more attention to what it means to respect other people
and by standing by the victims of psychological abuse and encouraging them to express
their moral outrage. Only by listening to, understanding, and affirming that moral outrage
can society rediscover the meaning of respect and revitalize the rules of fair play that keep
genuine pluralism alive.
References
Bannerman, B. (1990). Satanic ritual abuse: The phenomenon resurfaces --are social
workers prepared? Dissertation, Graduate School of Social Work, University of
Southern Mississippi.
Cialdini, R. (1984). Influence: How and why people agree to things. New York: William
Morrow and Company, Inc.
Hart, S. N, &Brassard, M. R. (1987). A Major threat to children‟s mental health:
Psychological maltreatment. American Psychologist, 42 (2), 160-165.
Ofshe, R., &Singer, M. T. (1986). Attacks on peripheral versus central elements of self
and the impact of thought reforming techniques. Cultic Studies Journal, 31(1), 3-24.
Rosedale, H. L. (1989). Legal analysis of intent as a continuum emphasizing social context
of volition. Cultic Studies Journal, 6 (1), 25-31.
Shaver, K. G., &Drown, D. (1986). On causality, responsibility, and self-blame: A
theoretical note. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50 (4), 697-702.
Singer, M. T., &Langone, M. D. (1990). Psychotherapy cults. Cultic Studies Journal, 7(2),
101-125.
********************
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D., Editor of the Cultic Studies Journal, is the Executive Director
of the American Family Foundation, coauthor of Cults: What parents should know and
Satanism and occult-related violence, and Editor of the forthcoming Recovery from cults.
This article is an electronic version of an article originally published in Cultic Studies Journal, 1992, Volume 8,
Number 2, pages 206-218. Please keep in mind that the pagination of this electronic reprint differs from that of the
bound volume. This fact could affect how you enter bibliographic information in papers that you may write.
