Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 12, No. 2, 1995, page 48
Book Reviews
Cults in Our Midst: The Hidden Menace in Our Everyday Lives. Margaret
Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, 1995, 381 pages.
The publication of a book must, inevitably, be a matter of gratification for the author. In this
case, the publication of Cults in Our Midst will also be a source of gratification for all those
who have long admired the wisdom and dedication that Dr. Margaret Singer has brought to
the cult-awareness effort. “Margaret Singer stands alone in her extraordinary knowledge of
the psychology of cults” --those are the opening words of the book‟s Foreword, contributed
by Robert Jay Lifton. And that Foreword is “must reading” for anyone who finds himself or
herself in need of guidance about the cult phenomenon it is a precious enrichment of this
fine book.
Among her acknowledgments, the author expresses gratitude to “the more than three
thousand cult victims who shared their stories, their pain and their healing with me, helping
me to learn about cults and the harm they have brought upon so many.” Implicit here is the
humble admission that even a well-trained psychologist can continue to grow in her
understanding of this complex problem which bedevils the existence of contemporary
humankind.
After working for some years at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Singer went
to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she had the opportunity to counsel
victims of thought reform among the recovered prisoners from the Korean War. Since then,
Singer has also assisted the survivors and affected families of the tragedies at Jonestown
and Waco. She has made countless appearances as an expert witness in court cases
concerned with manipulation or “brainwashing.”
Cults in Our Midst is not a book about weird people who join crazy groups. It‟s about how all
of us, at various times, can fall into vulnerable states during which another person can wield
more influence over us. Alluding to Big Brother of Orwell‟s 1984, Singer says: “Instead of
one Big Brother, we see herds of Big Brothers in the world today.” And she notes that they
promise intellectual, spiritual, political, and self-actualizing utopias. “Eventually these
groups subject their followers to mind-numbing treatments that block critical and evaluative
thinking and subjugate independent choice in a context of a strictly enforced hierarchy.” In
the Introduction, Singer observes: “Legend has it that all cult leaders are charismatic. In
reality charisma is less important than the skills of persuasion and the ability to manipulate
others. In order to start a group, a leader has to have ways of convincing others to follow
him or her, and such leaders tend not to relinquish control.”
The first chapter presents some definitions and characteristics of cults. The reader is
reminded of the variety of cults and the ways in which people are recruited. The author
notes in a chapter on the history of cults that cult leaders are opportunists who read the
signs of the times and the ever-changing cultures, and then adapt their pitch to whatever
will appeal at any given moment.
The chapter on “The Process of Brainwashing, Psychological Coercion, and Thought Reform”
is excellent. It is as complete as can be found anywhere. Charts and diagrams are added to
make the process understandable for all. The insights of Robert Lifton and Edgar Schein are
reported along with Singer‟s own contribution. She warns that the methods of attacking the
self push people to the brink of madness and even, in some cases, over the edge.
“Recruiting New Members” is a chapter filled with many concrete examples which make for
interesting reading and, at the same time, demonstrate the manipulative methods used by
many cults. The chapters that follow illustrate first psychological, then physiological
persuasion techniques used by a variety of groups. A section on the invasion of the
Book Reviews
Cults in Our Midst: The Hidden Menace in Our Everyday Lives. Margaret
Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, 1995, 381 pages.
The publication of a book must, inevitably, be a matter of gratification for the author. In this
case, the publication of Cults in Our Midst will also be a source of gratification for all those
who have long admired the wisdom and dedication that Dr. Margaret Singer has brought to
the cult-awareness effort. “Margaret Singer stands alone in her extraordinary knowledge of
the psychology of cults” --those are the opening words of the book‟s Foreword, contributed
by Robert Jay Lifton. And that Foreword is “must reading” for anyone who finds himself or
herself in need of guidance about the cult phenomenon it is a precious enrichment of this
fine book.
Among her acknowledgments, the author expresses gratitude to “the more than three
thousand cult victims who shared their stories, their pain and their healing with me, helping
me to learn about cults and the harm they have brought upon so many.” Implicit here is the
humble admission that even a well-trained psychologist can continue to grow in her
understanding of this complex problem which bedevils the existence of contemporary
humankind.
After working for some years at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Singer went
to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she had the opportunity to counsel
victims of thought reform among the recovered prisoners from the Korean War. Since then,
Singer has also assisted the survivors and affected families of the tragedies at Jonestown
and Waco. She has made countless appearances as an expert witness in court cases
concerned with manipulation or “brainwashing.”
Cults in Our Midst is not a book about weird people who join crazy groups. It‟s about how all
of us, at various times, can fall into vulnerable states during which another person can wield
more influence over us. Alluding to Big Brother of Orwell‟s 1984, Singer says: “Instead of
one Big Brother, we see herds of Big Brothers in the world today.” And she notes that they
promise intellectual, spiritual, political, and self-actualizing utopias. “Eventually these
groups subject their followers to mind-numbing treatments that block critical and evaluative
thinking and subjugate independent choice in a context of a strictly enforced hierarchy.” In
the Introduction, Singer observes: “Legend has it that all cult leaders are charismatic. In
reality charisma is less important than the skills of persuasion and the ability to manipulate
others. In order to start a group, a leader has to have ways of convincing others to follow
him or her, and such leaders tend not to relinquish control.”
The first chapter presents some definitions and characteristics of cults. The reader is
reminded of the variety of cults and the ways in which people are recruited. The author
notes in a chapter on the history of cults that cult leaders are opportunists who read the
signs of the times and the ever-changing cultures, and then adapt their pitch to whatever
will appeal at any given moment.
The chapter on “The Process of Brainwashing, Psychological Coercion, and Thought Reform”
is excellent. It is as complete as can be found anywhere. Charts and diagrams are added to
make the process understandable for all. The insights of Robert Lifton and Edgar Schein are
reported along with Singer‟s own contribution. She warns that the methods of attacking the
self push people to the brink of madness and even, in some cases, over the edge.
“Recruiting New Members” is a chapter filled with many concrete examples which make for
interesting reading and, at the same time, demonstrate the manipulative methods used by
many cults. The chapters that follow illustrate first psychological, then physiological
persuasion techniques used by a variety of groups. A section on the invasion of the
