Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 15, No. 2, 1998, page 70
levels decreased. Time out of CUT explained a significant proportion of the variability in
both regression models (one using Global Severity Index scores as dependent variable, the
other using the number of subscales on which an individual had scored 63 or above). Two
additional variables that had significant predictive value in one or the other of the two
regression models were the quality of spousal relationship during and after CUT
involvement. Individuals who reported a higher quality of relationship with their spouse
after exiting CUT also reported lower levels of psychological distress than those who had
poor spousal relationships. The same is true for the quality of spousal relationship during
CUT involvement. This is not surprising if one considers that a relationship which can be
maintained at a qualitatively high level while the spouses undergo high levels of
environmental stress may be a source of strength for the partners. This will reduce the
overall stressfulness of the experience and the psychological harm inflicted. Although time
in CUT was excluded from the multiple regression model, it was positively correlated with
psychological distress. This suggests that there is a positive relationship between the time
an individual spent in CUT and the psychological problems experienced later.
Most theorists think that people who are in pain (psychologically or otherwise) try to
attribute that pain to an outside source, which then leads to an unfair negative evaluation of
that source. What if those not in pain share the negative evaluations? Nearly half of the
present respondents met the criteria for being a positive risk. Some reported high levels of
psychological distress, but others were virtually symptom-free. The lowest individual post-
involvement GPA rating given to CUT in this study, however, was 109. According to
Langone (1995), ratings suggestive of non-abusiveness range from 28 to 84. Moreover,
there was no relationship between the reported level of psychological distress and
respondents‘ perceptions of group abusiveness.
There was a negative relationship between reported psychological distress and the extent to
which respondents portrayed themselves in a socially desirable light: Those who reported
higher levels were less inclined to answer according to what is considered socially desirable.
Respondents who scored relatively high on the lie scale may have underreported
psychological distress, perhaps because they did not want to be seen as having problems.
Personalities of Former CUT Members
The present evidence suggests that former members of CUT do not differ from the norm on
the psychoticism and neuroticism dimensions. Females did not differ from the norm in their
desire to be socially acceptable (as measured by the lie scale of the EPQ-R), but males
appeared to be less concerned with their social desirability than one expects of males in the
general population. This may be a reaction to the manipulation they experienced during
their involvement in CUT. If these scores are, however, representative of a condition
present before cult involvement, they may reflect a stronger than average desire for honest
self-evaluation. This desire, in turn, may have contributed to the vulnerability of these
individuals to manipulation. Honest people often assume this quality in others. If either or
both of these proposed explanations are valid, it is unclear why females in this sample did
not differ from the norm. Is it possible that females in general feel more pressure in this
society to represent themselves in a more socially desirable light?
Extroversion was the only personality dimension on which both males and females differed
from the norm, although the difference was slightly greater for females than males. If one
takes into account the intense alienation from the outside world former cultists experienced
during their involvement and the fact that many, upon their exit, think they were betrayed
by the thought reform program to which they were subjected, it makes sense that they
became more introverted. The significant positive correlation between extroversion and
years out of CUT suggests that with increased time away from the cult environment,
extroversion scores approach the norm.
levels decreased. Time out of CUT explained a significant proportion of the variability in
both regression models (one using Global Severity Index scores as dependent variable, the
other using the number of subscales on which an individual had scored 63 or above). Two
additional variables that had significant predictive value in one or the other of the two
regression models were the quality of spousal relationship during and after CUT
involvement. Individuals who reported a higher quality of relationship with their spouse
after exiting CUT also reported lower levels of psychological distress than those who had
poor spousal relationships. The same is true for the quality of spousal relationship during
CUT involvement. This is not surprising if one considers that a relationship which can be
maintained at a qualitatively high level while the spouses undergo high levels of
environmental stress may be a source of strength for the partners. This will reduce the
overall stressfulness of the experience and the psychological harm inflicted. Although time
in CUT was excluded from the multiple regression model, it was positively correlated with
psychological distress. This suggests that there is a positive relationship between the time
an individual spent in CUT and the psychological problems experienced later.
Most theorists think that people who are in pain (psychologically or otherwise) try to
attribute that pain to an outside source, which then leads to an unfair negative evaluation of
that source. What if those not in pain share the negative evaluations? Nearly half of the
present respondents met the criteria for being a positive risk. Some reported high levels of
psychological distress, but others were virtually symptom-free. The lowest individual post-
involvement GPA rating given to CUT in this study, however, was 109. According to
Langone (1995), ratings suggestive of non-abusiveness range from 28 to 84. Moreover,
there was no relationship between the reported level of psychological distress and
respondents‘ perceptions of group abusiveness.
There was a negative relationship between reported psychological distress and the extent to
which respondents portrayed themselves in a socially desirable light: Those who reported
higher levels were less inclined to answer according to what is considered socially desirable.
Respondents who scored relatively high on the lie scale may have underreported
psychological distress, perhaps because they did not want to be seen as having problems.
Personalities of Former CUT Members
The present evidence suggests that former members of CUT do not differ from the norm on
the psychoticism and neuroticism dimensions. Females did not differ from the norm in their
desire to be socially acceptable (as measured by the lie scale of the EPQ-R), but males
appeared to be less concerned with their social desirability than one expects of males in the
general population. This may be a reaction to the manipulation they experienced during
their involvement in CUT. If these scores are, however, representative of a condition
present before cult involvement, they may reflect a stronger than average desire for honest
self-evaluation. This desire, in turn, may have contributed to the vulnerability of these
individuals to manipulation. Honest people often assume this quality in others. If either or
both of these proposed explanations are valid, it is unclear why females in this sample did
not differ from the norm. Is it possible that females in general feel more pressure in this
society to represent themselves in a more socially desirable light?
Extroversion was the only personality dimension on which both males and females differed
from the norm, although the difference was slightly greater for females than males. If one
takes into account the intense alienation from the outside world former cultists experienced
during their involvement and the fact that many, upon their exit, think they were betrayed
by the thought reform program to which they were subjected, it makes sense that they
became more introverted. The significant positive correlation between extroversion and
years out of CUT suggests that with increased time away from the cult environment,
extroversion scores approach the norm.
