Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 15, No. 2, 1998, page 72
As with most surveys, it is impossible to ascertain what distinguishes respondents from non-
respondents. Are non-respondents likely to be more or less distressed than those who
participated in the study? Do they hold more or less favorable views of CUT? These
questions remain unanswered. Also, research that focuses on children who have left cults is
virtually nonexistent. The development of instruments and methodologies that permit such
investigation without causing additional harm should be among the goals for future work.
Nevertheless, this study illustrates a useful way to obtain such important evidence on the
impact of cultic groups (cf. Yeakley, 1988). It also sheds light on a number of questions
about one cultic group, CUT, and some of its former members. We found that at the time
the ex-members joined CUT, they did not consider it an abusive group, but after they had
left, they considered it very abusive. Although their personalities were generally quite
normal and remain so, the reported quality of their close personal relationships deteriorated
during their membership in CUT. This evidence contributes to the larger body of research
on cults and their impact on the lives of those who were once affiliated with them.
Considering the large number of cultic groups that are currently active, similar studies
investigating other groups are critically needed.
References
Adams, D. (1993). The Cincinnati Church of Christ: How former members rate the group on
a cultism scale. Unpublished master‘s thesis, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Andersen, S. (1985). Identifying coercion and deception in social systems. In B. Kilbourne
(Ed.), Scientific research and new religions: Divergent perspectives (pp. 12-23). San
Francisco: American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Balch, R. W., &Langdon, S. (1998). How the problem of malfeasance gets overlooked in
studies of new religions: Examination of the AWARE study of The Church Universal and
Triumphant. In A. Shupe (Ed.), Wolves within the fold: Religious leadership and abuses
of power (pp. 191-211). New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.
Chambers, W., Langone, M. D., Dole, A., &Grice, J. (1994). The Group Psychological Abuse
Scale: A measure of the varieties of cultic abuse. Cultic Studies Journal, 11 (1), 88-117.
Clark, J. G. (1979). Cults. Journal of the American Medical Association, 242, 179-181.
Clark, J. G., Langone, M. D., Schecter, R. E., &Daly, R. C. (1981). Destructive cult
conversion: Theory, research, and treatment. Weston, MA: American Family Foundation.
Conway, F., &Siegelman, J. (1995). Snapping: America’s epidemic of sudden personality
change (2nd ed.). New York: Stillpoint Press.
Dawes, R. M. (1988). Rational choice in an uncertain world. San Diego: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich.
Derogatis, L. R. (1994). SCL-90-R: Administration, scoring, and procedures manual.
Minneapolis, MN: National Computer Systems.
Derogatis, L. R., &DellaPietra, L. (1994). Psychological tests in screening for psychiatric
disorder. In M. Maruish (Ed.), The use of psychological testing for treatment planning
and outcome assessment. (pp. 22-54). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Derogatis, L. R., &Lazarus, L. (1994). SCL-90-R, Brief Symptom Inventory, and matching
clinical rating scales. In M. Maruish (Ed.), The use of psychological testing for treatment
planning and outcome assessment (pp. 217-248). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Derogatis, L. R., Rickels, K., &Rock, A. (1976). The SCL-90 and the MMPI: A step in the
validation of a new self-report scale. British Journal of Psychiatry, 128, 280-289.
Dole, A. &Dubrow-Eichel, S. (1985). Some new religions are dangerous. Cultic Studies
Journal, 2 (1), 17-30.
Eysenck, H. J., &Eysenck, S. B. G. (1994). Manual of the Eysenck Personality
Questionnaire. San Diego, CA: Edits.
Goldberg, L., &Goldberg, W. (1982). Group work with former cultists. Social Work, 27, 165-
170.
As with most surveys, it is impossible to ascertain what distinguishes respondents from non-
respondents. Are non-respondents likely to be more or less distressed than those who
participated in the study? Do they hold more or less favorable views of CUT? These
questions remain unanswered. Also, research that focuses on children who have left cults is
virtually nonexistent. The development of instruments and methodologies that permit such
investigation without causing additional harm should be among the goals for future work.
Nevertheless, this study illustrates a useful way to obtain such important evidence on the
impact of cultic groups (cf. Yeakley, 1988). It also sheds light on a number of questions
about one cultic group, CUT, and some of its former members. We found that at the time
the ex-members joined CUT, they did not consider it an abusive group, but after they had
left, they considered it very abusive. Although their personalities were generally quite
normal and remain so, the reported quality of their close personal relationships deteriorated
during their membership in CUT. This evidence contributes to the larger body of research
on cults and their impact on the lives of those who were once affiliated with them.
Considering the large number of cultic groups that are currently active, similar studies
investigating other groups are critically needed.
References
Adams, D. (1993). The Cincinnati Church of Christ: How former members rate the group on
a cultism scale. Unpublished master‘s thesis, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Andersen, S. (1985). Identifying coercion and deception in social systems. In B. Kilbourne
(Ed.), Scientific research and new religions: Divergent perspectives (pp. 12-23). San
Francisco: American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Balch, R. W., &Langdon, S. (1998). How the problem of malfeasance gets overlooked in
studies of new religions: Examination of the AWARE study of The Church Universal and
Triumphant. In A. Shupe (Ed.), Wolves within the fold: Religious leadership and abuses
of power (pp. 191-211). New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.
Chambers, W., Langone, M. D., Dole, A., &Grice, J. (1994). The Group Psychological Abuse
Scale: A measure of the varieties of cultic abuse. Cultic Studies Journal, 11 (1), 88-117.
Clark, J. G. (1979). Cults. Journal of the American Medical Association, 242, 179-181.
Clark, J. G., Langone, M. D., Schecter, R. E., &Daly, R. C. (1981). Destructive cult
conversion: Theory, research, and treatment. Weston, MA: American Family Foundation.
Conway, F., &Siegelman, J. (1995). Snapping: America’s epidemic of sudden personality
change (2nd ed.). New York: Stillpoint Press.
Dawes, R. M. (1988). Rational choice in an uncertain world. San Diego: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich.
Derogatis, L. R. (1994). SCL-90-R: Administration, scoring, and procedures manual.
Minneapolis, MN: National Computer Systems.
Derogatis, L. R., &DellaPietra, L. (1994). Psychological tests in screening for psychiatric
disorder. In M. Maruish (Ed.), The use of psychological testing for treatment planning
and outcome assessment. (pp. 22-54). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Derogatis, L. R., &Lazarus, L. (1994). SCL-90-R, Brief Symptom Inventory, and matching
clinical rating scales. In M. Maruish (Ed.), The use of psychological testing for treatment
planning and outcome assessment (pp. 217-248). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Derogatis, L. R., Rickels, K., &Rock, A. (1976). The SCL-90 and the MMPI: A step in the
validation of a new self-report scale. British Journal of Psychiatry, 128, 280-289.
Dole, A. &Dubrow-Eichel, S. (1985). Some new religions are dangerous. Cultic Studies
Journal, 2 (1), 17-30.
Eysenck, H. J., &Eysenck, S. B. G. (1994). Manual of the Eysenck Personality
Questionnaire. San Diego, CA: Edits.
Goldberg, L., &Goldberg, W. (1982). Group work with former cultists. Social Work, 27, 165-
170.
