Cultic Studies Journal, Volume 17, 2000, Page 39
It is, therefore, the therapist‘s responsibility to help the client develop an internal locus of
control and encourage all efforts at self-empowerment. As personal power increases and the
authentic self resurfaces, the imposed views of self and the world will fade.
Conclusion
Working with female victims of domestic violence can be both a frustrating and rewarding
task. Likewise, I have found working with those who have left a toxic group can be equally
challenging and rewarding. Most therapists have worked with victims of domestic violence,
and there is an increasing number of therapists who are assisting victims of destructive
cults. However, there have been few attempts to bridge these two areas. In attempting to
link these two areas of study and clinical work, this paper seeks to empower victims and
help therapists better understand the dynamics common to situations in which one person
tries to control another.
References
Boulette, T.R., &Anderson, S.M. (1985). ―Mind Control‖ and the battering of women.
Community Mental Health Journal, 21 (2), 109-118.
Chambers, W., Langone, M.D., Dole, A.A., &Grice, J.W. (1994). The Group Psychological
Abuse Scale: A measure of the varieties of cultic abuse. Cultic Studies Journal, 11 (1),
88-117.
Cushman, P. (1986). The self besieged: Recruitment-Indoctrination processes in restrictive
groups. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 16 (1), 1-32.
Dahlen, P. (1997). Working with women survivors of cults: An empowerment model for
counselors, Cultic Studies Journal, 14 (1), 145-154.
Dutton, D. &Painter, S. (1981). Traumatic bonding: The development of emotional
attachments in battered women and other relationships of intermittent abuse,
Victimology, 1 (4), 139-155.
Gelles, R.J. (1976). Abused wives: Why do they stay? Journal of Marriage and the Family,
38, 559-667.
Giambalvo, C. (1993). Post-cult problems: An exit counselor‘s perspective. in Langone, M.
(Ed), Recovery From Cults, pp. 148-154. New York: W.W. Norton.
Gibney, P. (1996). Family therapy: Inner, outer and the issue of pathology. Australian and
New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 17 (4), 173-190.
Grigsby, N., &Hartman, B.R. (1997). The barriers model: An integrated strategy for
intervention with battered women. Psychotherapy, 34 (4), 485-497.
Goldner, V., Penn, P., Sheinberg, M., &Walker, G. (1990). Love and violence: Gender
paradoxes in volatile attachments. Family Process, 29 (4), 343-364.
Herman, J. (1992). Complex PTSD: A syndrome in survivors of prolonged and repeated
trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 5 (3), 377-391.
Hilberman, E., &Munson, K. (1978). Sixty battered women, Victimology, 2, 3-4.
Lifton, R.J., (1961). Thought reform and the psychology of totalism. Chapel Hill: University
of North Carolina Press.
Long, G.M., &McNamara, J.R. (1989). Paradoxical punishment as it relates to the battered
woman syndrome. Behavior Modification, 13 (2), 192-205.
Ofshe, R. (1992). Coercive persuasion and attitude change. In E. F. Borgatta &M. L.
Borgatta (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Sociology, pp. 212-224. New York: Macmillan.
Ofshe, R., &Singer, M., (1986). Attacks on Peripheral versus Central Elements of Self and
the Impact of Thought Reforming Techniques, Cultic Studies Journal, 3, (1), 3-24.
Rhodes, N.R., &McKenzie, E.B. (1998). Why do battered women stay?: Three decades of
research. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 3 (4), 391-406.
Romero, M. (1985). A comparison between strategies used on prisoners of war and battered
wives. Sex Roles, 13 (9/10), 537-547.
It is, therefore, the therapist‘s responsibility to help the client develop an internal locus of
control and encourage all efforts at self-empowerment. As personal power increases and the
authentic self resurfaces, the imposed views of self and the world will fade.
Conclusion
Working with female victims of domestic violence can be both a frustrating and rewarding
task. Likewise, I have found working with those who have left a toxic group can be equally
challenging and rewarding. Most therapists have worked with victims of domestic violence,
and there is an increasing number of therapists who are assisting victims of destructive
cults. However, there have been few attempts to bridge these two areas. In attempting to
link these two areas of study and clinical work, this paper seeks to empower victims and
help therapists better understand the dynamics common to situations in which one person
tries to control another.
References
Boulette, T.R., &Anderson, S.M. (1985). ―Mind Control‖ and the battering of women.
Community Mental Health Journal, 21 (2), 109-118.
Chambers, W., Langone, M.D., Dole, A.A., &Grice, J.W. (1994). The Group Psychological
Abuse Scale: A measure of the varieties of cultic abuse. Cultic Studies Journal, 11 (1),
88-117.
Cushman, P. (1986). The self besieged: Recruitment-Indoctrination processes in restrictive
groups. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 16 (1), 1-32.
Dahlen, P. (1997). Working with women survivors of cults: An empowerment model for
counselors, Cultic Studies Journal, 14 (1), 145-154.
Dutton, D. &Painter, S. (1981). Traumatic bonding: The development of emotional
attachments in battered women and other relationships of intermittent abuse,
Victimology, 1 (4), 139-155.
Gelles, R.J. (1976). Abused wives: Why do they stay? Journal of Marriage and the Family,
38, 559-667.
Giambalvo, C. (1993). Post-cult problems: An exit counselor‘s perspective. in Langone, M.
(Ed), Recovery From Cults, pp. 148-154. New York: W.W. Norton.
Gibney, P. (1996). Family therapy: Inner, outer and the issue of pathology. Australian and
New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 17 (4), 173-190.
Grigsby, N., &Hartman, B.R. (1997). The barriers model: An integrated strategy for
intervention with battered women. Psychotherapy, 34 (4), 485-497.
Goldner, V., Penn, P., Sheinberg, M., &Walker, G. (1990). Love and violence: Gender
paradoxes in volatile attachments. Family Process, 29 (4), 343-364.
Herman, J. (1992). Complex PTSD: A syndrome in survivors of prolonged and repeated
trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 5 (3), 377-391.
Hilberman, E., &Munson, K. (1978). Sixty battered women, Victimology, 2, 3-4.
Lifton, R.J., (1961). Thought reform and the psychology of totalism. Chapel Hill: University
of North Carolina Press.
Long, G.M., &McNamara, J.R. (1989). Paradoxical punishment as it relates to the battered
woman syndrome. Behavior Modification, 13 (2), 192-205.
Ofshe, R. (1992). Coercive persuasion and attitude change. In E. F. Borgatta &M. L.
Borgatta (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Sociology, pp. 212-224. New York: Macmillan.
Ofshe, R., &Singer, M., (1986). Attacks on Peripheral versus Central Elements of Self and
the Impact of Thought Reforming Techniques, Cultic Studies Journal, 3, (1), 3-24.
Rhodes, N.R., &McKenzie, E.B. (1998). Why do battered women stay?: Three decades of
research. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 3 (4), 391-406.
Romero, M. (1985). A comparison between strategies used on prisoners of war and battered
wives. Sex Roles, 13 (9/10), 537-547.
