10 ICSA TODAY
Related common terms such as radical groups or extremist
groups can also be applied widely to a range of similar
phenomena thus, it can be demonstrated that terrorist
groups and violent extremism are a subset of a wider set
of groups that may be variously termed as cults or radical
or extremist groups. The extent of cultic or undue influence
or thought reform may vary considerably between groups,
including those that are violent extremist groups. It follows
that the extent of thought reform, analogous to a totalistic
identity and to the process of psychological conversion, will
also vary between groups and, importantly, within groups.
Just as the extent of violence will vary between groups
(ranging from none to a modus operandi based entirely on
acts of terrorist violence), so too will the extent of abuse
within a group and the extent of harm suffered by members.
The phrase coined by Michael Langone (Executive Director
of ICSA) in 1999 speaks to the importance of a balanced
and empirical approach to research and practice in this area
when he said that “…a huge body of clinical evidence and
a growing body of empirical research indicate that some
groups harm some people sometimes, and that some groups
may be more likely to harm people than other groups.”18
Therefore, we can consider the definitions of violent
extremism and terrorism to describe the features of particular
phenomena that overlap in important ways with a wider
range of phenomena referred to as cults or radical or extremist
groups. The European Commission (2005) defined violent
radicalization as “the phenomenon of people embracing
opinions, views and ideas which could lead to acts of
terrorism as defined in Article 1 of the Framework Decision on
Combatting Terrorism” (p. 2). It is clear that such a definition is
also encapsulated within the wider definition of cults, which
was established in 1986 by ICSA
as a group or movement exhibiting a great
or excessive devotion or dedication to some
person, idea, or thing and employing unethically
manipulative techniques of persuasion and control
(e.g., isolation from former friends and family,
debilitation, use of special methods to heighten
suggestibility and subservience, powerful group
pressures, information management, suspension
of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of
total dependency on the group and fear of leaving
it…), designed to advance the goals of the group’s
leaders, to the actual or possible detriment of
members, their families, or the community. (West &
Langone, 1986)
Clarifying the meaning and application of these overlapping
terms is therefore helpful as practitioners across related fields
of practice collaborate to enhance understandings and the
efficacy of interventions to counter violent extremism, and
to facilitate the exit of and foster the sustainable recovery for
former members. n
Notes
[1] Note that the term sect is often used instead of cult in
Europe outside of English-speaking countries.
[2] See Appendix.
[3] Stephen A. Kent (ICSA). Possible Sociological and Cultic
Studies Contributions to Radicalisation Awareness
(presentation, RAN EXIT working group, June 27, 2017,
Bordeaux, France).
[4] Stephen A. Kent (ICSA). Possible Sociological and Cultic
Studies Contributions to Radicalisation Awareness
(presentation, RAN EXIT working group, June 27, 2017,
Bordeaux, France).
[5] Linda Dubrow-Marshall (RETIRN UK and ICSA). Recovery
and Counselling. Lessons From Adjacent Fields: Cults
(presentation, RAN EXIT working group, June 27, 2017,
Bordeaux, France).
[6] Mike Kropfeld and Michael. D. Langone (ICSA). Recruiting
and Retaining Cult Members (presentation, RAN EXIT
working group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[7] See Singer’s Six Conditions, Re-FOCUS, Inc., 1998–2012
(adapted from Margaret T. Singer and Janja Lalich,
Cults in Our Midst…, 1995, pp. 64-69), online at http://
www.refocus.org/uploads/3/9/3/8/3938709/singers_
conditions.pdf
[8] Setting Up an Exit Intervention (ex-post RAN paper),
Berlin, Germany, February 13–14, 2017 (see https://
ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-
we-do/networks/radicalisation_awareness_network/
about-ran/ran-exit/docs/ran_exit_setting_up_exit_
intervention_berlin_13-14_022017_en.pdf).
[9] Ashley Allen (ICSA). Working With First- and Second-
Generation Former Members (presentation, RAN EXIT
working group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[10] Linda Dubrow-Marshall (RETIRN UK and ICSA). Recovery
and Counselling (presentation, RAN EXIT working
group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[11] Ashley Allen (ICSA). Working With First- and Second-
Generation Former Members (presentation, RAN EXIT
working group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[12] André Taubert and Legato Hamburg. Lessons From
Adjacent Fields: Cults (ex-post RAN paper, RAN EXIT
working group, Bordeaux, June 27–28, 2017 see
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/
files/what-we-do/networks/).radicalisation_
awareness_network/ran-papers/docs/lessons_from_
adjacent_fields_cults_bordeaux_27-28_06_2017_
en.pdf)
[13] Linda Dubrow-Marshall (RETIRN UK and ICSA). Recovery
and Counselling (presentation, RAN EXIT working
group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[14] Family Support: What Works? (ex-post RAN YF&C paper,
Manchester, UK, September 29–30, 2016 see https://
ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/
what-we-do/networks/radicalisation_awareness_
network/ran-papers/docs/ran_ex-post_paper_family_
support_29-30_september_manchester_en.pdf).
Related common terms such as radical groups or extremist
groups can also be applied widely to a range of similar
phenomena thus, it can be demonstrated that terrorist
groups and violent extremism are a subset of a wider set
of groups that may be variously termed as cults or radical
or extremist groups. The extent of cultic or undue influence
or thought reform may vary considerably between groups,
including those that are violent extremist groups. It follows
that the extent of thought reform, analogous to a totalistic
identity and to the process of psychological conversion, will
also vary between groups and, importantly, within groups.
Just as the extent of violence will vary between groups
(ranging from none to a modus operandi based entirely on
acts of terrorist violence), so too will the extent of abuse
within a group and the extent of harm suffered by members.
The phrase coined by Michael Langone (Executive Director
of ICSA) in 1999 speaks to the importance of a balanced
and empirical approach to research and practice in this area
when he said that “…a huge body of clinical evidence and
a growing body of empirical research indicate that some
groups harm some people sometimes, and that some groups
may be more likely to harm people than other groups.”18
Therefore, we can consider the definitions of violent
extremism and terrorism to describe the features of particular
phenomena that overlap in important ways with a wider
range of phenomena referred to as cults or radical or extremist
groups. The European Commission (2005) defined violent
radicalization as “the phenomenon of people embracing
opinions, views and ideas which could lead to acts of
terrorism as defined in Article 1 of the Framework Decision on
Combatting Terrorism” (p. 2). It is clear that such a definition is
also encapsulated within the wider definition of cults, which
was established in 1986 by ICSA
as a group or movement exhibiting a great
or excessive devotion or dedication to some
person, idea, or thing and employing unethically
manipulative techniques of persuasion and control
(e.g., isolation from former friends and family,
debilitation, use of special methods to heighten
suggestibility and subservience, powerful group
pressures, information management, suspension
of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of
total dependency on the group and fear of leaving
it…), designed to advance the goals of the group’s
leaders, to the actual or possible detriment of
members, their families, or the community. (West &
Langone, 1986)
Clarifying the meaning and application of these overlapping
terms is therefore helpful as practitioners across related fields
of practice collaborate to enhance understandings and the
efficacy of interventions to counter violent extremism, and
to facilitate the exit of and foster the sustainable recovery for
former members. n
Notes
[1] Note that the term sect is often used instead of cult in
Europe outside of English-speaking countries.
[2] See Appendix.
[3] Stephen A. Kent (ICSA). Possible Sociological and Cultic
Studies Contributions to Radicalisation Awareness
(presentation, RAN EXIT working group, June 27, 2017,
Bordeaux, France).
[4] Stephen A. Kent (ICSA). Possible Sociological and Cultic
Studies Contributions to Radicalisation Awareness
(presentation, RAN EXIT working group, June 27, 2017,
Bordeaux, France).
[5] Linda Dubrow-Marshall (RETIRN UK and ICSA). Recovery
and Counselling. Lessons From Adjacent Fields: Cults
(presentation, RAN EXIT working group, June 27, 2017,
Bordeaux, France).
[6] Mike Kropfeld and Michael. D. Langone (ICSA). Recruiting
and Retaining Cult Members (presentation, RAN EXIT
working group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[7] See Singer’s Six Conditions, Re-FOCUS, Inc., 1998–2012
(adapted from Margaret T. Singer and Janja Lalich,
Cults in Our Midst…, 1995, pp. 64-69), online at http://
www.refocus.org/uploads/3/9/3/8/3938709/singers_
conditions.pdf
[8] Setting Up an Exit Intervention (ex-post RAN paper),
Berlin, Germany, February 13–14, 2017 (see https://
ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-
we-do/networks/radicalisation_awareness_network/
about-ran/ran-exit/docs/ran_exit_setting_up_exit_
intervention_berlin_13-14_022017_en.pdf).
[9] Ashley Allen (ICSA). Working With First- and Second-
Generation Former Members (presentation, RAN EXIT
working group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[10] Linda Dubrow-Marshall (RETIRN UK and ICSA). Recovery
and Counselling (presentation, RAN EXIT working
group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[11] Ashley Allen (ICSA). Working With First- and Second-
Generation Former Members (presentation, RAN EXIT
working group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[12] André Taubert and Legato Hamburg. Lessons From
Adjacent Fields: Cults (ex-post RAN paper, RAN EXIT
working group, Bordeaux, June 27–28, 2017 see
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/
files/what-we-do/networks/).radicalisation_
awareness_network/ran-papers/docs/lessons_from_
adjacent_fields_cults_bordeaux_27-28_06_2017_
en.pdf)
[13] Linda Dubrow-Marshall (RETIRN UK and ICSA). Recovery
and Counselling (presentation, RAN EXIT working
group, June 27, 2017, Bordeaux, France).
[14] Family Support: What Works? (ex-post RAN YF&C paper,
Manchester, UK, September 29–30, 2016 see https://
ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/
what-we-do/networks/radicalisation_awareness_
network/ran-papers/docs/ran_ex-post_paper_family_
support_29-30_september_manchester_en.pdf).
