ICSA TODAY 6
authority that remains with them after they have left their
group. They do not necessarily have to reject every secondary
authority favored by their former leader some information
sources may warrant respect. It may, however, be wise for them
to review systematically these secondary sources of authority in
order to adapt more effectively to life in the mainstream world.
To help young people resist the seductions of cultic groups,
experts in this field will often say, “Question everything
and everybody.” This same advice may be offered to former
cult members, as well, although with some caveats. In a
manipulative, high-control group, somebody with a fairly solid
identity is coaxed into questioning and ultimately abandoning
and exchanging their previous identity for a new one. Of
course, those born into or raised in a group develop the group-
sanctioned personality as part of their socialization. When
former members question the central authorities that they
accepted in the group, the entire identity that the cult imposed
on them may begin to crumble. They may feel themselves in free
fall, questioning everything and not knowing what to believe.
There are two ways to deal with the risk of free fall. First, find a
therapist1 or support group of persons who understand what
you are going through. They may be able to provide you with
the authority of common sense until you are ready to dive
deeper into your disillusionment. They may tell you that it is
okay to feel lost, that the confusion will pass, that you will learn
how to believe in people again.
Second, keep reminding yourself that you don’t have to find
new moorings right away. Prioritize your problems. If feasible,
reconnect to family and friends, but don’t feel obligated to “spill
your guts” to them if doing so makes you feel unsafe. It’s okay
to tell them that you’re hurting and don’t want to talk much
about your group experience. Sometimes practical issues need
to be a first priority, particularly finding a job and a place to live.
Having a job can anchor you and give you social connections
that can make it less lonely and frightening to be separated
from your group. Reconfiguring your identity and clarifying
spiritual questions will take time, and often it is wise to put
these problem areas aside temporarily.
A Practical Approach
When you are ready to address your belief system, which is so
essential to reconfiguring your identity,2 try to approach the
task as a practical scientist might. First, list the most important
beliefs that you imbibed as a result of being a member of a
group. Then examine these beliefs as objectively as you can, as
would a scientist. Scientific methodology rests on studying what
others have said about a topic, logic (or reasoning), observation,
and the testing of hypotheses. Let’s look at each of these
approaches briefly.
Studying What Others Have Said
This step is more difficult than it may at first appear because it
often is impossible to study everything that has been written
or posted about a subject. Therefore, one must select from
a potentially long list of resources. How does one determine
which resources to focus on?
First, consult with people who understand cultic dynamics they
may be able to direct you to helpful resources. ICSA’s website,
icsahome.com, is a good place to begin. In particular, see our
study guides, topic collections, links, videos (a link to ICSA’s
YouTube channel is at the bottom of every page in the website),
and FAQs—all listed under Information, which is one of the
top navigation links. Our links page, for example, includes links
to the James Randi Educational Foundation and Skeptic (The
Skeptics Society), which offer critiques of paranormal beliefs,
astrology, and other pseudoscientific ideas that some groups
promulgate, and Quackwatch, which focuses on dubious
medical claims. We also have links to sites focused on Bible-
based groups. Also, feel free to write ICSA (Contact Us is at the
bottom of every page in the site).
Second, seek out critics of your group, especially those who
have relevant professional credentials. Keep in mind that critics
do not necessarily reject everything that your group may have
taught you to believe. Many Bible-based groups, for example,
teach elements of orthodox Christianity, even though their core
message may be incompatible with Christianity.
If you begin to read criticisms, you may find yourself being
triggered or feeling anxious and spacey. This is a common
reaction, for these critics may have been vilified in your group,
and you may have developed an automatic psychological
aversion to them. See ICSA’s Support page (top navigation link),
which directs you to workshops, support groups, and other
resources that may help you deal with such reactions.
Logic/Reasoning
The level of sophistry (“the use of reasoning or arguments
that sound correct but are actually false”—merriam-webster.
com/dictionary/sophistry) put forth by some cult leaders is
astounding. Buttressed by psychological influence tactics (e.g.,
guilt induction, conformity pressures), sophistry can persuade
cult members to believe notions that cannot withstand critical
scrutiny. A favorite tactic of cult leaders is to set up nonfalsifiable
systems, in which a proposition is deemed true whatever the
outcome (heads, I win tails, you lose). A group’s meditation
technique may, for example, claim to cure an ailment. If a
member practices the technique and does not experience a
cure, then the member is obviously doing it wrong. If a cure
follows the meditation practice (even though the result may be
coincidence or a placebo effect), then the technique is proven.
Either way, the leader wins. Such nonfalsfiable systems are a
hallmark of pseudoscience.3
Observation
All science depends upon observation. Because we can be
fooled, however, the various sciences advocate detailed
methodologies for observation. Nevertheless, common-sense
authority that remains with them after they have left their
group. They do not necessarily have to reject every secondary
authority favored by their former leader some information
sources may warrant respect. It may, however, be wise for them
to review systematically these secondary sources of authority in
order to adapt more effectively to life in the mainstream world.
To help young people resist the seductions of cultic groups,
experts in this field will often say, “Question everything
and everybody.” This same advice may be offered to former
cult members, as well, although with some caveats. In a
manipulative, high-control group, somebody with a fairly solid
identity is coaxed into questioning and ultimately abandoning
and exchanging their previous identity for a new one. Of
course, those born into or raised in a group develop the group-
sanctioned personality as part of their socialization. When
former members question the central authorities that they
accepted in the group, the entire identity that the cult imposed
on them may begin to crumble. They may feel themselves in free
fall, questioning everything and not knowing what to believe.
There are two ways to deal with the risk of free fall. First, find a
therapist1 or support group of persons who understand what
you are going through. They may be able to provide you with
the authority of common sense until you are ready to dive
deeper into your disillusionment. They may tell you that it is
okay to feel lost, that the confusion will pass, that you will learn
how to believe in people again.
Second, keep reminding yourself that you don’t have to find
new moorings right away. Prioritize your problems. If feasible,
reconnect to family and friends, but don’t feel obligated to “spill
your guts” to them if doing so makes you feel unsafe. It’s okay
to tell them that you’re hurting and don’t want to talk much
about your group experience. Sometimes practical issues need
to be a first priority, particularly finding a job and a place to live.
Having a job can anchor you and give you social connections
that can make it less lonely and frightening to be separated
from your group. Reconfiguring your identity and clarifying
spiritual questions will take time, and often it is wise to put
these problem areas aside temporarily.
A Practical Approach
When you are ready to address your belief system, which is so
essential to reconfiguring your identity,2 try to approach the
task as a practical scientist might. First, list the most important
beliefs that you imbibed as a result of being a member of a
group. Then examine these beliefs as objectively as you can, as
would a scientist. Scientific methodology rests on studying what
others have said about a topic, logic (or reasoning), observation,
and the testing of hypotheses. Let’s look at each of these
approaches briefly.
Studying What Others Have Said
This step is more difficult than it may at first appear because it
often is impossible to study everything that has been written
or posted about a subject. Therefore, one must select from
a potentially long list of resources. How does one determine
which resources to focus on?
First, consult with people who understand cultic dynamics they
may be able to direct you to helpful resources. ICSA’s website,
icsahome.com, is a good place to begin. In particular, see our
study guides, topic collections, links, videos (a link to ICSA’s
YouTube channel is at the bottom of every page in the website),
and FAQs—all listed under Information, which is one of the
top navigation links. Our links page, for example, includes links
to the James Randi Educational Foundation and Skeptic (The
Skeptics Society), which offer critiques of paranormal beliefs,
astrology, and other pseudoscientific ideas that some groups
promulgate, and Quackwatch, which focuses on dubious
medical claims. We also have links to sites focused on Bible-
based groups. Also, feel free to write ICSA (Contact Us is at the
bottom of every page in the site).
Second, seek out critics of your group, especially those who
have relevant professional credentials. Keep in mind that critics
do not necessarily reject everything that your group may have
taught you to believe. Many Bible-based groups, for example,
teach elements of orthodox Christianity, even though their core
message may be incompatible with Christianity.
If you begin to read criticisms, you may find yourself being
triggered or feeling anxious and spacey. This is a common
reaction, for these critics may have been vilified in your group,
and you may have developed an automatic psychological
aversion to them. See ICSA’s Support page (top navigation link),
which directs you to workshops, support groups, and other
resources that may help you deal with such reactions.
Logic/Reasoning
The level of sophistry (“the use of reasoning or arguments
that sound correct but are actually false”—merriam-webster.
com/dictionary/sophistry) put forth by some cult leaders is
astounding. Buttressed by psychological influence tactics (e.g.,
guilt induction, conformity pressures), sophistry can persuade
cult members to believe notions that cannot withstand critical
scrutiny. A favorite tactic of cult leaders is to set up nonfalsifiable
systems, in which a proposition is deemed true whatever the
outcome (heads, I win tails, you lose). A group’s meditation
technique may, for example, claim to cure an ailment. If a
member practices the technique and does not experience a
cure, then the member is obviously doing it wrong. If a cure
follows the meditation practice (even though the result may be
coincidence or a placebo effect), then the technique is proven.
Either way, the leader wins. Such nonfalsfiable systems are a
hallmark of pseudoscience.3
Observation
All science depends upon observation. Because we can be
fooled, however, the various sciences advocate detailed
methodologies for observation. Nevertheless, common-sense
