International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation ■ Vol. 1, No. 1, 2020 85
has physically abused one’s child to the point
of drawing blood (ABC News, 2003
Timoner, 2007). One Branch Davidian
mother, who finally left with her son before
the standoff, is “haunted by the spankings”
she inflicted on him when he was an infant.
She believed “this was God’s child” and she
had to discipline him harshly so he could
fulfill his destiny (ABC News, 2003).
Realizing that one has refused medical care
that would save the child’s life is equally
difficult to bear (Swan, 2000). Even worse is
being complicit in sexual abuse, as in the case
of Kiri Jewell noted previously. Likewise, it
is almost unfathomable to comprehend how,
during the raid on the Branch Davidians,
mothers abandoned their children who had
escaped, choosing instead to die with Koresh.
Sarah’s mother was expected to show her
love for Sarah by inflicting harsh discipline,
beating her with the bamboo rod. She obeyed
this mandate to the best of her ability,
delivering harsh punishment, even when her
children came to her for help, such as when
Sarah reported sexual abuse at the hands of
her 10-year-old caregivers. Sarah’s mother in
fact struggled in the group and was often “in
darkness,” which meant she was punished
and ostracized. She was viewed as
disobedient, and Sarah and her siblings were
additionally beaten by other group members
because “they had a bad mother.” In these
ways, the bond between Sarah and her
mother was made tenuous.
Attachment Issues
Neuroscience research of the past few
decades has taught the importance of optimal
attachment experiences, or a healthy
connection between a mother and child.
Findings strongly suggest that the brain of a
newborn develops through the relationship
with his or her mother. If a child receives
nurturing, empathic, maternal care, his or her
brain will develop optimally. On the other
hand, if a child is emotionally neglected or
abused, his or her brain may be
underdeveloped, leading to impaired social–
emotional and cognitive functioning (Schore
&Schore, 2012). Functional magnetic
resonance imaging scans provide evidence
that neglected children have smaller brains
compared to those of children who grew up
in loving homes. In addition, chronic stress in
childhood puts neglected and abused children
at risk for negative health and mental health
outcomes as adults (Chapman, Dube, &
Anda, 2007). Space does not permit an
extensive discussion of all the effects that
adverse childhood experiences have on the
brain, but science has shown how critical
early attachment can be for healthy
development.
Disrupted attachment is another common
theme in recovery groups. Cult leaders
instinctively know that it is difficult for a
woman to be both a mother to her child and a
compliant “child” to the cult leader. Thus,
leaders have various ways of preventing and
diluting a strong mother–child attachment.
Adults’ time might be so overscheduled with
fundraising, recruiting, and chores that they
have little time or energy left for children. Or
parents and children will be physically
separated by either of them being sent away
on missions to other countries or the children
sent away to be educated in India or
elsewhere. In other groups, children live in
communal houses in which various adults
care for them these caregivers may rotate
through and often do not want to be there.
Such was the case with Sarah, who lived on a
communal Twelve Tribes farm and was
raised by other children tasked with her care.
Other interferences are more subtle. A client
of the first author remembers a time when a
2-year-old toddler was crying during an all-
night Bible study session, trying to climb up
on his mother’s lap. The furious leader
kicked the child away, contemptuously
calling him a “momma’s boy.” The mother
was unable to protest (ex-member, personal
has physically abused one’s child to the point
of drawing blood (ABC News, 2003
Timoner, 2007). One Branch Davidian
mother, who finally left with her son before
the standoff, is “haunted by the spankings”
she inflicted on him when he was an infant.
She believed “this was God’s child” and she
had to discipline him harshly so he could
fulfill his destiny (ABC News, 2003).
Realizing that one has refused medical care
that would save the child’s life is equally
difficult to bear (Swan, 2000). Even worse is
being complicit in sexual abuse, as in the case
of Kiri Jewell noted previously. Likewise, it
is almost unfathomable to comprehend how,
during the raid on the Branch Davidians,
mothers abandoned their children who had
escaped, choosing instead to die with Koresh.
Sarah’s mother was expected to show her
love for Sarah by inflicting harsh discipline,
beating her with the bamboo rod. She obeyed
this mandate to the best of her ability,
delivering harsh punishment, even when her
children came to her for help, such as when
Sarah reported sexual abuse at the hands of
her 10-year-old caregivers. Sarah’s mother in
fact struggled in the group and was often “in
darkness,” which meant she was punished
and ostracized. She was viewed as
disobedient, and Sarah and her siblings were
additionally beaten by other group members
because “they had a bad mother.” In these
ways, the bond between Sarah and her
mother was made tenuous.
Attachment Issues
Neuroscience research of the past few
decades has taught the importance of optimal
attachment experiences, or a healthy
connection between a mother and child.
Findings strongly suggest that the brain of a
newborn develops through the relationship
with his or her mother. If a child receives
nurturing, empathic, maternal care, his or her
brain will develop optimally. On the other
hand, if a child is emotionally neglected or
abused, his or her brain may be
underdeveloped, leading to impaired social–
emotional and cognitive functioning (Schore
&Schore, 2012). Functional magnetic
resonance imaging scans provide evidence
that neglected children have smaller brains
compared to those of children who grew up
in loving homes. In addition, chronic stress in
childhood puts neglected and abused children
at risk for negative health and mental health
outcomes as adults (Chapman, Dube, &
Anda, 2007). Space does not permit an
extensive discussion of all the effects that
adverse childhood experiences have on the
brain, but science has shown how critical
early attachment can be for healthy
development.
Disrupted attachment is another common
theme in recovery groups. Cult leaders
instinctively know that it is difficult for a
woman to be both a mother to her child and a
compliant “child” to the cult leader. Thus,
leaders have various ways of preventing and
diluting a strong mother–child attachment.
Adults’ time might be so overscheduled with
fundraising, recruiting, and chores that they
have little time or energy left for children. Or
parents and children will be physically
separated by either of them being sent away
on missions to other countries or the children
sent away to be educated in India or
elsewhere. In other groups, children live in
communal houses in which various adults
care for them these caregivers may rotate
through and often do not want to be there.
Such was the case with Sarah, who lived on a
communal Twelve Tribes farm and was
raised by other children tasked with her care.
Other interferences are more subtle. A client
of the first author remembers a time when a
2-year-old toddler was crying during an all-
night Bible study session, trying to climb up
on his mother’s lap. The furious leader
kicked the child away, contemptuously
calling him a “momma’s boy.” The mother
was unable to protest (ex-member, personal
