International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation Volume 9 2026 118
Intergenerational Transmission of Cult Trauma:
The Impact on Child-Rearing of Cult-Created
Dissociation and a Cult-Created Harsh Conscience
Lorna Goldberg1,2
Abstract: As a result of trauma and ongoing cult control practices, parents raising children in cults are usually
living in a cult-induced dissociative state, which interferes with their ability to self-reflect and establish an empathic
connection with their children. Many parents are conditioned to anxiously follow their leader’s self-serving demands
rather than their natural inclinations. Typically, cult control practices leave children vulnerable to emotional and
physical neglect or abuse. To illustrate this process, this paper examines the child-rearing relationship between
a second-generation mother and her third-generation son. The author defines dissociation and explores theories
of early childhood development to illustrate how the cult mother–child relationship affects a child’s developing
brain and nervous system, impacts early life experiences, and has consequences for adulthood. Finally, the paper
addresses the recovery process for mother and son.
Keywords: cult, intergenerational trauma, dissociation, cult recovery
1 Corresponding author: Lorna Goldberg. email: lorna@blgoldberg.com. Website: blgoldberg.com.
2 The author wishes to thank ‘Anika’ and ‘David’ for their insights. She also thanks William Goldberg and two additional
former long-term members of this cult for their generosity and wisdom in editing.
Introduction
This paper explores the child-rearing relationship
of a second-generation cult mother, “Anika,” and her
third-generation son, “David.” It examines an Eastern
meditation cult’s impact across three generations
(1970–2024): Anika’s parents, Anika, and her son.
During this time, there were two leaders: first, a man,
and then, following his death, a woman. This paper
describes how Anika and David came to understand
how cult dynamics interfered with their relationship,
thus hindering their ability to empathize with one
another. It follows their journey toward recognizing
these patterns and taking steps toward healing.
The author describes how cult practices, including
long hours of chanting and meditation to achieve
enlightenment, driven by a strict moral code and
pressure to advance in the cult’s hierarchy, led to
anxious perfectionism and eroded individuality, leaving
little room for parents to meet their children’s needs.
Anika’s experiences—parental absence, sexual abuse,
and the relentless pressure to achieve enlightenment—
undermined her sense of self and her ability to connect
with David. Her focus on satisfying the cult’s demands
often overshadowed her ability to comfort and protect
him.
Anika experienced the cult traumas of parental
absence, prolonged periods of dissociative practices,
and the cult’s demand to strive for the unreachable
goal of enlightenment. These traumas, as well as
sexual abuse, led to dissociation, accepting the cult’s
principles blindly, and losing her agency. Anika’s
ability to soothe and protect David from cult harm was
undermined because she was anxiously ensuring that
they both complied with the cult’s strict code rather
than focusing on his needs. Cult control mechanisms
interfered with her abilities to self-soothe and to soothe
her son, despite her conscious desire to be a devoted
mother.
Drawing on years of conducting therapy with former
cult member parents, the author learned that most cult
parents exist in a dissociative state from cult trauma
and cult practices. This state hinders self-reflection and
the establishment of an empathic connection with their
children (Goldberg, 2003 Goldberg, 2017). Parents are
likely to follow the self-serving demands of their leader
instead of their own inclinations (Lifton, 1961). This
doi: 10.54208/1000/0009/010
Intergenerational Transmission of Cult Trauma:
The Impact on Child-Rearing of Cult-Created
Dissociation and a Cult-Created Harsh Conscience
Lorna Goldberg1,2
Abstract: As a result of trauma and ongoing cult control practices, parents raising children in cults are usually
living in a cult-induced dissociative state, which interferes with their ability to self-reflect and establish an empathic
connection with their children. Many parents are conditioned to anxiously follow their leader’s self-serving demands
rather than their natural inclinations. Typically, cult control practices leave children vulnerable to emotional and
physical neglect or abuse. To illustrate this process, this paper examines the child-rearing relationship between
a second-generation mother and her third-generation son. The author defines dissociation and explores theories
of early childhood development to illustrate how the cult mother–child relationship affects a child’s developing
brain and nervous system, impacts early life experiences, and has consequences for adulthood. Finally, the paper
addresses the recovery process for mother and son.
Keywords: cult, intergenerational trauma, dissociation, cult recovery
1 Corresponding author: Lorna Goldberg. email: lorna@blgoldberg.com. Website: blgoldberg.com.
2 The author wishes to thank ‘Anika’ and ‘David’ for their insights. She also thanks William Goldberg and two additional
former long-term members of this cult for their generosity and wisdom in editing.
Introduction
This paper explores the child-rearing relationship
of a second-generation cult mother, “Anika,” and her
third-generation son, “David.” It examines an Eastern
meditation cult’s impact across three generations
(1970–2024): Anika’s parents, Anika, and her son.
During this time, there were two leaders: first, a man,
and then, following his death, a woman. This paper
describes how Anika and David came to understand
how cult dynamics interfered with their relationship,
thus hindering their ability to empathize with one
another. It follows their journey toward recognizing
these patterns and taking steps toward healing.
The author describes how cult practices, including
long hours of chanting and meditation to achieve
enlightenment, driven by a strict moral code and
pressure to advance in the cult’s hierarchy, led to
anxious perfectionism and eroded individuality, leaving
little room for parents to meet their children’s needs.
Anika’s experiences—parental absence, sexual abuse,
and the relentless pressure to achieve enlightenment—
undermined her sense of self and her ability to connect
with David. Her focus on satisfying the cult’s demands
often overshadowed her ability to comfort and protect
him.
Anika experienced the cult traumas of parental
absence, prolonged periods of dissociative practices,
and the cult’s demand to strive for the unreachable
goal of enlightenment. These traumas, as well as
sexual abuse, led to dissociation, accepting the cult’s
principles blindly, and losing her agency. Anika’s
ability to soothe and protect David from cult harm was
undermined because she was anxiously ensuring that
they both complied with the cult’s strict code rather
than focusing on his needs. Cult control mechanisms
interfered with her abilities to self-soothe and to soothe
her son, despite her conscious desire to be a devoted
mother.
Drawing on years of conducting therapy with former
cult member parents, the author learned that most cult
parents exist in a dissociative state from cult trauma
and cult practices. This state hinders self-reflection and
the establishment of an empathic connection with their
children (Goldberg, 2003 Goldberg, 2017). Parents are
likely to follow the self-serving demands of their leader
instead of their own inclinations (Lifton, 1961). This
doi: 10.54208/1000/0009/010
