International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation Volume 9 2026 126
status in the hierarchy over genuine relationships.
Members’ natural inclination to build good relationships
was redirected to the cult. This shift resulted in changes
in the members’ principles and attitudes.
• Reinforced members’ dissociation and made them
more amenable to harsh cult attitudes
• Undermined parental authority
• Created confusion and insecurity in children about
parental roles
• Corrupted intra-family dynamics and eroded trust
within the family
• Undermined marital and member intimacy,
confused members about their relationships’
loyalty, and metaphorically brought a third party
into the marriage bed
• Created a constant striving to reach the top by
pulling others down
• Engendered the need to make oneself appear
perfect
• Reinforced black-and-white thinking
• Replaced true intimacy (or a relationship of equals
who gain pleasure through collaboration) with
gaining the cult leader’s favor
As a result, children learned to manipulate and compete
rather than connect with others. Children in the cult
learned to see themselves and others as “higher” or
“lower” based on the leader’s favor. This fostered harsh
self-judgment and judgment of others, hindering
healthy social interactions.
The Drive to Rise in the Cult Hierarchy Distorted
Family Relationships
Over the years, Anika’s mother achieved a high status
by spending time with people close to the leader and
advancing in the organization’s management. In 1976,
she facilitated the purchase of the first two facilities in
the northeastern United States. She played a key role in
the cult’s American expansion. She was one of the early
Westerners who travelled to India to study with the
leader. Over the next 44 years, she became a respected
“old timer.” She wanted to be the best possible devotee
she avidly worshipped the male leader and later, his
female successor.
The male leader refused Anika’s mother’s request to
take formal vows of celibacy because she was married
and had children. However, he gave her permission to
wear yellow to physically indicate her alignment with
that way of life while still respecting the needs of her
husband and family. Anika was unsure whether her
mother wanted her to pursue spiritual growth or to
advance in the organizational hierarchy, perhaps both.
Anika’s mother also physically placed her children
at the center of things, and they enjoyed their status.
When she managed the city-based cult facility, her
children had access to the inner offices and other
privileged areas. Feeling special was a huge draw and
a mechanism for retaining core cult members. Anika’s
mother believed that whatever was required to move
herself and her family higher in the cult’s hierarchy was
justified. Anika believes her mother wanted acclaim.
Everyone in the cult knew their family. The whole
family felt special because they had a place of belonging
and importance.
Observing her mother’s status made Anika want to be
special by also being at the center. Anika now recognizes
that her behavior was an attempt to receive her mother’s
approval by following her mother’s lead. Driven by the
cult dynamic of seeking status for recognition, personal
benefit, and spiritual advancement, Anika strove to
exceed her mother in the hierarchy.7
1
As a teenager, Anika was sent to India, where she
learned yoga and other skills, including Indian cooking,
public speaking, music, and reading Sanskrit. While
a resident of the cult in the USA, she also received
private tutoring in these areas. Anika became close to
the leader and served as the leader’s private cook in
her teens. The leader gave Anika gifts of gold jewelry,
silk saris, and other luxury items. She also received
special consideration and nice accommodations
near the leader’s rooms. Anika was given secret work
assignments. All of this played into her confusion
about and dissociation from the sexual abuse. Anika
changed from being known as her mother’s daughter to
her mother being known as Anika’s mother. As Anika
rose in the hierarchy, she felt more important than her
mother. Because of her cult-induced superior attitude
and elevated place, she began to look down on her
mother and further distance herself.
According to David, children in the cult also learned
7 Anika considers that this might have been, at least in part, an
unconscious way to retaliate against her mother for abandoning her.
status in the hierarchy over genuine relationships.
Members’ natural inclination to build good relationships
was redirected to the cult. This shift resulted in changes
in the members’ principles and attitudes.
• Reinforced members’ dissociation and made them
more amenable to harsh cult attitudes
• Undermined parental authority
• Created confusion and insecurity in children about
parental roles
• Corrupted intra-family dynamics and eroded trust
within the family
• Undermined marital and member intimacy,
confused members about their relationships’
loyalty, and metaphorically brought a third party
into the marriage bed
• Created a constant striving to reach the top by
pulling others down
• Engendered the need to make oneself appear
perfect
• Reinforced black-and-white thinking
• Replaced true intimacy (or a relationship of equals
who gain pleasure through collaboration) with
gaining the cult leader’s favor
As a result, children learned to manipulate and compete
rather than connect with others. Children in the cult
learned to see themselves and others as “higher” or
“lower” based on the leader’s favor. This fostered harsh
self-judgment and judgment of others, hindering
healthy social interactions.
The Drive to Rise in the Cult Hierarchy Distorted
Family Relationships
Over the years, Anika’s mother achieved a high status
by spending time with people close to the leader and
advancing in the organization’s management. In 1976,
she facilitated the purchase of the first two facilities in
the northeastern United States. She played a key role in
the cult’s American expansion. She was one of the early
Westerners who travelled to India to study with the
leader. Over the next 44 years, she became a respected
“old timer.” She wanted to be the best possible devotee
she avidly worshipped the male leader and later, his
female successor.
The male leader refused Anika’s mother’s request to
take formal vows of celibacy because she was married
and had children. However, he gave her permission to
wear yellow to physically indicate her alignment with
that way of life while still respecting the needs of her
husband and family. Anika was unsure whether her
mother wanted her to pursue spiritual growth or to
advance in the organizational hierarchy, perhaps both.
Anika’s mother also physically placed her children
at the center of things, and they enjoyed their status.
When she managed the city-based cult facility, her
children had access to the inner offices and other
privileged areas. Feeling special was a huge draw and
a mechanism for retaining core cult members. Anika’s
mother believed that whatever was required to move
herself and her family higher in the cult’s hierarchy was
justified. Anika believes her mother wanted acclaim.
Everyone in the cult knew their family. The whole
family felt special because they had a place of belonging
and importance.
Observing her mother’s status made Anika want to be
special by also being at the center. Anika now recognizes
that her behavior was an attempt to receive her mother’s
approval by following her mother’s lead. Driven by the
cult dynamic of seeking status for recognition, personal
benefit, and spiritual advancement, Anika strove to
exceed her mother in the hierarchy.7
1
As a teenager, Anika was sent to India, where she
learned yoga and other skills, including Indian cooking,
public speaking, music, and reading Sanskrit. While
a resident of the cult in the USA, she also received
private tutoring in these areas. Anika became close to
the leader and served as the leader’s private cook in
her teens. The leader gave Anika gifts of gold jewelry,
silk saris, and other luxury items. She also received
special consideration and nice accommodations
near the leader’s rooms. Anika was given secret work
assignments. All of this played into her confusion
about and dissociation from the sexual abuse. Anika
changed from being known as her mother’s daughter to
her mother being known as Anika’s mother. As Anika
rose in the hierarchy, she felt more important than her
mother. Because of her cult-induced superior attitude
and elevated place, she began to look down on her
mother and further distance herself.
According to David, children in the cult also learned
7 Anika considers that this might have been, at least in part, an
unconscious way to retaliate against her mother for abandoning her.
