International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation Volume 9 2026 62
Next, as proposed in Research Aim 2, we wished to
explore if participants were attracted to cults that
corresponded to their original religious beliefs. As a first
step, we examined the cult types of the 63 participants.
Findings indicated that Neo-Christian Religious cults
were most popular at 36.5%, and psychological/self-
help-related cults were the second most popular at
19.0% (see Table 1). Next, we analyzed which cultic
groups the 53 participants who identified having a
religious background joined to see if they joined a
cult that endorsed the same beliefs as their religious
background. The findings were the opposite of what
we expected of the 53 participants who endorsed a
religious background, 43.4% (n=23) selected a cult
of similar background whereas 56.6% (n=30) chose a
different religion than their childhood religion.
When there was a match, in all cases but one, the
matches were from a Christian background to a
Christian-based cult. The other match observed was
an individual from a Jewish background who joined a
Judaism-based cult, categorized in the Other group in
this study.
Next, as stated in Research Aim 3, we examined if
men and women differed in cult selection.3
1
Of the 46
women, nearly three-fourths joined a cult that was not
Christian although these women indicated a Christian
background (see Table 2). In contrast, of the 17 men,
3 Three participants identified as trans women and were included in
analysis.
more than half joined Christian cults corresponding to
their Christian backgrounds.
Next, we examined the 46 participants who indicated
early Christian roots. Less than half (n=21, 45.7%) later
joined a Christian group, and 54.3% (n=25) left their
initial beliefs and joined a different group entirely. For
the 10 participants that identified as atheists or having
no religious experiences in childhood, most (n=7
70%) joined a cult that had no base religious beliefs,
such as psychology/self-help-related or political cults.
Next, as proposed in Research Aim 2, we wished to
explore if participants were attracted to cults that
corresponded to their original religious beliefs. As a first
step, we examined the cult types of the 63 participants.
Findings indicated that Neo-Christian Religious cults
were most popular at 36.5%, and psychological/self-
help-related cults were the second most popular at
19.0% (see Table 1). Next, we analyzed which cultic
groups the 53 participants who identified having a
religious background joined to see if they joined a
cult that endorsed the same beliefs as their religious
background. The findings were the opposite of what
we expected of the 53 participants who endorsed a
religious background, 43.4% (n=23) selected a cult
of similar background whereas 56.6% (n=30) chose a
different religion than their childhood religion.
When there was a match, in all cases but one, the
matches were from a Christian background to a
Christian-based cult. The other match observed was
an individual from a Jewish background who joined a
Judaism-based cult, categorized in the Other group in
this study.
Next, as stated in Research Aim 3, we examined if
men and women differed in cult selection.3
1
Of the 46
women, nearly three-fourths joined a cult that was not
Christian although these women indicated a Christian
background (see Table 2). In contrast, of the 17 men,
3 Three participants identified as trans women and were included in
analysis.
more than half joined Christian cults corresponding to
their Christian backgrounds.
Next, we examined the 46 participants who indicated
early Christian roots. Less than half (n=21, 45.7%) later
joined a Christian group, and 54.3% (n=25) left their
initial beliefs and joined a different group entirely. For
the 10 participants that identified as atheists or having
no religious experiences in childhood, most (n=7
70%) joined a cult that had no base religious beliefs,
such as psychology/self-help-related or political cults.
