Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse

by Michael D. Langone (Editor)

Drawing upon the clinical expertise of professionals and the personal experiences of those formerly involved in high-intensity mind-control groups, this book is a comprehensive guide to the cult experience. Michael Langone and his colleagues provide practical guidelines for helping former cult members manage the problems they encounter when leaving cults.

Genres: Cults, Psychology, Nonfiction, Religion

434 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Luna Corbden · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better books about cults, as told from the secular perspective (as opposed to the dogmatic perspective). This is a collection of essays and papers from some of the top researchers in the field, many of them ex-cult members themselves. I have referenced this book again and again when writing presentations, websites, and blog posts on the topic.

I especially enjoyed the story of the woman who infiltrated a Moonies recruitment camp. Even though she understood the mechanisms of coercive persuasion, and understood the damage this group has done to many people, she still came away with warm feelings towards the group.

I have read many books on cults. But if you only want to read one, this is quite possibly the best all-round. (It competes closely with "Captive Minds, Captive Hearts", which is better for ex-members of cults who wish to recover.)

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-researched volume is focused on identifying the nature of cults and providing assistance and instruction for those seeking to escape from a high-control group of any sort. The book includes twenty chapters, most by psychiatrists, physicians, researchers, and others who have worked with cult survivors. There are a number of first-person accounts of cult experiences, documenting the process of joining or forming, belonging, and leaving.

After an extensive introduction, the chapters are divided into four sections: Mind Control, Leaving Cults, Facilitating Recovery, and Special Issues. Because understanding is important to the process of escape and recovery, each section is helpful for understanding what has occurred (or is occurring), and learning how to escape and work through residual issues. A number of the suggested groups and resources are dated (the book was originally published in 1993), but the International Cultic Studies Association continues to offer much of the information and resources recommended in the book.

This is an extremely helpful book for anyone who has belonged to a high-control group, experienced spiritual abuse, or knows people who have been involved in an authoritarian group. Langone states that groups “earn the label “cult” because of what they do, not because of what they believe” (13). I learned that “cult” is not necessarily a religious group that wears funny clothes, but that any high-control group, whether “religious, psychotherapeutic, political, or commercial” can become a cult, and the techniques used in cults reflect those sometimes used on prisoners of war or in social “reforms” such as Mao’s Cultural Revolution or Hitler’s Germany.

Based on my own experience and the advice in this book, I made a timeline of suggestions for leaving a high-control group. It occurred to me that might be a useful list for others, so here it is in very abbreviated form (if you need the longer form of the list, please feel free to leave a message and I can email it to you).

1: Educate yourself
2: Locate social support
3: Try to establish something of a life—job or other support, one or more friends, connections to a church or community group— before you leave.
4: Make the move.
5: Find a counselor or support group.
6: Expect to pass through stages in the readjustment process.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of several writers, edited by cult expert Michael Langone. It accomplishes a lot -- some chapters are written by survivors, some to survivors, others to those who are in helping professions. Plenty of advice, perspective, experience, and even historical background for the entire mission of cult recovery. The subtitle is important, because an unhealthy church, human-potential group, or ideological movement can create psychological and spiritual harm.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although there is a lot of good information and research about cults, it is outdated now (maybe I have an older copy and they’ve updated a newer one?) I feel like they could have included much of the information in a more concise way. Not a bad resource for learning about recovery after leaving a cult, but wouldn’t be the first one I recommend.

[Martyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of knowledge. It was my first specialistic book about cults, so I learn a lot. There were some outdated informations. But despite that it still an amout of information wich are really usefull.

[Kenneth Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of essays, articles, papers, etc., by religious, secular, and medical/psychiatric experts in the field of cults-abusive groups. Eastern religious cults, self-improvement/counseling cults, political cults, and religious/Christian cults are covered from many angles.

Pros: The consistency of methods and processes of mind-alteration/control found in all abusive groups and cults is remarkable and enlightening. The reader who completes this book will have a very clear idea of the qualities of an abusive group/cult, and a good idea on how to support someone who has left such a group. Survivors of abusive groups will find an excellent, extensive cataloging of the conditions, teachings, and practices that damaged them. (As a survivor of an abusive Christian church, I had many "ah ha" moments!)

Cons: The size of the book might seem a big daunting to some, esp. when considering its breadth of discussion of various abusive groups. While all of the abusive groups are fascinating to study, their fundamental variances of belief might make it hard for many to relate to them. Also, in my experiences many Christians have difficulty admitting the possibility of a "Christian cult," arguing that if it is a cult, it cannot be Christian. If the reader can make it over that hurdle and simply let the "c" word be applied to the abusive, cult-like Christian church, he/she will be richly rewarded by this book.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here I sit, stunned at how this book has shown me my childhood. It only mentions by name a few different groups that are considered a cult (for demonstration purposes) but if it hadn't specifically mentioned one group, I would have thought it was a story about my childhood religion. Uggh....I felt physically ill as I read this book because I could identify so completely with it.