March 03, 2010
I often remark to friends and associates that emotional abuse is very cult like.
Some find it hard to relate. Below is a good example of what I mean
~written by Jan Groenveld of Mansfield, Australia.
Jan writes of cult dynamics and I say that her writings “mirror”
what emotional abuse is like. You don’t see the sickness until
you’re up to your neck in quicksand. By that time you’ve made babies
and a life with a “wolf in sheep’s clothing“.
Cult Dynamics:
EMOTIONAL CONTROL - The control of the individuals emotional life.
This manipulates a person’s range of feelings. Guilt and fear are used to keep control. Cult members cannot see the control by guilt and like other abuse victims are conditioned to blame themselves when things are wrong, even grateful when a leader points our their transgressions.
Fear is used to manipulate two ways. The first is to create an outside enemy (we vs them) who is persecuting you. The second is the fear of punishment by the leaders if you are not “good enough.” Being “good enough” is following the ideology perfectly. The most powerful emotional control is phobia indoctrination. This can give the person a panic reaction at the very thought of leaving the group. It is almost impossible to conceive that there is any life outside the group.
There is no physical gun held to their heads but the psychological gun is just as if not more powerful.
Be aware, especially if you are a bright, intelligent and idealistic person. The most likely person to be caught up in this type of behavioural system is the one who says “I won’t get caught. It will never happen to me. I am too intelligent for that sort of thing.”
Written by Jan Groenveld
Internet Address: py101663@mailbox.uq.oz.au
Fidonet Address : 3:640/316
(c) Cult Awareness & Information Centre, PO Box 2444,
Mansfield 4122, Australia,
