Selected References on Cults and Authoritarianism

• Captive Hearts/Captive Minds by Landau Tobias and Janja Lalich is an essential resource for those recovering from cults or assisting a loved one in finding the way back home to an autonomous sense of self. Written by two former cult members who are also highly experienced and knowledgeable cult exit counselors. (Hunter House, 1994)
• Cults In Our Midst: The Hidden Menace In Our Everyday Lives by Margaret Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich provides a thorough and lucid exploration of the psychology of cult groups, their members and leaders. Singer is a leading authority on the psychology of coercive influence and the inner workings of a wide variety of cults. (Jossey-Bass, 1995)
• The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power by Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad provides a powerful, groundbreaking look at authoritarian power in its many guises -- not only in cults but also in culture, morality, the world religions, addictions, intimate relationships, and our daily lives, ideals and thought processes. As stimulating and disturbing as it is subversive. (North Atlantic Books, 1993)
• reFOCUS (Recovering former cultists support network) offers recovery resources for those hurt by their involvement with abusive and controlling organizations and relationships.
• American Family Foundation (AFF), a secular, not-for-profit research center charged with studying psychological manipulation and cultic groups.
• Cult Awareness and Information Centre, Australia. Learn how to establish criteria for defining a cult, how to recognize cultic behaviors, and how to guard against unwanted psychological persuasion --the techniques used by cults and spiritually abusive groups to recruit and retain their members.
• Yahoo's Cult Page: The master list.

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