Students

Resources to help students gain a general understanding of cultic dynamics and effects.  

Priority resources are bolded.

• See coming ICSA events

• Videos (ICSA YouTube Channel) - recommended videos listed at bottom

• ICSA members have access to additional videos from conferences and virtual events.

• 11 Characteristics of Pseudoscience

• Building Resistance: Tactics for Counteracting Manipulation and Unethical Hypnosis in Totalistic Groups. Steve K. D. Eichel, PhD 

• Characteristics of Cultic Groups. Michael Langone 

• Clinical Update on Cults. Michael Langone. Psychiatric Times, July 1996 

• Cold Reading: The Tricks of the Psychics. William Goldberg, MSW, BCD 

• Cult Formation. Robert Jay Lifton, M.D. Cultic Studies Journal, 8(1), 1991, 1-6 

• Dysfunctional Churches. Ronald Enroth. Cult Observer, (9)4, 1992 

• Family Dynamics During a Cult Crisis. Douglas Agustin. ICSA Today, 2(2), 2-5 

• Governments and Cults. Michael Kropveld. ICSA E-Newsletter, 7(2), 2008

• How Can Young People Protect Themselves Against Cults?  Michael D. Langone, PhD

• How Could Anyone Join a Cult?!! Maureen Griffo 

• How to Talk to People Who are Trying to Save You. Ross Miller. Cultic Studies Journal, 2(2), 1986, Page 296-297 

• Influence. Robert Cialdini 

• Manipulative Therapists.  Shirley Siegel.

• Mind-Hacking Alert: A Young Adult's Guide to Recognizing Undue Influence and Resisting Abusive Relationships

• On Resisting Social Influence. Susan Andersen, PhD & Philip Zimbardo, PhD. Cultic Studies Journal, 1(2), 1984, 196-219

• Physical Child Abuse in Sects. Lois Kendall, PhD. ICSA Today, 2(2), 2011 

• Prevalence.  Michael Langone

• Religion vs. Cult. Rev. Richard Dowhower 

• Six Conditions for Thought Reform. Margaret T. Singer PhD 

• Ten Steps to Critical Thinking. Robert Fellows. From Easily Fooled, copyright © 2000 by Robert Fellows 

• The ABCs of Dangerous Cults.  Nori Muster

• The Challenge of Defining Cult

• Vulnerable Characteristics. Robert Fellows, MTS. From Easily Fooled. Copyright Robert Fellows 

• What Messages are Behind Today's Cults? Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D. Monitor of the American Psychological Association, May 1997, 14

• When You’re Asked About Cults. Robert Fellows, MTS. From Easily Fooled. Copyright Robert Fellows 

• Why We Need To Become Spiritual Consumers. Rosanne Henry, M.A.; Sharon Colvin