Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2009, Counselor Education (Education)

Cults are widespread throughout the world and many have been shown to have negative effects on individuals who have been members of these types of groups. There is a lack of research completed addressing career development and employment in the recovery of cult survivors. Because of the limited amount of research concerning the impact of cult membership on career development, other populations who have experienced similar types of coercive relationships were examined including those involved in intimate partner abuse. The literature review indicated that victims of cult membership and survivors of domestic violence might experience some of the same issues that negatively impact their career development and employment. This study examined the following research question: Are the career development and employment of former cult members impacted by the length of time they participated in a cult, their level of education, their perceived need for vocational rehabilitation services and their mental health symptoms? A non-random sample of 56 former cult members who underwent treatment at the Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center participated in the study. Data for this study were received from two sources: the Work and Cult Recovery Index, a non-standardized instrument developed for this study, and scores from the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) that were retrieved from the existing database at Wellspring. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the predictors. The results indicated a rejection of the null hypothesis indicating that as a set, the 4 independent variables were significantly related to the perceived impact that cult membership had on career development and employment. The perceived need for vocational rehabilitation services and the length of time spent in the cult demonstrated a significant relationship with the perceived impact of cult participation on career development and employment. These two variables were both negatively correlated (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jerry A. Olsheski PhD (Committee Chair) Subjects: Mental Health; Psychology; Rehabilitation; Social Work

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2008, Counselor Education (Education)

Little research has been done overall to explore the effects that cults have on individuals. Clinical observations noted in the literature have included a connection between contemplative techniques such as prolonged chanting and meditation and speaking in tongues that are used by some cults to disrupt critical thought processes, and symptoms such as trance-like dissociation and depression (Singer and Ofshe, 1990; West and Martin, 1994). Duration in a cult is thought to lead to transient and longer lasting effects (Singer and Ofshe). Using a two-way factorial MANOVA design and a two-way ANOVA design, pre-existing data from 477 former treatment seeking cultists was studied to examine the levels of depression and dissociation in former members of those who have been in contemplative-type cults compared to those who have been in cults where such techniques were not used. The variable of time spent in the group was also examined. Those who have been in contemplative-type cults were found to have higher levels of depression and dissociation. Time spent in a cult does not appear to have an effect on the level of depression and dissociation.

Committee: Dana Heller Levitt (Committee Chair); Jerry Olsheski PhD (Committee Member); George Johanson PhD (Committee Member); Timothy Anderson PhD (Other) Subjects: Education; Mental Health; Personal Relationships; Personality; Psychology; Public Health; Rehabilitation; Religion; Social Psychology