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International Cultic Studies Association |
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Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups,
and Other Alternative Movements The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is an interdisciplinary network of academicians, professionals, former group members, and families who study and educate the public about social-psychological influence and control, authoritarianism, and zealotry in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments. Founded in 1979 as AFF (American Family Foundation), ICSA took on its current name in late 2004 to better reflect the organization's focus and increasingly international and scholarly dimensions. |
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Index |
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Ω 1-Home Conference
Coping With Triggers Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements Madrid, Spain, July 14-16, 2005 "Floating" is a word often used in association with "trancing out," "spacing out," "being triggered," or "dissociation." Ex-cult members describe it in several ways, including (but not limited to) feeling disconnected, feeling as though you're watching yourself live your life, having spells where you experience uncontrollable emotions (usually sadness or anger) that is not appropriate to what is happening at the moment. It is also described as having exaggerated physical sensations, having anxiety or mild panic attacks, or having a fantasy or dream like vision, almost like a dream that invades your waking state. Most ex-members report that these experiences make them feel as though there is something drastically wrong with them; they feel as though they may be going crazy. The purpose of this article is to take the fear out of these experiences and bring about some understanding that they are not abnormal. Triggered experiences are common to people who have been through a traumatic experience or prolonged periods of stress. Life in a cult is stressful and, for some former members, extremely traumatic. In addition, cults induce altered states of consciousness in many ways. Some cults produce trance-induced experiences through meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, guided visualization, auditing and/or decreeing. Other cults produce dissociative states when putting members through long, confrontational ("struggle") sessions. Still others overload the senses through rhythmic drumming, music, information overload or simply through long, emotionally laden sermons or lectures. Periods of "floating" are usually brought on by a "trigger." Dr. Margaret T. Singer speaks of the importance of being able to define and label these varying experiences. To define the word "trigger," she uses the following examples: "It triggered my memory of . . . "; "it reminds me of . . . "; "it made me recall or re-experience memories." This session will discuss triggers and how to manage them. |
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Last revised: July 09, 2005