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Cultic Studies Review:
An Internet Journal of Research, News &
Opinion
(CSR)
is published three times a year by International
Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
(formerly AFF - American Family
Foundation). English is the dominant
language of the journal.
Although designed as an
Internet journal,
Cultic Studies Review is also
available in a print version –
Subscribe.
(online
ISSN: 1539-0160; print ISSN: 1539-0152)
Cultic Studies Review seeks to
advance the understanding of cultic
processes and their relation to society,
including broad social and cultural
implications as well as effects on
individuals and families. The term
“cultic processes” refers to
manipulative forms of social influence
observed most conspicuously, though not
exclusively, in certain extremist
groups, and is directly related to the
research traditions of thought reform
and the psychology of social influence.
Cultic Studies Review’s interest
areas include a family of related yet
distinct phenomena (see
The Definitional Ambiguity of
“Cult” and ICSA’s Mission),
as well as practical responses to
concerns people have about these
phenomena. Thus, Cultic Studies
Review provides information
on cults, psychological manipulation,
psychological abuse, spiritual abuse,
brainwashing, mind control, thought
reform, abusive churches, extremism,
totalistic groups, authoritarian groups,
new religious movements, charisma,
alternative and mainstream religions,
group dynamics, exit counseling,
recovery, and practical suggestions for
families, individuals, helping
professionals, clergy, journalists,
researchers, students, educators, and
others interested in these topics.
CSR assumes that a multidisciplinary
perspective is necessary for the proper
understanding of its areas of interest
and, consequently, publishes articles
from different disciplines and points of
view.
Articles dealing with any aspect
of CSR’s areas of interest, whether
directly or indirectly, will be
considered.
The views expressed in CSR are
solely those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the views of CSR’s
Editorial Boards or
AFF and
its directors, advisory board members,
or staff.
Groups analyzed or mentioned in
CSR are not necessarily cults, nor are
they necessarily harmful.
A distinguished
Editorial Board reviews
and recommends articles published in
Cultic Studies Review.
See
Issue Archives for
current and past issues of
Cultic Studies Review.
Authors interested in
publishing in
Cultic Studies Review should see:
Submit Paper.
Cultic Studies Review
is the successor to AFF’s print
journals,
Cultic Studies Journal and
The Cult Observer, both published
from 1984 to 2001, and Cults and
Society, an Internet journal.
Articles published in these journals and
in CSR are available free to
ICSA Members through the ICSA
e-Library.
Cultic Studies Review
is supplemented by the free
ICSA e-Newsletter, which
provides
essays
on various topics and news updates on
groups, educational and research
activities, new publications, other
resources, special bookstore offers, and
conferences and workshops.
Go to
Bookstore
and
ICSAhome.com
for
books, articles, periodicals, videos,
Links,
and information on specific
Groups
and
Topics
(e.g., children and cults).
Concerned About a
Group Involvement?
We stress to those concerned about a group
involvement that each case is unique. We
encourage inquirers to review positive
and negative information concerning a
particular group and to consider the
psychological dynamics of affected
individuals. We provide many resources to help
you increase your understanding of these
subjects.
Group Information
We provide information on a wide variety of groups in order to meet the
needs of inquirers who approach this
subject from diverse perspectives.
Groups on which we have information may be
mainstream or nonmainstream,
controversial or noncontroversial,
religious or nonreligious, cult or not
cult, harmful or benign.
We do NOT maintain a list of "bad" groups or
"cults," whether religious or not religious.
We strongly suggest that you familiarize
yourself with the subtle and important
definitional issues in this field by
reading the following essays:
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