Use of Forced Deprogramming
In the 1970's with cult activity on the rise, some families desperate
to retrieve loved ones from cults employed a technique now called forced
deprogramming, which often included kidnapping the family member from
the cult and forcibly working to reverse the cult's pyschological programming
on the individual. Forced deprogramming was sometimes successful and sometimes
unsuccessful, but is not considered an acceptable, legal, or ethical method
of rescuing a person from a cult. Instead, today professionals often called
exit counselors or intervention specialists use methods which are voluntary,
in which cult members agree to meet with loved ones and a professional
for open and honest discussion over a two to five day period. According
to Dr. Margaret Siner, 90% of those cult members who agree to this type
of meeting consequently leave the cult.
Please note that FACTNet, Inc. does not in any way recommend or endorse
the use of illegal, unethical, or forced deprogramming or kidnapping techniques.
It is our understanding that the professionals and organizations hereby
listed in CRIS do not use these techniques, but instead uphold high ethical
standards in their practices. Please make known to FACTNet any allegations
of professional conduct on the part of CRIS referrals which violates these
standards; if substantiated, referrals will be removed from CRIS.
For more information on the history of cult intervention work and ethical
standards, please see http://www.rickross.com/ethics.html
This page is in honor of Dr. Margaret Singer a leading authority on cults and mind control and in memorial of Noah Lottick who died in the Scientology cult.
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