University Honors

High-control ideological groups enforce isolated communities based on shared beliefs and often use coercion and intense emotional manipulation to gain the following of members (Coates, 2012). Whether fueled by religious commitment or other motivations, these groups create power dynamics and abusive interactions that form dysfunctional emotional ties between leaders and followers. When manipulation and coercion infiltrate relationships, emotional ties play a role in establishing unhealthy bonds. This research seeks to understand the psychological mechanisms that underlie ìtrauma bondingî in individuals exposed to prolonged stress or abuse in these settings. This study provides an interdisciplinary approach to identifying psychological factors that make individuals vulnerable to harmful, manipulative groups. The author analyzes memoirs, articles, survivor accounts, and documentaries to observe how these emotional ties motivate members to join and remain affiliated despite abuse. This study focuses on NXIVM, Sarah Lawrence College, The Peoples Temple, and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) to gain knowledge about concerns ranging from sexual abuse to indoctrination. It summarizes evidence of physical, spiritual, psychological, and societal impacts and analyzes psychological tactics that influence power differentials. Understanding these abusive cycles and fear dependency can help mental health practitioners and policymakers develop intervention and prevention strategies for people affected by high-control groups.