“Cult experts estimate that the United States has over 5,000 cults, and that between 10 and 20 million Americans have at some stage been involved with a cult of some kind (Langone, 1993). A cult can be defined as a group of individuals that show excessive or zealous devotion to a central figure, dogma or object, and uses manipulative methods to control the thoughts and actions of its members and bring them into convergence with the desires of the cult leader or leaders. These leaders may have selfish goals that are camouflaged in the guise of strict doctrines of infallibility on their part, and may claim to be freed from conventional morality or codes of behavior. Cults are often characterized by autocratic or exploitative leadership, with absolute subservience expected on the part of the cult members. Often the structure of cults is such that this autocracy and often bizarre behavior is rationalized within the framework of the leader’s infallibility. It is my thesis that the results of cult membership on many cult devotees is a state of unhealthy dependency, and that often psychological trauma is caused to themselves or their families.”