Gaslighting in Cults: Understanding the Power Dynamics

In a recent article on Psychology Today, Robin Stern and Daniel Barban Levin delve into the manipulative tactic of gaslighting within cults, examining how leaders exploit this psychological tool to control and dominate followers.

Robin Stern and Daniel Barban Levin explain that gaslighting—a form of psychological manipulation—serves as a cornerstone for maintaining power in cults. Leaders often use this tactic to make followers doubt their perceptions, memories, and sense of reality. By fostering dependency and undermining individual autonomy, cult leaders create an environment where dissent feels impossible.

The article highlights several stages of gaslighting within cults, from initial grooming to creating a closed system of beliefs where the leader’s narrative reigns supreme. Victims are often isolated, pressured to conform, and made to believe that their worth hinges on the leader’s approval. Robin Stern and Daniel Barban Levin stresses that understanding these dynamics is crucial for identifying and resisting such manipulation.

The piece also discusses the psychological toll of gaslighting on victims, including loss of self-esteem, confusion, and fear. Recovery, as Robin Stern and Daniel Barban Levin note, requires both individual healing and support from external communities to rebuild a sense of self.

To gain a deeper understanding of how gaslighting operates in cults and its profound impact, read Robin Stern and Daniel Barban Levin’s full article on Psychology Today: Under the Influence: Gaslighting in Cults.