Dangerous persuaders : an exposé of gurus, personal development courses and cults, and how they operate in Australia

"Louise Samways is a Melbourne psychologist who is a recognized expert in the fields of psychological healing and health. Following the publication of her last book, "Your Mindbody Energy," in which she gave a brief outline of how cults manipulated people by misusing psychological techniques, she was contacted by many victims and their families. The evident need for more widespread information about how cults manage to recruit people, and how to escape from their influence, led her to write this book." Preface "Dangerous Persuaders" has evolved not from an academic study of cults and personal development courses, but from thousands of personal stories told to me over many years by my patients and people attending my seminars and lectures. I have mentioned the names of groups and courses only where I have heard similar and consistent stories from many separate sources. There are at least a hundred known cults operating in Australia and it has been estimated that there are over one thousand operating in the United States. Personal development courses alone are currently attracting a turnover of one billion dollars annually in Australia. Nobody knows exactly what the financial turnover in cults is worth, as large-scale tax avoidance is common. For this reason it should not be assumed that the groups, courses or individuals mentioned in this book are necessarily the worst or the biggest. I have only mentioned those that are well known and where my own patients have shared their personal experiences with me." "How do cults gain recruits? Why do so many people seeking personal development find themselves becoming dependent on a powerful organisation? Are there any legal restraints on how groups recruit members? How dangerous are cults and personal development courses? Louise Samways, a practising psychologist, explains what cults and personal development courses are, how they operate, and the mind-control techniques they use on recruits. She describes how these types of organisations ensure their message is continually reinforced, and how people become unable to question the group's demands or to break away from it. Louise Samways offers practical help and advice to the victims and their families. She also provides information about organisations that are involved in releasing members from the grip of cults, and that provide support for the families. She alerts readers about how approaches are made, and suggests strategies for avoiding them. Cult members may be recruiting in your workplace, your social club, your school. This book will help you to recognise and resist their dangerous persuasion." -- book cover Louise Samways. A Penguin Original. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 140-144) And Index.