Witch hunts and gendered politics: An examination of Hillary Clinton conspiracy theories
In this article, we examine conspiracy theories about Hillary Clinton that emerged before and during the 2016 American presidential campaign and election. These conspiracies characterize Clinton as an evil, Satan-worshipping child predator witch who has her enemies murdered to silence them. An examination of key conspiracies illuminates the central anxieties that Clinton posed to the normative, largely masculine, political order in the United States. By focusing on the Clinton Body Count, Pizzagate, Andrenochrome, Kuru, and Frazzledrip conspiracy theories, as well as other conspiratorial narratives, we suggest that a clear pattern emerges—one that demonstrates that Clinton has been subjected to a modern-day witch-hunt and can be theorized accordingly. Vitriolic and relentless conspiracy theories about Clinton, along with misogynistic stereotypes and caricatures of her, fueled fears about feminism and its perceived threats to religious–political conservatism. Like the claims made against women during the European witch hunts, conspiracy theories about Clinton appear absurd: allegations of demonic allegiance, cannibalism, murder, ritualistic abuse of children, blood sucking, and more. Combining contemporary research on witch-hunt criteria and scholarship on conspiracy theories and on gender, we argue that Clinton’s political (and other) achievements as a self-identifying feminist woman made her an imperative target for populist conspiracy theorizing. Clinton’s breach of gendered socio-political norms and her challenge to the inherently masculine “divine order” led her opponents to demonize her. The unfiltered and unchecked diatribe against her made for a public spectacle: an intense reminder of what can happen to women who are viewed as out of place and out of control.
Ripping back the veil on Masonic abuse: Five leading creative thinkers express their struggle
This paper summarises the author’s project since 1999, which has been asking whether the work of several leading visual artists, creative writers and key figures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries might tell us something about a practice that Western society has found exceedingly difficult to contemplate: ritual abuse. The case studies included here deal with the work of the contemporary American artist Matthew Barney, the English artist Francis Bacon, the Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, the Swiss psychiatrist C. G. Jung and the English novelist William Golding. In some cases, these creative individuals recall being sexually abused, but also seem to struggle with something else, something even more confusing and terrifying that pervades their work. Some also describe frightening but inexplicable childhood experiences, which in one case resulted in nightmares throughout his life. The work of all five creative individuals references Freemasonry, and all but one have known family connections to the Masonic Order. The research reveals extensive references to the plots, imagery and symbolism of Masonic rituals in their work, suggesting that they may have been exposed to abusive versions of these secret rites at some point, possibly in childhood or adolescence. The paper will address these case studies through theories of trauma, current research into documented cases of ritual abuse and anthropological insights into initiation rituals, fraternal practices and secret societies.
Escaping the narcissist’s worldview: Assimilating cult and narcissistic abuse experiences for the identification of deception recovery
Narcissistic abuse is an emerging area for psychological research, but in mental health and social care, it remains an unacknowledged form of interpersonal abuse. This unacknowledged form results in a lack of assessment approaches and identified therapeutic interventions, which consequently perpetuate social injustice for victim-survivors. The use of deception is a specific feature of narcissistic abuse, and it has consequently harmful outcomes for those who experience this abuse. This article advocates for recognition of psychological deception processes by narcissists in society, which research on narcissistically abusive relationships in cults has already identified. This proposed theoretical extension has the potential to apply post-cult recovery principles to the treatment approaches for narcissistic abuse victim-survivors. Research findings and victim-survivor accounts in both society and cults advance theoretical and practice applications in responding to severe relational harm. Our article concludes with advocating for further research to apply the outcomes from this theoretical exploration to clinical research studies, in order to support real-world narcissistic abuse recovery.
Abuses produce similar psychological effects in survivors of high control groups and survivors of sex trafficking: A comparative study
This article is the first of two related projects. It examines the characteristics of high control groups (HCGs) and sex trafficking (ST), with emphasis on definitions, alignment with Lifton’s criteria of thought reform, typical identity progression of members, and trauma bonds. The manuscript then compares HCGs and ST and examines similarities related to Lifton’s criteria, identity progression, trauma bonds, and the financial, social, and psychological factors involved in recruitment into HCGs or ST. These similarities in experiences, tactics, bonds, and neurological and hormonal factors justify the forthcoming second part of this project, which will recommend similar therapeutic approaches to survivors of both abusive contexts.
Malas prácticas en psicoterapias y pseudoterapias: Indicadores de control coercitivo
El presente estudio se centra en analizar las malas prácticas de los terapeutas en el ámbito de la psicología clínica y las pseudoterapias desde la perspectiva de los pacientes que han acudido a diversas opciones terapéuticas. El objetivo es investigar la ocurrencia de estas prácticas tanto en psicoterapias convencionales como en pseudoterapias, considerando variables como el género del terapeuta, el tipo de terapia y el recurso utilizado. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 120 participantes españoles, quienes completaron una escala autoinformada sobre malas prácticas realizadas por sus terapeutas, diseñada ad hoc (EMPT-60). Los resultados revelaron malas prácticas en ambos contextos, tanto en la psicoterapia convencional como en las pseudoterapias, siendo estas últimas las que mostraron una mayor incidencia. Las prácticas más destacadas fueron la competencia del terapeuta, la finalización de la terapia y las relaciones duales. Además, se observó una mayor frecuencia de malas prácticas vinculadas con relaciones duales sexuales en hombres y con la confidencialidad en mujeres. También se identificó una mayor presencia de malas prácticas de competencia en la sanidad pública. Adicionalmente, el estudio analizó la posible presencia de dinámicas coercitivas utilizando la Escala de Abuso Psicológico Experimentado en Grupos (PAEGS) en el contexto de las pseudoterapias. Los resultados señalaron la existencia de relaciones pseudoterapéuticas coercitivas, en las que se emplea control y manipulación, independientemente de la orientación o el marco del pseudoterapeuta. Estos hallazgos preliminares resaltan la importancia de abordar y prevenir las malas prácticas profesionales en todos los tipos de terapia, garantizando la seguridad y el bienestar de los pacientes. Asimismo, se subraya la necesidad de continuar con la investigación en este campo.
Caring in the shadows: Emotional and caregiving challenges faced by families of individuals in coercive controlling groups and relationships
ICSA congratulates board member Dr. Carmen Almendros and her co-authors, Francisco González-Espejito, Pablo Nájera & Rubén García-Sánchez, for their recent publication in Journal of Family Violence (Springer Nature).
SINCERE: A Relational Safety Model for counselors working with transgender and gender diverse survivors of intimate partner violence
TGD individuals experience high rates of intimate partner violence but remain underserved by cis-heteronormative modalities. SINCERE provides counselors with a specialized relational framework model.
Investigating coercion, abuse, and manipulation: Recognizing the legacy of the cold war
This article traces the Cold War origins of undue influence research, linking early brainwashing studies to the modern study of high-control groups. It explores key scholarly transitions, the impact of expert testimony in notable cases, and how social psychology shaped evolving theories—highlighting both the foundations and limitations that continue to influence the field today.
Being mindful about mindfulness: Exploring the dark side
This article examines the benefits and risks of mindfulness, noting concerns about its commercialization, misuse, and limitations with trauma survivors. It argues for combining mindfulness with psychotherapy to ensure safer, more effective support—especially for those with complex trauma.
Late twentieth-century psychoanalytic interpretations of sects and cults: Weston La Bare, Norman Cohn, & E. P. Thompson
This article revisits the role of classical psychoanalysis in early studies of sectarian and cultic groups. Highlighting works by La Barre, Cohn, and Thompson, it argues that despite its limitations, Freudian theory offered valuable interpretive insights into the psychological dynamics of religious movements.