PUBLISH WITH IJCAM

Submission guidelines

About

ICSA's Academic Journal

The International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation (IJCAM) publishes peer-reviewed work that explores coercive dynamics across a wide range of fields, including psychology, sociology, counseling, criminology, political science, anthropology, law, and religious studies.

We welcome submissions in English, French, or Spanish, and consider empirical studies, theoretical contributions, clinical case studies, literature reviews, critical essays, book reviews, and more.

What we publish

We consider the following types of submissions:

Research articles and theoretical papers

Brief reports and case studies

Reviews of academic text books and articles

Journal Policies & Processes

Preparing your submission

IJCAM welcomes a diverse range of article types that contribute to the understanding of coercion, abuse, and manipulation across disciplines.

Empirical studies grounded in strong theoretical frameworks are particularly encouraged, especially those that inform models of coercive influence, psychological manipulation, or relational abuse. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that integrate findings across research domains are also highly valued.

The journal invites theoretical papers of scholarly depth that enhance conceptual understanding in areas such as coercion, identity disruption, trauma, and recovery. Methodological contributions are welcomed, particularly those that introduce, evaluate, or demonstrate innovative techniques suited to interdisciplinary audiences.

Viewpoint articles may explore emerging topics, innovations, gaps in the field, or current debates, offering concise yet thought-provoking perspectives. IJCAM also considers case studies and case series—whether clinical, legal, or ethnographic—when they raise questions or insights with broader conceptual or heuristic significance.

We consider the word limits for submissions:

  • Research articles and theoretical papers (6,000 word limit)
  • Brief reports and case studies (3,000 word limit)
  • Reviews of academic text books and articles (should not exceed half the length of the original article)
IJCAM is interested in articles and book reviews that explore the nature, effects, treatment, and ethical and policy implications of manipulation, coercion, and abuse in all areas of interpersonal relations, including but not limited to:

  • abuse of legal or political systems
  • coaching
  • counseling and psychotherapy
  • cultic groups (religious cults, political cults, therapeutic cults, business cults, etc.)
  • discrimination
  • diversity issues
  • gangs and gang violence
  • human trafficking
  • intimate partner violence/domestic violence
  • marginalization
  • organized crime
  • radicalization and extremism
  • sexual violence (sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, etc.)
  • social-justice advocacy
  • spiritual/religious abuse
  • training
  • workplace abuse

All manuscripts must be submitted as word documents (.doc or .docx) and formatted according to the following specifications:

Use Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, with 1-inch (3 cm) margins on all sides. Include page numbers throughout the document.

IJCAM prefers submissions that follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (APA 7). Submissions should adhere to APA style for in-text citations, references, headings, tables, figures, and overall structure. Exceptions may be made for disciplines that follow another standard style (e.g., MLA, Chicago, ASA or legal), but this must be justified and applied consistently.

Please structure your manuscript as follows:

  • Page 1
    Title of the manuscript, full author names, institutional affiliations, and complete contact information for the corresponding author, including an email address.
  • Page 2
    Title, abstract (maximum 250 words), and 4–5 keywords.
    Note: Manuscripts in French or Spanish must also include an English-language version of the title, abstract, and keywords.
  • Page 3 onward
    Begin the main text with the manuscript title (without author names). Use clear section headings and subheadings throughout.
  • Figures and tables
    Place each on a separate page at the end of the manuscript. Number them consecutively and indicate approximate placement within the text (e.g., “[Insert Table 1 here]”).
  • Final page:
    Include a short author biography (approximately 100–150 words per author), written in third person. These bios may be published alongside the article if accepted.



Manuscripts that do not meet these formatting standards may be returned for revision prior to peer review.

At IJCAM, we are committed to a rigorous and transparent peer review process that upholds academic standards while providing constructive feedback to authors.

All submissions undergo an initial review by the editorial board, comprising the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, and a team of co-editors . If deemed appropriate for review, the manuscript is anonymized and sent to at least two expert peer reviewers.

Once reviews are returned, an Associate Editor compiles the feedback into a single blind, consolidated review. This is shared with the author(s), along with a publication decision and guidance for revisions. Authors are given time to revise and resubmit. Revised manuscripts are re-evaluated by the assigned editor, who may approve the article for copy editing or request further changes.

When revisions are requested, we require a three-week resubmission, please resubmit within three weeks, along with a note summarizing your changes (section, page, and line references). Accepted manuscripts will be sent to the corresponding author as page proofs. These must be reviewed and returned within two weeks. Following acceptance, articles proceed through copy editing and are then prepared for final publication.

ICSA values transparency throughout this process. We strive to ensure that all authors receive timely, fair, and actionable feedback, and that every published piece reflects the journal’s commitment to scholarly integrity.

Ready to Publish?

Submit your manuscript

ICSA values transparency throughout this process. We strive to ensure that all authors receive timely, fair, and actionable feedback, and that every published piece reflects the journal’s commitment to scholarly integrity.

Email your manuscript

Copyright and publication ethics

By submitting a manuscript, authors agree to transfer copyright to the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) if their work is accepted for publication. Authors remain fully responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any third-party content, ensuring the accuracy and originality of their submission, and resolving any authorship or contributor disputes.

The views expressed in published articles are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of IJCAM or ICSA. While submissions may be screened for plagiarism or unacknowledged source use, authors are expected to adhere to professional standards of academic integrity and ethical conduct.