Defining
Terms
Citing
Robert Hare's definition of a psychopath from his landmark
book on the subject, the author points out some distinctions that
he finds important regarding some of the terminology that may limit
the definition of who might be a predator. He finds that the term
“psychopath” (someone with a chronic mental health disorder) is
overused and seems to loose meaning among a host of other types of
predators.
For the
average person working through the aftermath of a spiritual abuse
experience, it might be worth exploring the different types of
predators listed in the article. It depends on the person and their
unique recovery issues, though consideration of the characteristics
of leaders is a necessary part of recovery for all to some extent.
All high demand or cultic groups surround and support the needs of a
charismatic leader which helps a survivor understand the nature of
the group that they've exited. Therapist Roseanne
Henry, an expert in trauma and the phenomenon of high demand
religions, has stated that it may be helpful for some in recovery to
look at the diagnostic criteria for Borderline, Antisocial,
Narcissistic and other personality
disorders to see if they can find similar patterns in their
abusive religious leader's behavior. It can be quite vindicating and
eye opening, for it gives the survivor the additional perspective
that puts blame where blame is due – on the manipulative and
abusive group leader.
Clergy
Benefits Exploited by Predators
The
topic encompasses a host of themes, but I found this quote from the
article revealing. As is revealed in other
posts on this subject here on this site, reasonably healthy and
functional people fail to think like a predator and don't naturally
consider things from such an unhealthy point of view. Ignorance of
the basic insights about how a manipulator and abuser thinks makes a
healthy person vulnerable to their deceptions. We Christians often
have to work on that “wise
as a serpent” aspect of life, and understanding skewed ways of
thinking should be a part of of that wisdom.
It is disturbing because most of us don’t think about these things. Most people don’t think like a predator, but below are some insights that should make you think. These insights are based on conversations I and others have had with predators who intentionally sought to join religious organizations and from studying such individuals.
Among
other general factors factors, predators find religious
organizations/institutions desirable because they offer an already
established infrastructure, the appearance of legitimacy, a pool of
access to victims who are often quite vulnerable, readily available
access to information, a network of protection/information provided
by the system, and the opportunity for financial gain.
Navarro
goes on to specify the benefits that religious systems tend to
provide to predators (which I've summarized, highlighting notable
consistencies in the thought reform and spiritual abuse models):
- Predictable schedules (to either corner a victim or perhaps gain access to their home when they are expected to be at gatherings).
- Encouraged confession of faults (which the predator can exploit for manipulation and gain – Cult of Confession per Lifton).
- Information through informal social channels (gossip which provides additional personal details about individuals in their group and their potential vulnerability – Mystical Manipulation per Lifton).
- Access to people who are not in one's own socioeconomic group (such as access to the circles of the wealthy who would otherwise be outside of one's reach).
- Exploitation of forgiveness (at the expense of justice – Demand for Purity and Doctrine over Person per Lifton).
- Exploitation of love (at the expense of the victim through suffering – Demand for Purity and Doctrine over Person per Lifton).
- Scapegoating problems (on the “devil” or those who reject the belief system of the group – Image Consciousness per Henke and Milieu Control per Lifton).
- Abuse of authority (who is seen as all knowing or enlightened – Sacred Science and Doctrine over Person per Lifton).
- Invoking deity to validate actions or ideas (Sacred Science per Lifton)
- Lack of screening prior to ordination (for traits or history of predatory behavior in most religious groups).
- Overvalue of Leaders (encouraging lack of empathy and narcissism)
- Society's reverence for religious figures (contributing to confirmation bias)
- Parental trust (“Often, as we now well know, the fear of retribution, being ostracized or socially marginalized, or excommunicated keeps victims and parents silent.” – Excommunication speaks to Dispensing of Existence per Lifton)
- Naivete of children (compounded by the appeal to authority, a characteristic of all people per Cialdini)
As the
author aptly notes, “knowledge helps.”
