Abstract
This study used a constructivist grounded theory design to explore survivors’ unwanted emotions across the recruitment, retention, and disaffiliation phases of cult involvement. Through inductive analysis, the researchers developed a theoretical model grounded in participants’ experiences to explain the persistence and impact of these emotions. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 15 U.S.-based cult survivors of diverse types of cults and with varying lengths of membership. Participants completed three onehour interviews, each focused on unwanted emotions during a specific phase of cult involvement. Data analysis included iterative coding, bracketing meetings, and memo-writing. Analysis revealed 16 categories of unwanted emotions, with hopelessness, fear, and isolation emerging as the three most prominent anchors. These emotions persisted across all phases of cult involvement and compounded survivors’ psychological challenges. Based on these findings, the researchers propose the cult survivorship trauma model (CSTM). Central to the model is the construct of entrapped affect, defined as the systematic process by which unwanted emotional states are cultivated, weaponized, and internalized across the recruitment, retention, and disaffiliation phases of cult involvement. These results highlight the need for counselors to provide targeted, trauma-informed care that addresses the unique phase-based emotional challenges experienced by cult survivors.
Recommended Citation
Garcia, Y., Dugger, S. M., & Greene, J. (2025). The Emotional Landscape of Cult Involvement from Recruitment to Disaffiliation: A Grounded Theory Study of Survivor Experiences to Inform Trauma Counseling. Trauma Counseling and Resilience, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.33470/2997-7088.1063