Michael D. Langone (born 1947) is an American counseling
psychologist
A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and explanation, interpretatio ...
who specializes in research about
cult
Cults are social groups which have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. Extreme devotion to a particular person, object, or goal is another characteristic often ascribed to cults. The term ...
ic groups and
psychological manipulation
In psychology, manipulation is defined as an action designed to influence or control another person, usually in an underhanded or subtle manner which facilitates one's personal aims. Methods someone may use to manipulate another person may includ ...
.
He is executive director of the
International Cultic Studies Association,
and founding editor of the journal ''
Cultic Studies Journal
The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is a non-profit educational and anti-cult organization. It publishes the ''International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation'', "ICSA Today", and other materials.
History
ICSA was fo ...
'', later the ''
Cultic Studies Review''.
Langone is author and co-author of two books and several articles. He first joined the International Cultic Studies Association (then the
American Family Foundation
The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is a non-profit educational and anti-cult organization. It publishes the ''International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation'', "ICSA Today", and other materials.
History
ICSA was fo ...
) in 1981.
Career
Langone received his
Ph.D. in
Counseling Psychology
Counseling or Counselling psychology is an international discipline. It is practiced in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, Hong Kong and Korea, and South Africa.
Counseling psychology in th ...
from
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Tracing its roots back to 1891 as an ...
in 1979, where he was a
Regents
In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
Fellow for three years, and he began his work in cults in 1978.
Langone defines a
cult
Cults are social groups which have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. Extreme devotion to a particular person, object, or goal is another characteristic often ascribed to cults. The term ...
as "a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing, and employing unethically
manipulative techniques of persuasion and control designed to advance the goals of the group’s leader, to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community". Langone joined the American Family Foundation in 1981, the organization later changed its name to the
International Cultic Studies Association.
In 1984 he became the editor of the American Family Foundation's house publication, ''
Cultic Studies Journal
The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is a non-profit educational and anti-cult organization. It publishes the ''International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation'', "ICSA Today", and other materials.
History
ICSA was fo ...
''. The journal ceased publication in 2001 and was replaced with ''
Cultic Studies Review'' as an online journal with triennial print editions.
Theories
In his book ''
Recovering from Cults'', Langone writes that cults "need not be religious in nature but may be psycho-therapeutic, political, or commercial".
In his writings, Langone argues that
new religions conflict with traditional American beliefs and have to be considered objectionable for that reason, stating that he makes no apologies "for evaluating cults in terms of fundamental American values, which I have imbibed, examined and accepted."
The former American Family Foundation, headed by Langone, is described as offering the most public support for the
mind-control theory through its ''Cultic Studies Journal''.
The theory is seen by researchers as a
propaganda
Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...
device used by the
anti-cult movement
The anti-cult movement, abbreviated ACM and also known as the countercult movement, consists of various governmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals that seek to raise awareness of religious groups that they consider to be ...
to rationalize the persecution of minority religious groups.
Publications and presentations
*
*
*
*
See also
*
Anti-cult movement
The anti-cult movement, abbreviated ACM and also known as the countercult movement, consists of various governmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals that seek to raise awareness of religious groups that they consider to be ...
*
List of cult and new religious movement researchers
* ''
Recovering from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse''
References
External links
Profile – International Cultic Studies Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Langone, Michael D.
Living people
21st-century American psychologists
Researchers of new religious movements and cults
Critics of new religious movements
1947 births
Mind control theorists
20th-century American psychologists