Blogs About All Things Cultish And Coercive Control

Traditional news outlets are not perfect. They are influenced by commercial pressures, political access, time constraints, and sometimes genuine blind spots. Mistakes happen. Framing choices matter. And historically, there have been moments where media institutions failed the public. But recognising those failures is not the same as abandoning all standards of evidence.

In the aftermath of the Bondi attack, Australia has been sitting in shock. Grief like this doesn’t move in a straight line. It fractures. It disorients. It overwhelms our sense of safety and order. And in that psychological chaos, people reach for explanations that make the world feel less frightening — even if those explanations aren’t true.

Under the guise of humility and accountability, authoritarian religious groups have long used forced confession and public shaming to instil fear, monitor loyalty, and condition obedience. Far from creating “safe spaces for truth,” these rituals become highly effective tools for domination—dressed up as righteousness.

If you’ve ever come out of a relationship with a narcissist — whether a parent, partner, boss, or cult leader — you may find yourself...

When people see my cult ranking system, they sometimes assume it’s a trauma scale. It’s not. My rubric doesn’t measure the emotional pain a group causes—though many do cause immense suffering. Instead, it measures coercive control: the tactics groups use to limit a person’s agency, autonomy, and freedom.

There, I've said it. The silent question people refrain from due to politeness. And that is what these people rely on, polite people not...

Quote from Daring Greatly Shame is one of the most powerful and painful human emotions. It isolates. It silences. And when weaponised—as...

Delve into the dangers of coercive organisations beyond the surface. Learn to spot the signs and protect yourself from harmful manipulation.

Discover how cults trap members by using positive aspects as a means of control and manipulation.

Uncover the deceptive power of 'Bounded Choice' in high-demand groups. Explore how coercive control limits true autonomy.

Explore how cult leaders exploit sacred texts to radicalise and dominate followers across 5 major religions.

Explore the issues behind cults not just being religious groups. Learn how coercive control is the real issue affecting individuals.

Discover the web of fear, manipulation, and isolation that silences cult victims. Learn why they don't speak out & how to support them.

Explore the complex interplay of Women, Cults & Patriarchy. Uncover the societal conditioning and power dynamics that shape this phenomena.

The erosion of critical thinking in cults through coercive control; how manipulation, isolation, and fear suppress independent thinking.

Delve into the powerful manipulation of language in cults, including the censorship of swear words, and its profound impact on members.

Explore the profound impact of misogyny in Australian cults - from gender segregation to psychological manipulation.

Explore what is a cult and their relationship to coercive control. Learn how to recognise and protect yourself using Renee's Cult Ranking Criteria.

Identifying whether a group is a cult can be challenging, especially when it presents itself as a benign religious or social community....

Discover the dark side of 'Living As Instructed in the Bible' within Christian cults.