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The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is an interdisciplinary research and education foundation devoted to the study of cultic phenomena. It is based in the United States and is one of the largest professional organizations in this field. Current executive director is psychologist Michael Langone. It publishes the journal Cultic Studies Review.
History
In 1979 the American Family Foundation (AFF) was founded by Kay Barney, whose daughter had become involved with the Unification Church. In contrast to many other contemporary groups concerned with cults, Barney wanted to address the field professionally and scientifically and so founded AFF as a non-profit tax-exempt organisation for research and education. To avoid internal political debates, AFF did not have a membership base. It was directed by a Board of directors of which Barney was part.
The AFF received funding from the Bodman and Achelis Foundations and the Scaife Family Foundation of Richard Mellon Scaife.
1980/81 AFF joined forces with John Gordon Clark, a Harvard psychiatrist who had undertaken research in the field of NMRs, and his team, to which Michael Langone belonged. This resulted in the professionalism which Barney had intended from the start.
Some of the more notable board members of the AFF have included Dr. Louis Jolyon West and Margaret Singer.
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Activities
ICSA maintains on the internet an electronic library with information on groups and issues regarding psychological manipulation and abuse. There is also an online archive offering abstracts of all articles of the Cultic Studies Review.
ICSA publishes the online scholarly journal Cultic Studies Review (http://www.culticstudiesreview.org).
There is also an information service for families, clergy, students, and professionals.
ICSA conducts annual conferences for professionals and workshops for families, former members and mental health professionals.
See also Anti-Cult Movement.
References
- Langone, Michael: History of the American Family Foundation, Cultic Studies Review 1/1, 2002 *
External links
- Cultic Studies: Information about Cults and Psychological Manipulation
- apologeticsindex.org: International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
New religious movements | Group processes | Psychological abuse
"International Cultic Studies Association"