Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves

by Steven Hassan

The number of destructive mind control groups is growing, with estimates as high as 5,000 in the U.S. alone. Steven Hassan, himself a former member of the Unification Church, addresses the problem in Releasing the Bonds. Based on insider knowledge, years of scientific study, and the author's frequent workshops, the book offers a noncoercive, legal model for helping victims of mind control. The Strategic Interaction Approach teaches family and friends how to strategically influence the individual involved, laying out practical methods for recognizing the signs of a destructive relationship, undoing residual effects of past cult experiences, refuting fallacies about these groups, and becoming active in opposing them.

Genres: Psychology, Cults, Nonfiction, Self Help, Religion, Cult Classics

389 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2000

About the author

Dr. Steven Hassan is one of the world's foremost experts on undue influence. Licensed mental health counselor and an exit counselor. Hassan was an early advocate of exit counseling, and is the author of two books on the subject of "cults", and what he describes as their use of mind control, thought reform, and the psychology of influence in order to recruit and retain members.

Himself a former member of the Unification Church, after spending one year assisting with involuntary deprogrammings, he developed what he describes as his own non-coercive methods for helping members of alleged cults to leave their groups, and developed therapeutic approaches for counseling former members in order to help them overcome the purported effects of cult membership.

Reviews

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were ever in a cult, you'll recognize the causes of your problems, both when you were in the cult and now that you're out of it.

If you were not ever in a cult, this book may change your mind.

If you REALLY were not ever in a cult, this book will give you a clear understanding of what a cult member is enduring and more importantly, why it is so damn difficult to help them or even understand them.

I highly recommend it.

--Wag--

[Sara Mccandless · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a huge help! An in-depth description of what Behaviors can be in bonds to another person or group. How love and respect also plays a great role in helping with one cope with such pressures from their leader. It gave examples and descriptions of what one may encounter. What makes mind control wrong by causing harm to self and others. What ways to look at and examine the causes and effects, thus releasing the bonds and helping one think for themselves in a healthy ethical way.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, though probably only REALLY relevant to a small number of people. But for those people, extremely valuable.

[Expose Austin Texas Duty To Care For Others · Rating 5 out of 5]

More information on how pyramid schemes and cults deceive, cheat, and abuse gullible people.

[Cher · Rating 2 out of 5]

People in cults need help to get out because they've been brainwashed. 350 pages of this statement repeated over and over again. This book was recommended to me by a friend who wanted me to examine the way Jehovah's Witnesses isolate their followers from society. I don't recall that particular religion being discussed. In fact, what this book lacks is 1) a serious history of various organizations that isolate and become cultlike in their nature & 2) a specific plan for how to "rescue" or deal with those in such cults.

[Russ Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advice for helping other people get out of a cult.