ICSA INTERNATIONAL CULTIC STUDIES ASSOCIATION

ICSA Academic Journal

International Journal of Coercion,
Abuse, and Manipulation

ABOUT IJCAM

The peer-reviewed academic journal of the
International Cultic Studies Association

As an open-access, online publication, the International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation (IJCAM) provides a dedicated platform for advancing rigorous scholarship on coercive influence, high-control groups, psychological manipulation, and systemic abuse. At ICSA, research is central to our mission. We maintain that interdisciplinary, methodologically sound inquiry is essential for understanding the psychological, social, and structural dynamics of high-control environments.

By fostering critical scholarship and elevating diverse perspectives, IJCAM strengthens the intellectual foundation of this under-researched field and promotes real-world impact. Our work challenges misinformation, informs policy, and supports those affected by undue influence through evidence-based practice.

Through IJCAM, we aim to:

Empower survivors and professionals

Providing research that informs ethical practice, public policy, and therapeutic care

Advance knowledge

Publishing original academic work that deepens understanding of coercion, influence, and abuse

Support education

Offering free, high-quality resources to students, practitioners, and the public

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

Advancing knowledge to
protect and empower

An investigation into the efficacy of the PsychoSocial Quicksand Model™ and its utility for transforming systems

Kate Amber

The PsychoSocial Quicksand Model™ provides a new framework designed to overcome professional bias, validate survivors, and transform the systems currently failing victims of coercive control.

SINCERE: A Relational Safety Model for counselors working with transgender and gender diverse survivors of intimate partner violence

Sarah Stillwell

TGD individuals experience high rates of intimate partner violence but remain underserved by cis-heteronormative modalities. SINCERE provides counselors with a specialized relational framework model.

Alone and not alone: Implications for clinicians working with male survivors of childhood sexual abuse

James M. Smith

This article explores barriers faced by adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse, highlighting isolation, guilt, and disclosure challenges, and offering clinical insights for supporting autonomy and relational safety in therapy.

The grooming of children for sexual abuse in religious settings: Unique characteristics and select case studies

Susan Raine, PhD

This article examines how religious authority, obedience, and spiritual fear enable child sexual grooming, using cross-faith case studies to show how abuse dynamics in religious settings differ from secular contexts.

Sovereign citizens and QAnon: The increasing overlaps with a focus on child protective service cases

Christine M. Sarteschi, PhD, LCSW

This article explores the growing overlap between sovereign citizen ideology and QAnon beliefs in child custody disputes involving Child Protective Services.

Unheard voices: Sexually intimate relations of women in Guangzhou, China, and relationship to cults

Doni Whitsett, PhD, LCSW, MFT

This article analyzes women’s relationship attitudes in post–Open Door China, exploring monogamy, patriarchy, and the relevance of coercive control in intimate and cultural contexts.

Understanding reproductive coercion in cults and destructive group settings

Ashlen Weltz

This article presents the first quantitative study of reproductive coercion within cultic groups, highlighting how group ideology—rather than individual partners—can dominate reproductive choices. Surveying 99 former female members, the study reveals distinct patterns between born-in

Understanding the traumatic narcissism theory and its clinical utility

Daniel Shaw, LCSW

This paper defines Traumatic Narcissism Theory and eight subjugating behaviors used by narcissistic abusers, offering a framework for treating victims rather than those with narcissistic personality disorder.

Charles Manson: Cult leader, counterculture hero, and psychopath

M. Lane Jodi

This article analyzes Charles Manson through the lens of psychopathy, highlighting how his personality fueled both violence and influence.

Cults and persuasion: Submission as preference shifting

Luigi Corvaglia, PsyD

This article explores how cults shape behavior through gradual persuasion, not sudden brainwashing—revealing the psychology behind belief, conformity, and control.

COLLABORATIVE AND ETHICAL

Interdisciplinary dialogue
and ethical inquiry

Understanding coercive influence requires interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical sensitivity. Scholars contributing to IJCAM come from a wide range of fields including:

Psychology and counseling

Religious studies and theology

Sociology and anthropology

Political science and media studies

Education and law

Medicine and healthcare

We encourage rigorous scholarship that examines the psychological, social, legal, and cultural dimensions of coercion. This includes attention to ethical research practices, informed consent, and the responsible representation of lived experience—particularly when working with vulnerable or marginalized populations.

online library

Decades of research, insight, and lived experience

ICSA’s online library offers free access to academic articles, survivor narratives, conference talks, webinars, and curated resources for anyone seeking to understand high-control groups and coercive dynamics.

RESEARCH & ACADEMIA

Key research areas

IJCAM welcomes contributions that explore a broad range of topics and contexts,
such as:

High-control groups and cultic systems

Psychological abuse and interpersonal coercion

Radicalization and extremist or ideological movements

Human trafficking and exploitation

Professional and institutional misuse of power

Social justice and systemic abuse

Legal frameworks, human rights, and public policy

Recovery, resilience, and post-exit identity reconstruction

RIGOROUS & ACCESSIBLE

Open access, peer reviewed, and free

As an open-access journal, IJCAM is committed to making research widely available—without paywalls or subscription fees. All content is freely accessible to scholars, professionals, students, and members of the public. If you are able, please consider donating a small amount to help us continue this work.

Collaborate with us

Want to partner with us?

ICSA is actively seeking strategic partnerships with universities and academic research centers that share our commitment to advancing understanding in this complex and under-researched field.

We believe in the value of mutual exchange—collaborating with academic partners to share resources, insight, and nuanced expertise. By working together, we can strengthen the quality and visibility of research on coercive control and cultic dynamics, foster interdisciplinary dialogue, and open new avenues for joint publications, postgraduate research, and external funding.

These partnerships are an opportunity to help shape a growing field of inquiry with real-world impact. We invite institutions, departments, and individual scholars to connect with us and explore how we can support each other’s goals through meaningful collaboration.

Contact us about university partnerships