Cult and Ritual Abuse

James Randall Noblitt, PhDS.M.A.R.T. 2014 ConferenceSaturday, August 16, 2014

10:45 – 11:45 AM

History of the Ritual Abuse Concept

Until the late 1970s child abuse was considered very rare.

Along with the civil rights movement, women’s rights were increasingly acknowledged during the 1960s and 1970s.

History of the Ritual Abuse Concept

Feeling more empowered some women began to disclose their own victimization in childhood. Some men also spoke out about their past abuses.

There was a gradual recognition that child abuse is not rare.

History of the Ritual Abuse Concept

An abuse survivors’ movement emerged.

During the 1980s people also began to report victimization in bizarre ritualistic contexts.

History of the Ritual Abuse Concept

A variety of terms were used to describe this kind of abuse:• Satanic ritual abuse (Ross, 1995)• Satanist abuse (Sinason, 1994)• Sadistic abuse (Goodwin, 1993)• Ritual abuse/torture (Sarston, & MacDonald, 2008). • Ritual abuse (Noblitt & Perskin, 1995, 2000; Noblitt

& Noblitt, 2014)

We focus on a broad concept of ritual abuse (RA) because Not all RA is Satanic RA may involve Satanic themes, but it may also

include Gnostic, Afro-Carribean, Shamanistic, irregular or quasi-Masonic rituals among others.

We found evidence of ritualistic abuse throughout history in a wide variety of cultures (Noblitt & Perskin, 1995, 2000; Noblitt & Noblitt, 2014).

We use a broad definition of RA that includes Abuse in ceremonies Circumscribed abuse that is conducted in a

prescribed, repeated manner that includes• Child sexual abuse where the child is trained to

experience dissociation of consciousness or identity to particular cues.• Extremely aversive conditioning implemented with

scientific or medical equipment.

Pam and I recently consulted in a RA case in Israel

In order to limit our broad definition of RA We specify that that the abuse in question

must have been used to create or control the survivor’s dissociation of identity.

Clients sometimes tell RA narratives

These narratives are typically layered. They do not usually emerge all at one time.

Ritual abuse narratives often include descriptions of repeated physical and sexual abuse within the family of origin where the victim is taught to submit or cooperate with the abuse under conditions of extreme duress.

Clients sometimes tell RA narratives

Some of the abuse is described occurring in transgressive ceremonies (e.g., Satanic, Luciferian, malignant Afro-Carribean, shamanistic, etc.) with ceremonial garb and paraphernalia.

Some of the abuse occurs in interactions that resemble skits.

RA survivors often talk about being shared sexually with other people, sometimes in ceremonies, sometimes not.

Clients sometimes tell RA narratives

Many survivors report that they were forced into multi-victim/multi-perpetrator sexual abuse for money.

Survivors often describe abuse in medical or laboratory settings. Some call this mind control.

In addition to their narratives of

Repeated and often circumscribed incest Abuse in ceremonies Abuse via sex trafficking Abuse in sexualized or occult skits Abuse in mind-control research or medical

contexts

These survivors also show evidence of

Dissociation of identity Specific trigger-responses Idiosyncratic somatic loci (and laterality) for

sensation and motor responses

About Dissociation of Identity

Dissociation is not all the same. We distinguish the different kinds of

dissociation by functional categories (Noblitt & Noblitt, 2014):• Dissociation of consciousness• Dissociation of memory• Dissociation of identity• Dissociation of perception• Dissociation of volition

Dissociation of consciousness

E.g., trance states, varying in intensity from mild to stuporous trance

Dissociation of memory

E.g., traumagenic amnesia

Dissociation of identity (DI)

E.g., DID or Other Specified Dissociative Disorder or Unspecified Dissociative Disorder (formerly DDNOS) where dissociation of identity is present

High functioning individuals who do not meet criteria for any DSM categories but who experience DI.

Dissociation of perception

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder Dissociogenic hallucinations

Dissociation of volition

E.g., automatisms

People with dissociation of identity

Also typically experience the other kinds of functional dissociation, although they may do so without full conscious awareness.

Treatment

We recommend a specific diagnosis, Cult and Ritual Trauma Disorder, for ritual abuse survivors (Noblitt & Perskin, 1995, 2000; Noblitt & Noblitt, 2014).

Cult and Ritual Trauma Disorder responds well to psychological interventions.

Treatment

People with Cult and Ritual Trauma Disorder also typically meet DSM criteria for PTSD, DID (or Other Specified Dissociative Disorder), Mood Disorder (Depressive or Bipolar) and often, but not always, Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. Somatic Symptom Disorders, Borderline PD, Eating Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive, and sleeping problems are common.

Treatment

Well thought out, long-term, trans-theoretical psychotherapy for trauma and extreme abuse

Accessing Dissociated Mental States (Noblitt, 2010)

Desensitizing general trauma response and specific responses to triggers

Our recent book, published July, 2014 by Praeger

References

Goodwin, J. M. (1993). Sadistic abuse: Definition, recognition, and treatment. Dissociation, 6(2−3), 181−187.

International Society for the Study of Dissociation. (2011). Guidelines for treating dissociative identity disorder in adults, third revision. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 12(2), 115–187. doi: 10.1080/15299732.2011.537247

Noblitt, R. (2010). An unintended specialty. Voices: The Art and Science of Psychotherapy, 46(3), 61−68.

Noblitt, J. R., & Noblitt, P. P. (2014). Cult and ritual abuse: Narratives, evidence, and healing approaches (3rd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

References

Noblitt, J. R., & Perskin, P. S. (1995). Cult and ritual abuse: Its history, anthropology, and recent discovery in contemporary America. Westport,

CT: Praeger.

Noblitt, J. R., & Perskin, P. S. (2000). Cult and ritual abuse: Its history, anthropology, and recent discovery in contemporary America (Rev. ed.).

Westport, CT: Praeger.

Ross, C. A. (1995). Satanic ritual abuse: Principles of treatment. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

Sarson, J., & MacDonald, L. (2008). Ritual abuse-torture within families/groups. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 16(4),

419‒438.

References

Sinason, V. (1994). Treating survivors of Satanist abuse. London: Routledge.