Dr. Janja Lalich, Professor Emerita of Sociology and a leading expert on cults and coercive control, draws on nearly 40 years of research and legal expertise to contribute to the Inquiry, with a focus on the Children of God (COG), later known as The Family International. She presents COG as an extreme case of coercive control, particularly for children raised within the group, who were subjected to totalist systems of control, influence, and indoctrination. Using her Bounded Choice framework, Dr. Lalich explains how individuals—especially children—appeared to “choose” the group’s life while in reality functioning within a manipulated and closed environment that suppressed independent thought and normalized abuse. She highlights the justice system’s failure to address such harm due to its limited understanding of social-psychological coercion and urges the Inquiry to recognize the long-term, intergenerational trauma inflicted by such groups. Dr. Lalich calls for survivor testimonies to be taken seriously and for more nuanced legal and support frameworks to address the unique realities of life in high-control environments.
Tell-Tale Signs That You Are in a Cult with This is Your Brain & Dr. Phil Steig
Explore key signs of cult involvement in the This Is Your Brain podcast, where Dr. Janja Lalich explains how high-control groups shape identity, recruit members, and what recovery can look like after leaving.
