Who We Are

Founder of the Lalich Center

Dr. Janja Lalich

Janja Lalich, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Sociology, is an international authority on cults and coercion. Researcher, author, and educator, she specializes in recruitment, indoctrination, and methods of influence and control. She has been studying the social psychology of controversial groups and exploitative and abusive relationships for 35 years. Dr. Lalich is the author and/or coauthor of six books, including the now classic, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships and Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out, and Starting Over.

Meet the Board

The Board of Directors at the Lalich Center believes in our mission and is dedicated to our success through steering the Lalich Center to a sustainable future.