Terror, Love and Brainwashing

Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems

By: Alexandra Stein

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Written by a cult survivor and renowned expert on cults and totalitarianism, Terror, Love and Brainwashing draws on the author's 25 years of study and research to explain how almost anyone, given the right set of circumstances, can be radically manipulated to engage in otherwise incomprehensible and often dangerous acts.

Illustrated with compelling stories from a range of cults and totalitarian systems, from religious to political to commercial, the book defines and analyzes the common and identifiable traits that underlie almost all these groups. It focuses on how charismatic, authoritarian leaders control their followers' attachment relationships via manipulative social structures and ideologies so that, emotionally and cognitively isolated, they become unable to act in their own survival interests. Using the evolutionary theory of attachment to demonstrate the psychological impact of these environments, and incorporating the latest neuroscientific findings, Stein illustrates how the combined dynamic of terror and "love" works to break down people's ability to think and behave rationally.

This important book offers clarity and a unique perspective on the dynamics of these systems of control and concludes with guidance to foster greater awareness and prevention.

©2017 Alexandra Stein (P)2020 Tantor

Thank You!

Wonderfully layed out and insightful for those looking to better understand coercive control and totalitarianism.

Alexandra Stein understands cults

Alexandra Stein was a cult member herself before she decided to help others to escape totalitarian systems. It pays off that she really knows what she's talking about - she's been there, done that. Great insight into human psychology and her own trappings. A fascinating read and help for people who are prone to hand over their power to a system or a person who have not their best interests in mind.

Excellent explanation of totalitarianism and attachment

I love the personal stories interwoven with attachment theory, for a comprehensive and understandable explanation of how attachment theory and assessment can create trauma bonds and reveal continued unresolved traumas. Being able to recognize the underlying mechanics of totalitarian/coercive dynamics is crucial to having that ‘Ah-ha’ realization and running the other way, and protecting/ advocating for the safety of possible vulnerable children within.

Very informative!

As a clinician, working with clients that experience attachment trauma and dissociative experiences,, I respect the work that went into this book to describe how those experiences lead to an intractable sense of duty to an organization based in disorganized attachment.

Accurate research, Horrid narrator

The voice acting is at minimum unnecessarily theatrical and distracting, but as much as I wanted to stop listening I couldn't because as a cult survivor I need this information to heal. This spot on research has provided clarity and a wealth of knowledge to reset my foundation and rebuild from spiritual and psychological abuse.

Great book about nos cults work

Great book about what is a cult, types of cult - religions, political and others -, nos people join these types of groups or relationships, cult leaders, brainwashing or undue influence, how members are isolated, how the cult self works and many other features of cults. Clear and detailed exposition with examples of people in cults and many references to the literature on this topic.

Excellent book, distracting performance

Thoroughly researched, well written, and profoundly insightful… but the narrator sounds like a character in a crime noir film. It’s not as bad once you get a third of the way through, but it struck me as a pretty odd match for a book of this caliber. Don’t let that stop you from spending a credit on this though - it’s an important read. Highly recommend

The Narration is Bad

The material was informative but took a while to get there. A lot of the info in the beginning is common knowledge but I enjoyed learning as it went on. The narration almost made me quit. I sped it up to 1.2 which made it more bearable.

Weirdest narrator

The narrator is really grating. She sounds like a robot that doesn't understand English but knows how to say all the words. Very rote-reading style. She's also very slow and if you speed it up she sounds stressed out and angry.

Informative important book here.

A very educated clinical break down of cults and totalitarian control methods and the psychological ramifications resulting from them, writing in a very accessible way, Dr Stein, a survivor of a cult herself, not only gives us exampled overview of some cults but a thorough examination of people who've been exploited by them as well, often using their very own survivor testimonials, while weaving helpful informed assessments. Understanding them is probably more important now in the 21st century than it's ever been before as we travel through a technological global epoch that makes the world much smaller than it once was and any of us vulnerable to cultic psychological coercion than ever before. Would love to see her personal memoir "Inside Out" on Audible as well. Good narration and loaded with info I found helpful and enlightening. I highly recommend this.
See also "Qanon And On" by Van Badham & "The Storm Is Upon Us" By Mike Rothschild, great accompaniments to this knowledgeable piece of work.