High Control Group Inventory

This is a list of religious or spiritual teachings that are common in high-control religious groups. They reinforce conformity, submission, inter-reliance, and fear of outsiders as means of control. While one of these teachings may not individually qualify as religious abuse, if multiple statements align with a group’s doctrine, it's likely a high-control religious group.

Instructions: Put a check by the statements that reflect what your current or former group teaches, demonstrates, or implies.

People who reject our teachings or leave our group will face divine judgment.

People who accept our teachings and are faithful will be eternally rewarded.

Our group members are expected to recruit nonbelievers into the group.

Evil forces are actively trying to corrupt or harm our group and its members.

Our group offers the only true protection from evil.

Our leader(s) have been given special spiritual authority.

Our teachings and/or scriptures are the ultimate truth.

Our teachings are a higher authority than secular ideas or laws.

Our group is a utopian community that offers total unity and belonging.

Our group and its members have a special divine purpose.

Humans are fundamentally broken and their instincts can’t be trusted.

Failing to meet our expectations is a sign of spiritual weakness.

Our members are expected to accept the punishment they deserve.

Physical or mental illness is a sign of spiritual weakness.

Prioritizing one's own needs is a sign of pride and selfishness.

Our group uses special language that nonbelievers can't understand.

We must enforce our rules on nonbelievers for their good.

Outsiders want to corrupt or harm our members, especially our children.

We expect our members to limit or cut off relationships with nonbelievers.

We expect our members to avoid literature/media that contradicts our teachings.

Our members are expected to attend group meetings without excuse.

Our members are expected to report the failures of other members to leadership.

Our members are expected to prioritize group unity over their own needs.

Our members are expected to confess their failures and secrets to the group.

Our members are expected to forgive, reconcile, and restore harmony.

We have our members' best interest in mind and could never harm them.

Our leaders' judgement and intentions must not be questioned.

When our members suffer, it's a form of discipline designed to help them grow.

Our members are expected to submit to group discipline without complaint.

Our members should never harbor anger toward one of our leaders.

We have special rules regarding sex that were designed by higher power.

Women and men have distinct gender roles that were designed by higher power.

Not adhering to our rules for sex and gender is dangerous and disgusting.

People in the LBGTQ+ community are a threat to our children.

Secular movements regarding gender are a threat to our community.

Truly devoted members will regularly donate money to the group.

Our members will be financially rewarded in proportion to their contributions.

Truly devoted members will volunteer their time and labor to the group.

Our members will be spiritually rewarded for their earthly sacrifices.

Truly devoted members will rely fully on the group to provide for their needs.

Interpretation: If your religious group taught multiple items on this list, you’ve experienced a high-control group. That doesn't necessarily mean that the group was cult or that it was always abusive, but it's definitely cause for concern. You are at a higher risk of developing religious trauma symptoms because of your high-control group experiences.

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Created by Anna Clark Miller, LPC-S