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Group Power + Control Wheel 

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Wheel Spoke.png

COERCION + THREATS

“Bad things will happen if you don’t join us and obey our rules.”

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  • Exclusion from the Afterlife

  • Evil Spiritual Threats

  • Divine Punishment

  • Worldly Dangers

  • Public Shaming

  • Shunning or Excommunication

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SHAME

“You’re broken and hopeless without our teachings and guidance.”

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  • Unreachable Standards

  • Punishment for Imperfection

  • Name Calling (“prideful”, “sinner”)

  • Celebration of Self-Abuse

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JUSTIFICATION OF ABUSE

“We would never hurt you. We’re helping you become more holy.”

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  • Denial of Abuse

  • Minimization of Harm

  • Victim Blaming

  • Appealing to the Greater Good

  • Reframing Abuse as Love

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SEX + GENDER CONTROL

“God designed us this way.

Anything else would be disgusting.”

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  • Patriarchal Values + Gender Roles

  • Authoritarian Family Structure

  • Narrow Sexual Expression

    • Purity, Chastity, Modesty

  • LGBTQ+ Discrimination

The Power + Control Wheel was created by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project to demonstrate the power and control dynamics at play in abusive relationships.

Each spoke of the wheel represents a different reason why a survivor might feel trapped in an abusive relationship.

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This is my adapted version of the Power + Control Wheel to apply to abusive religious groups, spiritual groups, and cults. Additional explanations of each spoke are below. 

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SPIRITUAL

INTIMIDATION

“It would be dangerous for you to question our spiritual authority.”

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  • Spiritual Status of Leaders

  • Divine Calling

  • Ultimate Truth

  • Sacred Scripture

  • Superiority Over Other Beliefs

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ISOLATION + INSULATION

“We can meet all of your needs.

You can’t trust anyone else.”

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  • Removal of Outside Supports

  • Censorship of Secular Media

  • Control of Education

  • Fear of Outsiders

  • Prediction of Persecution

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DENIAL OF AUTONOMY

“Don’t trust yourself, trust us. We know what’s best for you.”

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  • Constant Contact + Gatherings

  • Disconnection from Body/Instincts

  • Behavior Monitoring

  • Peer-Policing

  • Denial of Privacy

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ECONOMIC CONTROL

“You can demonstrate your faith by donating and serving.”

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  • Encouraged/Required Donation

  • Unpaid Time + Labor

  • Trust in Divine Provision

  • Celebration of Sacrifice

  • Promises of Spiritual Rewards

Need support?
Check out the RESOURCES page or find a therapist on the RELIGIOUS TRAUMA THERAPIST DIRECTORY.
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