Some comments from me in this piece: www.refinery29.uk/2018/07/204463/handmaids-tale-gilead-cult-behavior-sexual-assault

My comments in second half of this review in Rolling Stone: www.rollingstone.com/glixel/features/game-dev-cult-expert-on-far-cry-5-dangers-of-caricature-w518665

Class starting at the Mary Ward Centre on Jan 10 2018  The Social Psychology of Cults and Totalitarianism

This interdisciplinary course will examine the phenomena of cults and totalitarian regimes - closed, hierarchical systems led by charismatic, authoritarian leaders. Using in-depth case studies, we will use a variety of theoretical approaches to understand these systems, in addition to reading narrative and literary accounts. We will explore the processes of recruitment, conversion, conformity, commitment and disaffiliation, with a particular emphasis on understanding the extreme obedience found in these systems. This course will examine commonalities between cults and totalitarian systems including: the effects on personal life and relationships, social networks, a shared absolute ideology, and charismatic relationship between leader and followers.
here to edit.