A Narrative Exploration of the Lived Experience of Being Born, Raised In, and Leaving a Cultic Group: the Case of the Exclusive Brethren
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Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Aebi-Mytton, Jill (2018) A narrative exploration of the lived experience of being born, raised in, and leaving a cultic group: the case of the Exclusive Brethren. DPsych thesis, Middlesex University / Metanoia Institute. [Thesis] Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/25914/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. 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See also repository copyright: re-use policy: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/policies.html#copy Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Aebi-Mytton, Jill (2018) A narrative exploration of the lived experience of being born, raised in, and leaving a cultic group: the case of the Exclusive Brethren. DPsych thesis, Middlesex University / Metanoia Institute. Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/25914/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. Works, including theses and research projects, may not be reproduced in any format or medium, or extensive quotations taken from them, or their content changed in any way, without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). They may not be sold or exploited commercially in any format or medium without the prior written permission of the copyright holder(s). Full bibliographic details must be given when referring to, or quoting from full items including the author’s name, the title of the work, publication details where relevant (place, publisher, date), pag- ination, and for theses or dissertations the awarding institution, the degree type awarded, and the date of the award. If you believe that any material held in the repository infringes copyright law, please contact the Repository Team at Middlesex University via the following email address: [email protected] The item will be removed from the repository while any claim is being investigated. See also repository copyright: re-use policy: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/policies.html#copy A Narrative Exploration of the Lived Experience of being Born, Raised in, and Leaving a Cultic Group: The Case of the Exclusive Brethren Jill Aebi-Mytton, BSc., MSc., CPsychol. Middlesex University and Metanoia Institute Doctorate in Psychotherapy by Professional Studies 2017 Volume 1 Jonestown survivor Deborah Layton wrote: When our own thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts and friendships outside the organization are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means. When our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger. When we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, we are in a cult. Seductive Poison. New York: Anchor Books. 1998, page 299 Copyright Declaration: © 2017 by Jill Aebi-Mytton All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying, scanning or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. 1 Contents Contents 2 Acknowledgements 5 Note to reader 7 Abstract 8 Prelude 9 Chapter 1. Personal Context 10 Summary and Overview of the Project 15 Chapter 2. The Professional Context 18 What is a cult 18 The Relationship between Psychology and Religion 21 Cultic Studies History 24 Cultic studies empirical research 25 The Political Context 28 Summary 30 Chapter 3. Cultic Groups: Characteristics, and Practices 31 Characteristics 31 Staying and Leaving 41 Chapter 4. The History and Characteristics of the Exclusive Brethren 43 Brief History 43 Characteristics 46 Enforcing the systems of control 51 Staying and Leaving 51 Summary 54 Chapter 5 Research methodology 56 Choice of Method 57 Narrative Inquiry 58 2 Study Design 60 Influences on the narrative 61 Ethical issues 63 Collection of stories 66 Procedures 67 Research journal and Field Notes 70 Validity and reliability 70 Legal considerations 71 Limitations 71 Chapter 6 Representations of the Narratives 73 Introduction 73 Bryanie 74 Darren 81 David 92 Ian 102 Rachel 113 Sally 122 Summary 132 Chapter 7 Analysis of Narrative 133 Introduction 133 A Theory of Family Enmeshment applied to Cultic Groups 135 Disorganised Attachment 139 Leaving through the lens of attachment theory 143 Identity 145 Leaving through the lens of identity theory: epiphanic moments and reconstructions 151 Returning to the mountains 160 Implications for therapy 160 Summary 165 Chapter 8 Products and Impacts 167 3 Section 1: Predicted outcomes as listed in the Learning Agreement 167 Section 2. Additional Impactful Products 176 Summary 178 Chapter 9 Afterword 179 Glossary 183 Notes 190 Reference list 199 4 Acknowledgements Working on this thesis has been a long, exhausting journey but one that I have not taken alone. It has been created in collaboration with many people. The six people at the centre of this thesis I thank first and foremost: Bryanie; Darren; David; Ian; Rachel; and Sally. I thank them for their courage in telling their stories, their openness and honesty. I thank them for their trust in me. Many other former members of the Brethren have shared their stories and been supportive. I cannot mention them all but some names do stand out. Ian McKay has provided me with real hands on academic support providing historical facts and evidence from the ‘ministry’. Ian, John Weightman, Peter Caws and Gordon Martin, were particularly helpful when I was writing the Witness Statement for the Charity Commission providing information and emotional support. My thanks also to Peter Caws, Steve Ballard and Gordon Martin for their contributions to the symposium we presented in Montreal 2012 and for their support at other times too. Other who have helped in different ways and at different times are Suzi Best, Joy Cranham, Laura Dyason, Graham Frost, Michael Gurr, Jacky Hart, Warren Heggie, Craig Hoyle, Marg Hoyle, Vanessa Read, Bruce Suggate, Elizabeth Whiteman, Peter Williams to name just a few of them. My two signatories, Dr Michael Langone and Professor Eileen Barker, have done more than just sign on the dotted line of my learning agreement all those years ago. Both have supported me throughout this long journey. They were particularly helpful during the difficult times with the legal activities of the Exclusive Brethren. I was also ably helped during this time by Clare Kirby (lawyer), Graham Baldwin and Howdens Liability Insurers. The International Cultic Studies Association has been a wonderful resource and support especially when the Brethren chose to attend my conference paper presentations. I have had several supervisors, advisors and course directors at Metanoia over the years: Paul Barber; Simon du Plock; Kim Etherington; Darren Langdridge; Kate McGuire; Brett Smith; Christine Stevens. In different ways and at different times, each of them has helped me take a few more steps towards the end. I also want to thank David Westley from Middlesex University for his understanding and kind support in the latter stages without which I could not have completed. Some critical friends have also helped me along the way. In particular, I want to thank Linda Berkeley who frequently ‘magicked’ an unavailable reference apparently out of thin air, acting as a very able research assistant. Thanks too to Peter Littleford, we journeyed together over the last few months providing mutual often daily email support. Finally and importantly are my two daughters, Jane Aebi and Nicole Aebi-Moyo. They have now supported me through three degrees, a book, and now this doctoral journey. 5 It is not easy to be the child of a cultic group survivor and I know that at times, it has not been easy for them. They have encouraged, supported and comforted me when things got too difficult.