title: [A couple in the sect: between freedom of membership and risks of abuse].
abstract: Psychological cults are of particular interest to criminologists due to their complex and multi-faceted structures. They may come in the form of organizations, movements, and training centers that make promises to their victims of developing or strengthening their psycho-relational capacities, thus resulting in improvements in their social, professional, and personal lives. Starting from the complex and delicate story of a professional couple who join a cult, the authors describe one case of a organization that are referred to as "psycho-sects", and with a significant number of followers. These cases came to our attention through judicial authorities, and they offer us an opportunity to look at two aspects associated with psycho-sects: The need of individuals to belong to such groups; and the risk of abuse and violence that they face.
authors.affiliation: Sezione Criminologia Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grattagliano
authors.affiliation: Sezione Criminologia Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tangari
mesh_terms: D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005610:Freedom; D006127:Group Structure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Crimes; Cults; Freedom; Psychological conditioning; Risk for abuse