This blog follows on from the comparison of bullying behaviour in workplace contexts and cults. This time, a comparison is made between bullying as a form of abuse in domestic environments and cults, once again noting that such behaviour is not tolerated in family settings but there are no safeguards against the same behaviour in other high demand groups. (Note: some family units fit the profile of a high demand group and some cults fit the profile of being a family of choice.) Regardless of the setting, bullying is indicative of underlying dynamics of power, control, and manipulation. As with workplace bullying, family and domestic violence legislation can be starkly contrasted with a lack of safeguards for victims within cults.
Bullying in Cults
Destructive cults are characterised by the authoritarian control of a charismatic leader who demands absolute loyalty and obedience. Bullying within these groups is a tool to enforce conformity, suppress dissent, and maintain the leader’s dominance. Tactics include verbal abuse, emotional manipulation, public humiliation, and physical intimidation.
For instance, in the Church of Scientology, some members are subjected to intense scrutiny and harsh disciplinary practices. The "Rehabilitation Project Force" is an example where members are subjected to arduous labour, sleep deprivation, and public shaming, designed to break down their resistance and enforce strict adherence to the group's doctrines. Similarly, in the Australian cult "The Family," led by Anne Hamilton-Byrne, members were subjected to bullying, and harsh disciplinary measures. Children were often separated from their parents, subjected to strict and abusive conditions, including beatings and forced drug use, to maintain control over them and enforce obedience to the cult's beliefs.
Bullying in Family and Domestic Violence
Family and domestic violence, including intimate partner violence, involves similar abusive behaviours but within the context of personal relationships. This can include physical violence, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial control, and social isolation. The abuser often seeks to dominate their partner or family member, using bullying tactics to maintain control and power over them.
An illustrative example involves Sarah and John, where John's behaviour transitioned from verbal bullying-belittling Sarah's appearance and abilities- to emotional manipulation, isolating her from friends and family, and monitoring her communications. John's bullying also included physical intimidation and sexual abuse, creating an environment of fear and compliance for Sarah. Despite not always resorting to physical violence, the implicit threat was clear and pervasive. This case exemplifies how bullying in domestic violence is multifaceted and insidious, gradually eroding the victim's self-esteem and independence, in exacting the same manner as can occur in cults.
In Australia, family and domestic violence is addressed through comprehensive legal frameworks designed to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable. The Family Law Act 1975 defines family violence broadly, encompassing behaviours that coerce, control, or cause fear. Additionally, the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 in New South Wales provides protection orders to safeguard victims.
Protections in Australia: Family and Domestic Violence Laws
Australia has robust legal protections for victims of family and domestic violence. The Family Law Act 1975 includes provisions to ensure the safety of individuals and children, prioritising their well-being in legal proceedings. Protection orders, such as Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) in New South Wales, and Family Violence Intervention Orders (FIVO) in Victoria, are designed to prevent further abuse by restricting the abuser’s actions and contact with the victim.
Furthermore, the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022 outlines strategies to address domestic violence, including prevention, support services, and legal measures. These frameworks ensure that victims have access to legal recourse, support services, and safe environments.
Bullying is a form of Coercive Control
At its core, bullying represents a misuse of power and authority to intimidate, harm, and manipulate others, fundamentally undermining their autonomy and well-being. As such it can be viewed through the lens of coercion and control. Governments around Australia have begun to enacted specific legislation targeting coercive control that addresses non-physical forms of bullying.
For example, in Tasmania, the Family Violence Act 2004 explicitly includes coercive control as a form of family violence, allowing for legal interventions to protect victims. Similarly, in Victoria, the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 recognises coercive control as a pattern of behaviour aimed at dominating and controlling another person, enabling courts to issue intervention orders to prevent further harm.
The introduction of new coercive control laws in New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland in 2021 signifies a substantial advancement in addressing domestic violence across Australia, offering comprehensive legal avenues to intervene in cases where perpetrators employ coercive and controlling tactics to manipulate and dominate their partners.
While these legislative measures reflect a growing recognition of the insidious nature of coercive control and the need for proactive legal responses to combat it across Australia, is it disappointing that they are only designed to fit traditional domestic units. Cults often mimic familial dynamics by establishing tight-knit communities where members are encouraged to view the leader as a parental figure and fellow adherents as surrogate family members, fostering a sense of belonging and dependency reminiscent of traditional family units.
Lack of Safeguards in Cults
Victims of bullying within destructive cults lack similar protections, to those in domestic settings even though the same abusive behaviour can be present. The reason for this loophole is that cults operate outside the regulatory frameworks that govern domestic environments, often functioning in secrecy and isolation. Members are typically cut off from external support systems, including legal and mental health services, making it difficult to report abuse or seek help.
For instance, in the Australian arm of The Family International (formerly known as the Children of God), members face similar isolation and indoctrination tactics, rendering them vulnerable to sustained abuse. Similarly, Anne Hamilton-Byrne's cult, known as The Family, subjected members to strict control and manipulation, perpetuating an environment of fear and dependency. Another example is the cult Providence (JMS), led by Jung Myung-seok, in which similar patterns of isolation and coercive control are reported making it challenging for members to seek outside assistance or escape from abuse.
Conclusion
The comparison between bullying in destructive cults and family/domestic violence underscores significant differences in the availability of protections and recourse for victims. While Australia has robust legal frameworks and support systems to address family and domestic violence, no such safeguards exist for individuals within cults. This disparity highlights the need for greater awareness, legal frameworks, and support systems to protect those vulnerable to abuse in all contexts.
Addressing bullying in any form requires a commitment to safeguarding individuals’ rights and well-being, whether in cults, domestic environments, or elsewhere. Society must strive to extend protections and support to all victims of bullying, recognising the universal need for safety, respect, and dignity.
Further Reading
7NEWS Spotlight. (n.d.). 7NEWS Spotlight investigates the kidney cult: Inside the church that encourages followers to donate their organs. Retrieved from https://7news.com.au/spotlight/spotlight-exclusives/7news-spotlight-investigates-the-kidney-cult-inside-the-church-that-encourages-followers-to-donate-their-organs-c-14720590
ABC News. (2017, December 11). The bizarre world of Providence cult and its leader JMS. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-11/the-bizarre-world-of-providence-cult-and-its-leader-jms/9224564
ABC Television. (n.d.). Cult of the Family. Retrieved from https://iview.abc.net.au/show/cult-of-the-family
Australian Government. (1975). Family Law Act 1975. Retrieved from [https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A00275/latest/text
Australian Government Department of Social Services. (2010). National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022. Retrieved from https://www.dss.gov.au/women/programs-services/reducing-violence/the-national-plan-to-reduce-violence-against-women-and-their-children-2010-2022
New South Wales Government. (2007). Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007. Retrieved from https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-2007-080
Safe Work Australia. (n.d.). Workers’ Compensation Schemes. Retrieved from https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/legislation-and-regulation/workers-compensation-schemes
Tasmanian Government. (2004). Family Violence Act 2004. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/2010-07-01/act-2004-067#:~:text=This%20Act%20may%20be%20cited%20as%20the%20Family%20Violence%20Act%202004%20.&text=The%20provisions%20of%20this%20Act,or%20days%20to%20be%20proclaimed.&text=In%20the%20administration%20of%20this,violence%20are%20the%20paramount%20considerations.
Victoria Government. (2008). Family Violence Protection Act 2008. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/family-violence-protection-act-2008/053
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