{"id":2245,"date":"2023-01-31T16:22:29","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T16:22:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/spiritualandreligiouslife\/resources-and-policies\/avoiding-mind-control-groups\/"},"modified":"2025-07-09T18:18:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T18:18:06","slug":"avoiding-mind-control-groups","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/spiritualandreligiouslife\/resources\/avoiding-mind-control-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding High-Pressure Groups"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New students and others experiencing major life transitions are often especially susceptible to mind-control groups, which often seem extremely friendly, provide many opportunities for community, and seem to create stability in a time of change. For that reason, these groups often try to recruit people in times of transition. However, unlike healthy spiritual and ethical communities, these groups do not ultimately support students\u2019 intellectual freedom and academic success, physical and mental health, and positive relationships with family and friends as part of a healthy, balanced life.<\/p>\n

Pursuant to Trinity College\u2019s Policy Statement on Discrimination, General Harassment and Abuse (see, Student Handbook), high-pressure groups are contrary to the College\u2019s mission and thus are not welcome at Trinity College. This information is provided to help you avoid these groups and to connect with Trinity\u2019s many healthy spiritual and other campus communities. Trinity College\u2019s policies for recognized religious and spiritual communities prohibit behaviors such as deception, proselytizing (outreach that involves pressure or exploits vulnerabilities), and harassment. Therefore, we strongly encourage students to begin their exploration for religious and spiritual communities with those listed on the Trinity College Office of Spiritual and Religious Life (OSRL) website<\/a>. For your protection and that of all members of the Trinity College community, if you believe you have encountered a high pressure group on campus, or have questions about whether a group is a high-pressure group, please contact Trinity College OSRL at 860-297-2013. It is better to err on the side of caution. Information shared will be kept confidential.<\/p>\n

High-pressure groups can be hard to recognize at first, and there is a spectrum in the aggressiveness of these groups\u2019 tactics. Some mind-control groups seem to share some of the beliefs or features of mainstream religious groups\u2014the issue is not their beliefs per se, but their emotionally abusive and destructive practices. These groups seek to create an all-or-nothing reality and a situation in which people are totally dependent on the group\u2014spiritually, socially, romantically, financially, and in every way. In the United States today, there are an estimated 5,000 high-pressure and cult-like groups.<\/p>\n

To learn more about ways you can help safeguard our community against mind-control groups, check out this resource: Avoiding Mind-Control Groups and Groups with Cult-Like Practices<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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