THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SATANIC CULT INVOLVEMENT: AN ...

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In these narcissistic conditions, destructive impulses have become unbound from libidinal
impulses, sadistically dominating the personality and ruthlessly exterminating those parts
ofthe self drawn to loving and dependent modes ofrelating. These destructive aspects of
the self are "idealized and submitted to; they capture and trap the positive dependent
aspects ofthe self' (Rosenfeld, 1987, p. 109). This destructive narcissistic organisation is
likened to a powerful criminal gang, dominated by a leader:
who controls all the members of the gang to see that they support one another
in making the criminal destructive work more effective and powerful ... The
main aim seems to be to prevent the weakening of the organization and to
control members of the gang so that they will not desert the destructive
organization and join the positive parts of the self or betray the secrets of the
gang to the police (Rosenfeld, 1987, p. 111).
Rosenfeld's description of the internal 'gang' is remarkably similar to the actual
organisation and operation of satanic cults. In this light, it is interesting to note that for
many ex-Satanists, leaving the cult does not immediately alleviate the hold that Satan
exercises over them. They frequently report being terrorised by demonic apparitions,
nightmares, somatic symptoms, auditory hallucinations Of Satan's voice threatening them
with death, and possession states. This confirms the existence of a destructive internal
organisation, an intrapsychic replica ofthe actual Satanic cult organisation.
Grotstein (1981) identifies a particular kind of dissociation between "disavowing" and
"disavowed" aspects of the self. In this regard, he notes the psychotic development of a
"diabolical self which is the active, retaliatory aspect of the disavowed self which then
seeks to reenter or combine with the disavowing self in order to torment it and repossess
it under its diabolical control" (p. 67). This diabolical personality establishes itself as a
"mad jailer", which kidnaps and imprisons the disavowing self in order to assert
omnipotent control over it. It is interesting to note Grotstein's demonic metaphor, which
is the Satanists' literal experience of violent entrapment, possession, and persecution
should they show weakness, betray cult secrets, or attempt to leave the cult (see Chapter
Fifteen).