Margaret Singer

Who was Margaret Singer?

Margaret Thaler Singer was a clinical psychologist and anti-cultist.

Singer's main areas of research included schizophrenia, family therapy, brainwashing and coercive persuasion. In the 1960s she began to study the nature of cults and mind control and served on the board of the American Family Foundation and as an advisory board member for the Cult Awareness Network. She is the co-author of the book Cults in Our Midst.

In 1987, as head of the APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Methods of Persuasion and Control for the American Psychological Association, Singer oversaw the production of a report that was later rejected by the APA's Board of Social and Ethical Responsibility for Psychology. Thereafter, Singer's expert testimony in four subsequent cases was not accepted. In 1992 she unsuccessfully sued the APA for "defamation, frauds, aiding and abetting and conspiracy."