The annual ICSA International Conference brings together researchers, health professionals, service providers, and survivors and their families from around the world to engage in open dialogue on the most pressing themes around cultic studies. The 2026 conference explores the theme: Expanding the scope of coercive control: Understanding abusive dynamics and their impacts across interpersonal, institutional, and cultic contexts. Log in to access the conference’s on-demand presentations and join live sessions at their scheduled times.
Published date
18.08.2026
This presentation examines Large Group Awareness Trainings (LGATs) through the lens of coercive control and consumer culture. Dave Booda explores how some personal development programs create cycles of dependency by promising transformation while encouraging continued participation, drawing parallels between planned obsolescence in products and recurring self-improvement models. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the history, methods, and risks associated with LGATs, as well as their relationship to cultic dynamics and high-demand groups.