Scale of Group Psychological Violence Test - the question form
Questions: 28 · 6 minutes
1. The group does not prescribe how members should conduct their sex life.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
2. Young women are expected to use their bodies to recruit others or to manipulate people.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Unable to say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
3. The group maintained or implied that breaking the law is acceptable if it serves the group’s interests.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
4. Group members are expected (required) to postpone or give up personal, professional, and educational goals in order to work for the group.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
5. The group encourages ill members to seek medical care.
1 - Not at all characteristic
2 - Not characteristic
3 - Cannot say / not sure
4 - Characteristic
5 - Very characteristic
6. Attaining political power is the group’s primary goal.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
7. Group members believe that leaving the group would be deadly or would bring an eternal curse on themselves or their families.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Unable to say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
8. The group discourages members from expressing negative emotions.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
9. Members of the group feel that they are part of a special elite.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
10. Teaches that people who are critical of the group are under the influence of evil or satanic forces.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
11. Uses coercive persuasion and mind control.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
12. The group endorses violence against outsiders (e.g., “satanic communists”).
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
13. Members are expected (required) to live with other group supporters.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / unsure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
14. Members are required to follow the group’s rules regarding dating or intimate relationships.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / unsure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
15. People who remain in this group do so because they are being deceived and manipulated.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
16. The group teaches specific exercises (e.g., meditation, repetitive chanting, speaking in tongues) to suppress doubts or negative thoughts.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
17. Access to medical care is obstructed even when a medical problem may arise.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
18. Group members are expected (required) to serve the leaders.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
19. Making money is the group's main goal.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
20. The group is not hesitant to threaten outside critics.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
21. Members of the group are expected to make their own decisions without consulting the group leader(s).
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
22. Group members are as able to think independently and critically as they were before joining the group.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / unsure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
23. The group believes or implies that its leader is divine.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
24. Mind control is used without the informed consent of group members.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
25. Group members experience little psychological pressure from the leaders.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
26. The leader(s) was overly critical of group members.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
27. Recruiting new members is the group’s primary goal.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / unsure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic
28. Group members are expected (required) to consult the leaders about most decisions, including those related to work, child-rearing, visiting relatives, etc.
1 – Not at all characteristic
2 – Not characteristic
3 – Cannot say / not sure
4 – Characteristic
5 – Very characteristic