Anyway, I disagree with your opinion about Barker. She is not just an academic but her work is cited quite often. Have you read her book "Introduction to NRMs" (or a similar title) ? You are right in reminding me of the fact that she is not a psychologist and that explains some of the omissions in her work that I found strange. E.g. she wrote in that book that some ex-members may not take new iniatives when they leave their movement. The obvious reason is of course that they are depressed and grieving and need time to cope with their loss, which she did not state.

Margaret Singer's theory of brainwashing has been discredited but her clinical work with ex-cult members has not and is still cited e.g. by Marc Galanter (editor) in his 1989 book "CULTS and NRMs", which I borrowed from the university library.