Steven Alan Hassan (pronounced ) is an American mental health professional and author who specializes in the area of cults. In the late 1970s, he participated in deprogramming in his early career, but since then has advocated non-coercive exit counseling. Hassan has written four books on the subject of mind control and is often described in the media as an expert on mind control and cults. Hassan's view of undue influence in such groups is echoed by some scholars with backgrounds in psychology and psychiatry. Some researchers in the sociology of religion are critical of his application of mind-control theory to what they characterise as new religious movements (NRM). Hassan is a former member of the Unification Church. He founded Ex-Moon Inc. in 1979. In 1999, he founded the Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Source: Wikipedia (en)