The Rise and Fall of NXIVM: A Social Network Analysis

• In Event: Webs of Crime: Exploring the Influence of Social Ties on Criminal Groups and Trafficking Networks

Abstract

Marketed as a self-help organization, NXIVM has opened the dialogue to explore the relationship between new religious movements (NRMs) and criminal behavior. This longitudinal study employs social network analysis to explore the evolution of criminal behavior that occurred over the 20 years of NXIVM’s lifespan. The network was constructed using data obtained from autobiographical and biographical sources, court documents, and additional secondary sources. The purpose is to explore the role of turning points on the movement’s trajectory, measuring network cohesion and actor centrality across NXIVM’s Onset, Persistence, and Escalation and Desistance. The three time periods were created using qualitatively determined turning points: the NXIVM Nine Revolt and the rise of DOS. The study also examined the evolution of criminal behavior in the network by testing the relationship between offending, victimization, and centrality. Results show that each turning point elicited significant change, contributing to network decay, and that the most influential actors in the movement’s evolution were both victims and offenders. Findings help to further understanding of both NRM violence and network processes that moderate criminal group longevity and persistence.

Authors

• Kelley Massingale, Simon Fraser University

• Richard Frank, Simon Fraser University

• Martin Bouchard, Simon Fraser University