Margaret Thaler Singer (1921–2003) was a clinical psychologist and opponent of new religious movements (which she called "cults").Singer's main areas of research included schizophrenia, family therapy, brainwashing and coercive persuasion. In the 1960s she began to study the nature of new religious movements and mind control, and sat as a board member of the American Family Foundation and as an advisory board member of the Cult Awareness Network.