Lalich is an expert on cults and coercion, charismatic authority, power relations, ideology and social control.

[3] Beginning in the 1970s, Lalich spent around ten years as part of a radical Marxist-Leninist group, the Democratic Workers Party in California.

Lalich recalls that during her time in the group she stored questions and doubts in the back of her mind, unable to express them.

[6] Lalich is a professor in the sociology department of California State University, Chico, and has contributed several articles to academic journals on the subject of cults and religions.

[10] As a recognized international authority in the field, Lalich has also appeared in several court cases as an expert witness on coercive control or undue influence.