Why Do Sex-Based Wellness Groups Feel So Magnetic?

Psychology research explains the pull of intense wellness circles.

Posted December 8, 2025 | Reviewed by Monica Vilhauer Ph.D.

It started out like many wellness programs with the promise of deeper connection and transformative healing. For years, One Taste, a wellness brand offering “orgasmic meditation ”—OM—as a gateway to mindfulness , intimacy , and self-growth, was featured in major media outlets like The New York Times . Then, in June 2025, One Taste’s leaders were found guilty of forced labor, after prosecutors argued that employees were pressured into unpaid work and unwanted experiences. Their defense? Everything was about consent and personal transformation. Members were free to leave at any time. (NPR, 2025).

If you’ve read headlines or dipped into Ellen Huet’s new exposé Empire of Orgasm , you know this story isn’t simple. One Taste’s courses drew in thousands of participants, some of whom describe remarkable transformation. Others, however, report manipulation, control, and emotional pain that seemed impossible to shake—even after walking away.

So why do sexual or spiritually oriented groups exert such a magnetic pull? Why do some people feel hooked, even when things turn sour? Psychology and neuroscience give us some essential clues.

OM and the Brain: Why Rituals Stick

OM isn’t your average meditation class. The practice involves a set routine, paired partner interactions, intense focus on physical and emotional sensations, and a group culture built around regular practice sessions. Supporters say it fosters presence, body awareness, and personal growth. Critics say the power dynamics can be tricky, and the sense of belonging can tip into emotional dependence.

Neuroscience shows why this matters. Any experience that blends pleasure, novelty, and focused attention activates dopamine —the same brain chemical linked to motivation and habit. Sexual touch and close physical connection also trigger oxytocin and natural opioids, which reinforce trust, bonding, and relief from stress (Georgiadis et al., 2006; Carmichael et al., 1987; Murphy et al., 2018). Simply put: we’re wired to seek out the things that make us feel good, especially those tied to connection and care.

So, when group ritualized practices consistently deliver intense feelings—whether pleasure, acceptance, or meaning—your brain tags those experiences as special and very important. Over time, being part of the community starts to feel essential to one’s well-being, even if trouble’s brewing beneath the surface.

The Social Science of Sticking Around

The science of attachment explains why group bonds can be hard to break. The same neurochemicals that help us bond with friends, family, or romantic partners also respond to group settings—especially those built around rituals, strong leaders, and insider language (Bartels & Zeki, 2004; Young & Wang, 2004). In intense close-knit communities, feelings of trust and relief may get wrapped up in the group’s practices, beliefs, and authorities. When doubts creep in, it’s not just the loss of activities—it’s a wrenching break with your social identity and your body’s favorite source of comfort.

Court records and Huet’s interviews describe a dynamic that goes deep: newcomers are welcomed, challenged, and sometimes criticized in ways that encourage commitment. Participants describe a mix of intense sexual experiences, emotionally charged group work, and a narrative that framed doubts as evidence of “resistance” or unresolved trauma . Some said they experienced excessive pressure to push past their personal boundaries and were told this would help them achieve greater spiritual freedom.

Why Is Leaving So Hard, Even When It Hurts?

It’s not just about willpower . Decades of research on trauma bonding and coercive relationships show how cycles of stress and relief can forge particularly strong emotional ties (Dutton & Painter, 1993; Freyd, 1996). In groups where care and criticism alternate unpredictably, the drive for connection becomes especially intense. If your safe place is also the source of your distress, your nervous system may crave reunion even as your mind is encouraging you to flee.

Leaving can trigger intense feelings of loss—both emotional and physical. Psychology calls this “withdrawal,” not unlike quitting an addictive substance (Burkett & Young, 2012; Machin & Dunbar, 2011). You may also face cognitive dissonance : After investing time, energy, and hope, admitting things weren’t what you thought can be deeply unsettling (Festinger, 1957). Practical barriers like money, housing, and social ties can reinforce the urge to stay.

Bottom line: Difficulty leaving isn’t weakness. It can be the result of powerful brain wiring, social dynamics, and emotional investments pulling together.

How to Protect Yourself—and Recover

Not every alternative group or intimacy practice is harmful, but several risk factors deserve attention:

Trauma-informed support and therapy can help members untangle real benefits from manipulation, and restore autonomy and healthy friendships.

The brain craves meaning, pleasure, and belonging. As people spend more time online, alone and isolated, many crave deeper connections than ever. Cult-like organizations can fulfill our emotional needs for connection and validation, but they also have the potential to prey on our vulnerabilities. Understanding the science may be one step toward making better choices, and toward supporting anyone who’s working to break free.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice.

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Burkett, J. P., & Young, L. J. (2012). The behavioral, anatomical and pharmacological parallels between social attachment, love and addiction. Psychopharmacology, 224 (1), 1–26.

Carmichael MS, Humbert R, Dixen J, Palmisano G, Greenleaf W, Davidson JM. Plasma oxytocin increases in the human sexual response. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1987 Jan;64(1):27-31. doi: 10.1210/jcem-64-1-27. PMID: 3782434.

Dutton, D. G., & Painter, S. L. (1993). Emotional attachments in abusive relationships. Violence and Victims, 8 , 105–120.

Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance . Stanford University Press.

Freyd, J. J. (1996). Betrayal trauma . Harvard University Press.

Georgiadis, J. R., et al. (2006). Regional cerebral blood flow changes with orgasm in healthy women. European Journal of Neuroscience. (11):3305-16. Huet, E. (2025). Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. MCD Books.

Machin, A. J., & Dunbar, R. I. M. (2011). The brain opioid theory of social attachment. Behaviour, 148 , 985–1025. Murphy, M. L. M., et al. (2018). Receiving a hug is associated with attenuation of negative mood. PLOS ONE, 13 , e0203522. National Public Radio (2025, June). Leaders of 'orgasmic meditation' company were convicted of forced labor: What to know.

Young, L. J., & Wang, Z. (2004). The neurobiology of pair bonding. Nature Neuroscience, 7 , 1048–1054.

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Tara Well, Ph.D. , is a professor in the department of psychology at Barnard College of Columbia University.

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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.