New York City – A recent social media post from The New Yorker has brought renewed attention to The Sullivanians, an enigmatic psychotherapy group that operated for decades, with its members often holding high-status positions while maintaining a largely hidden communal existence. The tweet highlighted how the group was "hidden in plain sight, enacting their beliefs on an island of nearly eight million people—often while holding down high-status jobs as physicians, attorneys, computer programmers, and academics."
Founded in 1957 by psychotherapist Saul B. Newton and his wife Jane Pearce as the Sullivan Institute for Research in Psychoanalysis, the group initially presented itself as a maverick form of psychotherapy. Its core philosophy challenged traditional societal norms, particularly the nuclear family, advocating for communal living and extensive social connections. At its peak in the late 1970s, the community reportedly consisted of several hundred members, primarily residing in buildings on Manhattan's Upper West Side.
The Sullivanians gained notoriety for their unorthodox practices, which evolved into a highly controlling environment for members. They encouraged polyamorous relationships, discouraged traditional family bonds, and exerted significant influence over members' personal lives, including their careers, finances, and even child-rearing. Accounts from former members and later investigations revealed instances of emotional manipulation and allegations of abuse.
Despite their insular nature, many Sullivanians were highly educated professionals, seamlessly integrated into the city's workforce. This allowed the group to operate largely undetected by the wider public for many years. However, the group began to face public scrutiny in the 1980s, primarily due to high-profile child custody battles initiated by former members seeking to regain their children from the group's control.
The decline of the Sullivanians accelerated with negative media attention and investigations into professional misconduct. The group effectively dissolved after Saul Newton's death in 1991. The renewed interest in the Sullivanians stems partly from recent publications, including Alexander Stille's book, "The Sullivanians: Sex, Psychotherapy, and the Wild Life of an American Commune," which details the group's complex history and its impact on members.