Abstract:

This article analyses the mechanisms of relationship management in closed structures, using female religious communities in Poland as a case study. The research utilized qualitative and quantitative data obtained from a study of former nuns. Based on this data, relational patterns leading to loss of autonomy, power imbalances, and psychological and spiritual abuse were identified. The findings demonstrate that formal hierarchy, ritualization of daily life, and misuse of religious language served not only to maintain communal identity, but also functioned as tools of control and exclusion of individuals who did not conform to the system.

The article highlights a paradox: mechanisms designed for spiritual growth became instruments of repression. Religious communities were compared to "total institution" type organizations. The study examined how the absence of feedback systems, supervision, and relational transparency led to chronic interpersonal dysfunctions. The research findings expand understanding of relationship management in closed institutional settings and provide analytical tools for organizational researchers, social psychologists, and practitioners working in hierarchical environments.