Little One explores the ways that systems of control can shape behavior, identity, and self-worth, specifically by drawing a parallel between the control mechanisms of cult-like groups and the pervasive ideology of contemporary wellness culture. Although cults and wellness movements have clear differences, both can emphasize discipline, self-improvement, and personal transformation in a way that’s destructive and detrimental to people’s emotional well-being. Muenter draws attention to the similarities between these environments, encouraging readers to consider how the pursuit of health or fulfillment can sometimes become entangled with rigid expectations and systems of control.

Researchers who study cults or high-demand groups often identify several common characteristics used to exert control over their members. These include isolation from outside influences, unquestionable loyalty to a charismatic leader, and intense physical demands like dietary restrictions and exercise regimens. Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton, whose work on thought reform remains influential, argued that high-control groups frequently regulate everyday aspects of life in order to shape how members think about themselves and the world (Hassan, Steven. “Robert J. Lifton’s Eight Criteria of Thought Reform.” Cults, Culture, & Coercion, 30 May 2019). Food restrictions, sleep deprivation, public confession, and systems of surveillance are common tools because they weaken individual autonomy while increasing dependence on the group. In Little One, Catharine’s father employs many of these tactics. The farm’s fasting rituals, public weigh-ins, and increasing isolation create an environment in which physical discipline becomes inseparable from moral worth. Members are encouraged to view obedience as virtue and doubt as weakness.

The novel also engages with contemporary conversations about wellness culture. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness economy exceeds $5 trillion and encompasses industries ranging from fitness and nutrition to mindfulness and self-improvement (“The Global Wellness Economy Hits a Record $6.8 Trillion and Is Forecast to Reach $9.8 Trillion by 2029.” Global Wellness Institute, 19 Nov. 2025). Much of this industry promotes healthy habits and positive lifestyle changes. However, critics have noted that some corners of wellness culture rely on extreme ideas about optimization, purity, and personally responsibility, promoting their own forms of extreme discipline under the guise of self-improvement. Practices such as restrictive “clean eating,” expensive boutique fitness classes, and a relentless focus on optimization can mirror the all-or-nothing logic of cults. In both these environments, self-improvement can become less about well-being and more about meeting increasingly demanding standards.

This parallel is central to understanding Catharine’s adult life. Traumatized by the farm, she manages her anxiety through punishing exercise routines and obsessive thoughts about food. Her internal monologue reveals that she has swapped one ideology of control for another; her virtual trainer’s shouts of “This is what self-love looks like” are immediately followed by her father’s voice reminding her to conquer weakness (4). By linking the cult’s overt indoctrination with the more subtle demands of wellness culture, the novel critiques how systems of control manifest in different forms, while raising important questions about where healthy self-discipline ends and self-punishment begins.