Eileen Vartan Barker has dedicated most of her research career to understanding a number of concepts surrounding religion, especially cults and new religious movements and the curious phenomena of brainwashing. Eileen Vartan Barker set this up in relation with the Church of England and the British government. Though most of Eileen Vartan Barker's studies and published work concern the Moonies, a lot of her concepts can apply to any other cult or religion where brainwashing could be used as a tool of control and dependency. Eileen Vartan Barker figures among eminent sociologists of the world.