The isolation factor definitely has a huge part to play in it. Phelps hasn't been isolating his family for fear of the evils of the world, he's doing it out of fear of losing his power over them through a gain of knowledge and other influences. Pretty classic abusive behaviour. He may have been exposed to the same stuff as a child himself, that doesn't make it right. It doesnt even make him remotely close to a good person. His son, who escaped the cycle of abuse and made a life for himself, now theres a good person.
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