80 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 8, 2017
Comment. In her blending of the quantitative
and qualitative, Cook was clear, articulate, and
informative about the Kingdom of God. I
encourage cult researchers to experiment with
this deductive approach to case study.
Chapter 6. Aristotelian Analysis
Cook discusses the results when she applied
Aristotelian analysis. The behavioral component
fits well, she argues, with Aristotle’s revision of
the soul as bipartite. This explains why all four
psychological components of occupational
identity, and also four sociological processes
(Lalich’s bounded choice) work together. In
addition, Aristotelian analysis highlights
rhetorical types, decision premises, and
rhetorical appeals. When Cook compared 14
current members with 14 former members on the
frequency of rhetorical appeals, the former
members cited 128 and the current members
only 35.
Comment. From my perspective as a social
scientist, I am amazed at Cook’s intellectual
gymnastics. Relying primarily on participants’
responses to the retroactive interviews and
selected documents supplied by the Kingston
organization, she has used deductive thinking
and interpretation within a classical system of
logic. Is Aristotelian analysis a Procrustean bed
or a productive new approach to cultic research?
Can further research validate her results?
On a positive note, both the participants’ views
and many of Cook’s interpretations were
interesting and provocative. For example, she
claimed that her analysis of rhetorical appeals
supports Margaret Singer. According to Cook,
“. ..new religious movements use persuasive
tactics that focus on emotion and suppress
reasoning. ..” (p. 181).
Chapter 7. Burkean Identification
Strategies: Bounded Choice
In this chapter, Cook extends Aristotle’s rhetoric
as it applies to the process of identification in
respect to her sample of the Kingston
organization. She analyzes concepts proposed by
Kenneth Burke, an American philosopher, Rob
Van Dik, a professor of social psychology, and
Janja Lalich, Associate Professor of Sociology at
California State University and ICSA member.
Cook concludes that aspects of identification are
related to Burke’s theory of logology and
Lalich’s system of bounded choice. Van Dick’s
affective, cognitive, behavioral, and conative
dimensions of identification influence and
control members. She shows “how they are used
to create member loyalty in thoughts words, and
action” (p. 238). From childhood on, these
identification strategies lead to loyalty to family,
to the Kingston group, to the Kingdom of God,
and to the charismatic Heavenly Father.
Comment. Cook draws on a theoretician/
philosopher, a sociologist, a German
social/vocational psychologist, and other
specialists to interpret how and why. As in the
preceding chapter, she uses relevant participant-
interview statements and official documents to
illustrate her deductions.
Chapter 8. Conclusions
In this chapter, Cook summarizes her theoretical
findings as an in-depth exploration of
organizational identification within the Kingston
organization members changed over time. By
showing how identification occurs in the
Kingston organization, she hoped to understand
NRMs in general. She also wanted to show how
classical rhetoric is applicable to our postmodern
world.
Among other conclusions, Cook was
“completely mesmerized” by the Kingstons,
“thunderstruck” by their effectiveness,
“saddened” that former members felt mistreated.
She wanted to let each side speak for itself, and
to be fair and unbiased. Recognizing the conflict
also between The Order and the Utah Attorney
General, she concluded that the question of
abuse in the practices of polygamy and
intermarriage “will remain a contested issue”
(p. 251) so too whether or not the Kingstons’
economic practices abuse some of its members,
especially girls and women.
The Kingston organization was masterful, she
argues, in its development of organizational
identity through veneration of the charismatic
leader. “While spiritual development is stressed
in The Order, the structure of the family is
tightly controlled it is run like a corporation”
(p. 223), with the strongest emphasis on
Comment. In her blending of the quantitative
and qualitative, Cook was clear, articulate, and
informative about the Kingdom of God. I
encourage cult researchers to experiment with
this deductive approach to case study.
Chapter 6. Aristotelian Analysis
Cook discusses the results when she applied
Aristotelian analysis. The behavioral component
fits well, she argues, with Aristotle’s revision of
the soul as bipartite. This explains why all four
psychological components of occupational
identity, and also four sociological processes
(Lalich’s bounded choice) work together. In
addition, Aristotelian analysis highlights
rhetorical types, decision premises, and
rhetorical appeals. When Cook compared 14
current members with 14 former members on the
frequency of rhetorical appeals, the former
members cited 128 and the current members
only 35.
Comment. From my perspective as a social
scientist, I am amazed at Cook’s intellectual
gymnastics. Relying primarily on participants’
responses to the retroactive interviews and
selected documents supplied by the Kingston
organization, she has used deductive thinking
and interpretation within a classical system of
logic. Is Aristotelian analysis a Procrustean bed
or a productive new approach to cultic research?
Can further research validate her results?
On a positive note, both the participants’ views
and many of Cook’s interpretations were
interesting and provocative. For example, she
claimed that her analysis of rhetorical appeals
supports Margaret Singer. According to Cook,
“. ..new religious movements use persuasive
tactics that focus on emotion and suppress
reasoning. ..” (p. 181).
Chapter 7. Burkean Identification
Strategies: Bounded Choice
In this chapter, Cook extends Aristotle’s rhetoric
as it applies to the process of identification in
respect to her sample of the Kingston
organization. She analyzes concepts proposed by
Kenneth Burke, an American philosopher, Rob
Van Dik, a professor of social psychology, and
Janja Lalich, Associate Professor of Sociology at
California State University and ICSA member.
Cook concludes that aspects of identification are
related to Burke’s theory of logology and
Lalich’s system of bounded choice. Van Dick’s
affective, cognitive, behavioral, and conative
dimensions of identification influence and
control members. She shows “how they are used
to create member loyalty in thoughts words, and
action” (p. 238). From childhood on, these
identification strategies lead to loyalty to family,
to the Kingston group, to the Kingdom of God,
and to the charismatic Heavenly Father.
Comment. Cook draws on a theoretician/
philosopher, a sociologist, a German
social/vocational psychologist, and other
specialists to interpret how and why. As in the
preceding chapter, she uses relevant participant-
interview statements and official documents to
illustrate her deductions.
Chapter 8. Conclusions
In this chapter, Cook summarizes her theoretical
findings as an in-depth exploration of
organizational identification within the Kingston
organization members changed over time. By
showing how identification occurs in the
Kingston organization, she hoped to understand
NRMs in general. She also wanted to show how
classical rhetoric is applicable to our postmodern
world.
Among other conclusions, Cook was
“completely mesmerized” by the Kingstons,
“thunderstruck” by their effectiveness,
“saddened” that former members felt mistreated.
She wanted to let each side speak for itself, and
to be fair and unbiased. Recognizing the conflict
also between The Order and the Utah Attorney
General, she concluded that the question of
abuse in the practices of polygamy and
intermarriage “will remain a contested issue”
(p. 251) so too whether or not the Kingstons’
economic practices abuse some of its members,
especially girls and women.
The Kingston organization was masterful, she
argues, in its development of organizational
identity through veneration of the charismatic
leader. “While spiritual development is stressed
in The Order, the structure of the family is
tightly controlled it is run like a corporation”
(p. 223), with the strongest emphasis on
