Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1, 1992, Page 53
of age. The interview group is homogeneous in that all had received the same kind of
systematic Bible school instruction.
The interview was semi-structured, that is, the same questions were used for everyone yet
there was room for expansion and deeper penetration. The result is a combination of answers
and personal observations. (Gudrun Swartling has worked with psychotic patients for many
years, which has been the source of her training and experience in assessing psychiatric
symptoms.)
Social Contacts Broken
Deterioration of contact with families and friends after joining the movement was reported by
85% of those interviewed. Also, to a large extent, many had ceased keeping themselves
informed through radio, television, or daily newspapers and had given up their former
interests. Often their financial status had deteriorated, sometimes drastically, because of the
generous offering expected in Word of Life’s collection, in addition to the tithing.
Psychiatric Symptoms
Those interviewed were asked about symptoms they had experienced after contact with the
movement that had not posed a problem previously. The new symptoms are reported in Table
1.
of age. The interview group is homogeneous in that all had received the same kind of
systematic Bible school instruction.
The interview was semi-structured, that is, the same questions were used for everyone yet
there was room for expansion and deeper penetration. The result is a combination of answers
and personal observations. (Gudrun Swartling has worked with psychotic patients for many
years, which has been the source of her training and experience in assessing psychiatric
symptoms.)
Social Contacts Broken
Deterioration of contact with families and friends after joining the movement was reported by
85% of those interviewed. Also, to a large extent, many had ceased keeping themselves
informed through radio, television, or daily newspapers and had given up their former
interests. Often their financial status had deteriorated, sometimes drastically, because of the
generous offering expected in Word of Life’s collection, in addition to the tithing.
Psychiatric Symptoms
Those interviewed were asked about symptoms they had experienced after contact with the
movement that had not posed a problem previously. The new symptoms are reported in Table
1.
