Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1997, page 79
leaders of the group. If they persist in expressing doubts, they risk censure and, eventually,
disfellowshipping.
Therefore, the choices for someone in a high-control group such as WTS who is
experiencing doubts are (1) repress forbidden doubts and desires and run the risk of
developing psychological symptoms as repressed feelings emerge in disguised form (2) act
on doubts and unacceptable desires secretly and suffer shame and guilt, leading to low self-
esteem, possible psychological problems, and the risk of being caught and expelled or (3)
openly express or act on doubts and desires, and risk expulsion from the group and
shunning by friends and family members.
The Watchtower Society’s Approach to Psychological Issues
Although its approach to psychological problems has changed over time to become
somewhat more liberal, WTS still retains the attitude that conflicts are best disavowed and
can be made to disappear through sheer willpower. One article presenting a simplistic
solution to what to do about negative emotions suggests that “with sufficient effort and
time, you can learn to bring your thoughts under greater control … do the same to your
feelings” (“Negative Emotions,” 1992, p. 4). Another encourages parents to teach their
children the practice of “mental regulating,” which “means regulating our thinking to
conform to Jehovah‟s will” (“Parents, Find Pleasure,” 1996, p. 11). Elsewhere, members are
encouraged to seek God‟s help to root out “improper desires, affections, emotions,
purposes, thoughts or motives … [or] painful, disquieting thoughts” (“Search Through Me,”
1993, p. 20). Jehovah‟s Witnesses are not forbidden to consult mental health professionals,
but are told that “worldly counselors and psychologists can never hope to approach the
wisdom and understanding that Jehovah displays…. Rather than lean on the wisdom of
prominent men of the world or on our own uninformed emotions, let us look to Jehovah, his
Word and the Elders in the Christian congregation for advice” (“Trust in Jehovah,” 1993, p.
13). Disturbingly, Awake! devoted an entire article to youth suicide without once mentioning
consultation of a mental health professional as a treatment option (“Young People Ask: Is
Suicide,” 1994).
WTS somewhat grudgingly admits that members with severe mental illness might be more
than they can handle through prayer and consultation with Elders, but encourages the
general population of Witnesses to consult with Elders rather than professionals.
Some, suffering severely from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder … and other
distressing disorders, have been able to live fairly normal lives after obtaining the
right professional help, (but) in many cases the patient does not have a severe
mental disorder but has difficulty coping with some situation in life. However, it is
the Bible that gives the most effective help in handling the difficult problems of life
… (The Bible) encourages such ones to call on the Elders for help and counsel….
The prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well. (“Questions from Readers,”
1996, p. 30)
For the most part, the practice of disfellowshipping is a very effective way of controlling
members‟ actions. The fear of such treatment keeps many silent and encourages repression
of conflict. Franz (1991) writes:
Any persons among Jehovah‟s Witnesses who find they cannot conscientiously
support fully the organization‟s teachings or practices live in a climate of fear,
feeling they must constantly be on guard as to what they say, what they do, what
they read, with whom they associate, from whom they receive letters, not feeling
any sense of freedom even when among personal friends or close relatives if these
are also Witnesses. (p. 383)

Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1997, page 80
However, many ex-members report having secretly practiced forbidden behaviors or having
worried over doubts and doctrinal discrepancies long before leaving. Bergman (1992)
relates that
A common pattern is for Witnesses to be raised under very strict, rigid conditions,
fully obeying the dictates of the Watchtower until the inner conflicts, resentments,
aggressions, and frustrations force them to make a sudden break from the
organization. What may seem simply a quick and drastic break with the Witnesses
and their standards is often the result of a situation where the Witness has had
emotional conflicts for years. Unable to discuss them with anyone … until some
situation, which may itself be minor, causes a “break” of some sort. He or she then
acts on a set of feelings which have been building for some time. (p. 234)
Those who can repress any doubts or disagreements, and those who can keep their
behavior within the bounds of WTS‟s rules, often do so, at great cost to personal happiness
and even their mental health, as a means to stay safe and secure within the womb of the
organization.
The Study
A small group of women (n=20) expatriated from WTS responded to a questionnaire
comparing their experiences in the group to their postgroup experiences. Survey
participants were solicited from requests in two newsletters and two support groups (one on
the Internet), all specifically for former Jehovah‟s Witnesses. Respondents were asked to
complete a questionnaire on women and high-control groups. Of the 35 sent out, 20
completed surveys (57.1%) were returned. Only former members were surveyed because of
the authors‟ inability to access current members. (As a rule, Witnesses are unwilling to
participate in research about their group conducted by outsiders.) See Table 1 (below) for
demographic information. Of the respondents, 25% stated they were disfellowshipped (one
for smoking, one for disagreeing with doctrine, one for premarital sex, and two not citing
the reason). Because of the questionnaire‟s wording, more respondents may have been
disfellowshipped than actually stated so. Seven left because they disagreed with doctrine or
felt there was too much hypocrisy in how members were treated. Three left because they
felt they had been abused or not protected from abuse (financially or sexually) by men in
power in the group. Two stated they basically “drifted away,” and one respondent did not
say why she left.
Survey questions covered three areas: (1) the amount of control the group exerted on its
members (2) patriarchal versus egalitarian attitudes experienced while WTS members,
compared to experiences after leaving the group and (3) mental health problems
experienced while in the group and after leaving. A convenience sample of 16 women from
other religious backgrounds (Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Baptist, and Jewish)
responded only to the Control Scale (CS) portion to serve as a comparison group. On the
Patriarchal/Egalitarian Scale (P/E) and Symptoms Scale (SS), former Witnesses gave two
answers to each question, indicating their current response and a retrospective response (as
if they were still in WTS).
Control Scale
The first section consisted of 22 questions designed to determine the amount of control the
group exercised over members. This scale was included to verify that the former Witnesses
perceived WTS as a high-control group. Some of the items were the following:
 Disagreeing with group ideas could lead to expulsion from the group.
 Reading information critical of the group was strongly discouraged.
 They felt excessive peer pressure to behave and think in certain ways.
 Education was risky because of exposure to bad influences.