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.
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.
