Found this by mistake... it came up in a search for 1980s music (?)
Religious cults - how to understand them
"People who end up in cults are normal people. They are usually intelligent, open-minded and honest. They're willing to make sacrifices for the greater good of the group. They're interested in self-improvement and in the improvement of the world. The best kinds of people, in a way, are targeted by cults. Their very decency makes them desirable as cult members."
Dr J W West, Professor of Psychiatry, University of California
Thanks Ballistic, excellent article. This statement jumped out at me:
I believe people join a group to have their needs met. These needs may be recognized by the individual but it is more likely they are not. A common feeling on meeting a sympathetic group is that "this is exactly right", "this is what I have been looking for" and feeling no doubt about that. This is because subconsciously, the individual senses that a lot, if not most of their needs can be met within the group. This can be a very emotional moment.
For all their talk of "reason", I think that people who join JW's make an emotional decision to do so, not a rational one.
