Am J Psychiatry 1980; 137:1574-1579
Copyright © 1980 by American Psychiatric Association
Psychological induction into the large-group: findings from a modern religious sect
M Galanter
The author studied the psychological aspects of religious conversion during
structured 21-day workshop sequences designed to introduce people to the
Unification Church. Subjects were given a battery of tests at different
times during the sequence. After the initial 2-day workshop, 71% dropped
out; the 29% who chose to continue had greater affiliative feelings toward
the group and greater acceptance of the church's creed than these early
dropouts. The 9% who ultimately joined the church had weaker outside
personal ties than the later dropouts, although their beliefs in and
cohesiveness toward the church were the same as the late dropouts. These
results are also compared with long- standing members of the church and
matched nonmembers. The induction procedures used by the church are
discussed with regard to those used by large therapeutic groups, such as
self-help organizations.
