Mind Control - WatchTower Cult

Jehovah's Witnesses are an extreme Christian sect that holds little in common with other branches of Christianity. The Jehovah's Witnesses use what they term "theocratic language", which some believe is a part of the mind control used in the organization (Reed 1997). Researchers who began to study brainwashing techniques in the 1950s, after they were used on prisoners of war in Korea, found in many of their studies that language was a key factor in thought reform. Having someone speaking a certain way, using certain words, can change their mind or opinion extremely effectively (Reed 1997). Conduct is closely monitored in Jehovah's Witnesses; for example, Jehovah's Witnesses are instructed that Jehovah's Witness women must not express disagreement with judicial decisions of the elders -- even by their facial expressions. Jehovah's Witnesses use only positive words in connection with the [WatchTower Society], e.g. cleaning the [Kingdom Hall's] toilets is a "Kingdom privilege", while extremely negative words are associated with [opposers], such as "evil slaves" or "filthy apostates". There is apparently an extensive pseudo-vocabulary that must be used by those committed to the [WatchTower Society], which sets them apart from the rest of society (Reed 1997). Recruitment is a huge part of their practice; you cannot board a subway without seeing a Jehovah's Witness offering recruitment pamphlets at the terminal.The Jehovah's Witnesses use all of the coercive measures listed in the coercive characteristics chart and score extremely high. -- edited, The Use of Persuasion in Cults, 2006, Elena T. Greco.

Two methods have traditionally been employed in attempting to free Jehovah's Witnesses from bondage to the WatchTower Society organization. They are:

* Discussing key Bible texts so as to reveal how the WatchTower Society has mistranslated or misinterpreted them.

* Exposing the past and present inconsistencies of the WatchTower Society in terms of their false prophecies, changes in doctrine, cover ups, etc.

Much has been written on the biblical approach. Many books and webpages have been written which document the Watchtower Society's false prophecies and changes as well.

However, very little has yet been written clarifying their particular technique of mind control. I believe many will benefit from a new approach in talking to friends and relatives who are caught up in the Jehovah's Witnesses. The first two techniques mentioned above have their merits, and they should not be neglected in reaching a Jehovah's Witness. Indeed, we need all the tools that we can muster in reaching out to free them from mind control. Yet I believe that a person who is trying to reach Jehovah's Witnesses must truly understand the mindset of the person they are ministering to before they can set them free in many situations.

An excellent book has been published by Steven Hassan called "Combatting Cult Mind Control". Having worked with Steve personally (and with good results), I feel that this type of information needs to be applied specifically to Jehovah's Witnesses.

While many have spoken of the methods used by the cults as a form of "brainwashing" (a forced reprogramming of a person's thoughts), a more apt designation would be "mind control". Hassan clarifies the difference between the two:

"Mind control, also called 'thought reform', is more subtle and sophisticated [than brainwashing]. Its perpetrators are regarded as friends or peers, so the person is much less defensive. He unwittingly participates by cooperating with his controllers and giving them private information that he does not know will be used against him. The new belief system is internalized into a new identity structure.

"Mind control involves little or no overt physical abuse. Instead, hypnotic processes are combined with group dynamics to create a potent indoctrination effect. The individual is deceived and manipulated -- notdirectly threatened into making the prescribed choices. On the whole, he responds positively to what is done to him." (p. 56)

Hassan constructs his methodology from his own personal experiences, as well as Robert J. Lifton's classic study, "Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism", and Leon Festinger's "cognitive dissonance theory", and its three marks of mind control. Hassan adds one more to make four:

These methods, when used by unscrupulous cults, form a powerful tool for seducing converts. The appeal is not just to the ignorant and gullible, either; the best recruits are often quite intelligent.

Using mind control is a question of ethics in today's society; not all forms of mind control are harmful. Advertising and sales pitches seek to influence our minds daily. What we must take issue with, however, are certain methods of mind control employed that are not understood by the person seeking help. Often they do not know what they are getting into (until it's too late).

Religious cults employ mind control tactics that are kept secret from the rank and file members. That is one reason why they are called cults. Cults believe that "the end justifies the means" when it comes to making converts. They sincerely believe that they have the only answers to life's problems, and since most people "don't know what is good for them," the cult leaders assume the role of "parents" to the victim, often referring to themselves as their "mother" or "father."

Unlike a good parent who explains what he is doing to the child, however, the cult leader finds it to his advantage to keep the recruit as much in the dark as possible, preferring obedience and blind loyalty to making full disclosure. Cult leaders are sophisticated when it comes to understanding human nature! They know that the average person would object to the indoctrination program if they really understood the whole picture, so information is provided on a "need to know" basis only.

This reveals the underlying foundation of cult leadership -- a total lack of faith in the neophyte's ability to make responsible decisions. The neophyte is viewed as a worthless individual unless their entire way of thinking is overhauled. They must have their minds swept clean of former ways of reacting to life's situations, and then reprogrammed entirely. The cult's program of mind control will ultimately only work if the person sublimates their former personality.

Is it a waste of time to try and get a Jehovah's Witness out of the organization after being in it for years? It might seem that way to outsiders. The blind zeal and imperviousness to critical thought on the part of the Jehovah's Witness might appear permanent to the relative trying to rescue their loved one caught up in the Watchtower Cult.

Yet the organization itself is aware of the need to constantly drill their subjects with the same material week after week, lest the individual begin to think and act like the others who live and work around them once more. Sometimes all it takes is a long vacation from the Kingdom Hall activities, a time of emotional depression, or a bad experience with a fellow Jehovah's Witness to spark doubt in the mind of the Jehovah's Witness. A few Jehovah's Witnesses simply get tired of the very mind control process itself, and their cult identity loses its attraction.

Any exposure whatsoever to literature about mind control methods or experiences of others from various mind control cults may spark new or resurfaced doubts in the mind of a Jehovah's Witness. The goal is to help them see clearly that the Watchtower Society is no different than hundreds of other religious organizations that use the very same phobias, promises and mind control methods to seduce and retain their members. Such comparisons are devastating. Nothing can be more effective than a well-planned "casual" discussion between a Jehovah's Witness and a former member of a different cult who simply feels like talking about his or her experience in that other cult, without their even inferring that the Jehovah's Witness themself is also in a cult.

One of the very first alarms that went off in my mind a year before my exiting the Watchtower Society was the reading of a "Reader's Digest" article about religious cults that, to my remembrance, didn't even mention the Watchtower Society. Something just clicked inside, as I asked my roommate, "Why doesn't the Watchtower Society reach out to cult victims?" Little did I know where attempting to answer that haunting question would lead. Freedom, for me at least, was just around the corner.

I have found in the vast majority of cases where Christians are trying to talk to a Jehovah's Witness about the errors of the Watchtower Society, they are unable to relate to the Jehovah's Witness at all. They may be well acquainted with Watchtower Society theology, but then proceed as if the Jehovah's Witness is simply lacking factual material, naively assuming that once presented with the truth, the Jehovah's Witness will give his faith up and become a Christian. This almost never works.

The basic assumption of this approach is that (1) the Jehovah's Witness is merely lacking accurate information, and (2) once presented with the truth, it will "trouble" them enough to make an intelligent decision to leave the Watchtower Society. They are thereby making two generally false assumptions: that the person previously has not heard information critical of the Watchtower Society, and that the Jehovah's Witness is objective enough in their thinking to weigh the truthfulness of the Watchtower Society on their own.

It is uncommon to find a Jehovah's Witness who has not seen or heard information exposing the dishonesty of the Watchtower Society. Why, then, do they not see a problem? Evidently, something else has prevented them from objectively analyzing factual information. Their minds are trained to stop short of doubting the organization. A wall has been erected which says, in effect, "This far you may go, and no further." The Christian or concerned relative does not realize that the person is a victim of mind control, and whatever biases or presuppositions that have been placed in their minds by the Watchtower Society will effectively prevent the Jehovah's Witness from seeing things objectively.

One could liken it to a child who loves her mother very much (and who is loved by the mother) discovering that her mother is on trial for first degree murder in a court of law. Not yet having the maturity to understand human nature and the complexities of personalities, the child will be overwhelmingly driven by her feelings towards her mother and almost always reject (though without factual basis) any efforts to convince her that her mother is a murderer.

The illustration is not far off from what actually occurs within the mind of the Jehovah's Witness. The Jehovah's Witness is taught that the WatchTower Society "organization" is the "mother," and that Jehovah is the Father. Since Jehovah does not speak directly to the Jehovah's Witness, he must rely on the organization for guidance and instruction. The Jehovah's Witness is reminded over and over how trustworthy is the "mother", and how he cannot get along without her.

Anyone else who tries to help the Jehovah's Witness is viewed as "of the devil", and is considered dangerous. Since the Jehovah's Witness is part of a family with its normal amount of brotherhood and togetherness (five meetings a week), the feeling of being safe and even "loved" reinforces what the "mother" is saying. The "mother" has taught him not to listen to anything critical of her, calling it satanic; thereby preventing the Jehovah's Witness from thinking objectively and causing him to react with strong emotions whenever he senses a critical spirit towards the Watchtower Society.

The Jehovah's Witness will simply not question the motives or truthfulness of the "mother." Only if he begins to lose faith in the claims or nurturing ability of the mother (thereby breaking the emotional bond) will he start to think a little more objectively.

How does one plant doubts in the Jehovah's Witness mind about the truthfulness or nurturing ability of the Watchtower Society? Some have thought to do this by means of using Bible verses that the Watchtower Society misinterprets, showing them what the original Greek text really says, or how the organization has changed their interpretation over the years.

There are two major pitfalls to this method, however. The first is, the Jehovah's Witness knows the Watchtower Society will have an answer to virtually ANY question that comes up in a conversation. The Jehovah's Witness is not trained to question the validity of their answer, only to be satisfied that the "mother" HAS an answer. So the Jehovah's Witness knows that even though he is stumped at the doorstep, he can go back to their books and magazines and get an answer. He thereby sidesteps any uncomfortableness that comes from not having an answer on the spot.

In fact, he will often volunteer to come back with an answer. In the interim, the other Jehovah's Witnesses will convince him that the person challenging the Watchtower Society is not really interested in the truth, but is actually an "opposer of the truth." Therefore, few Jehovah's Witnesses ever actually do return to answer the questions of those critical of the Watchtower Society or its interpretations. As a Jehovah's Witness, I often did not return (nor did I offer), thinking to myself that I was wasting my time with someone who was "negative and not interested in the truth."

As a response to this pattern, some ministries have actually adopted the stance of not using the Bible at all with the Jehovah's Witness until they feel they are ready to discuss it objectively. While this may come as a surprise to many Christians, once you understand the intricacies of their mind control, it makes much more sense.

Others have sought to plant seeds of doubt about the "motherhood" of the Watchtower Society organization by pointing out their false prophecies and contradictions between faith and practice. This generally takes the form of showing them old Watchtower Society literature where they said one thing, then comparing that with what they say presently. Or, it may include pointing out the inconsistencies of Watchtower Society policy, such as their condoning the loss of homes and lives of tens of thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses in the African country of Malawi a few years ago (because of not buying a 25-cent party card) with the Watchtower Society's 1980s-90s policy of condoning bribery and faked military service by Jehovah's Witnesses in Mexico.

While this "using their own literature against them" approach can be used in situations where the person is actually willing to look at what you have in the way of evidence, most of the Jehovah's Witnesses will not look at anything that is critical of the Watchtower Society. Thus, in most cases, this approach will not prove effective. Most of the success in using old Watchtower Society literature has come when the Jehovah's Witness's mind is somewhat open and they already possess a measure of objectivity. In that case, use whatever works! The major obstacle has been overcome.

Most will find, however, that one's conversation with the Jehovah's Witness must not directly involve the Watchtower Society, unless it is in a positive note. They simply will not listen to you for long otherwise. What, then, can one do?

One of the best way to reach a biased person and gently expose their bias (without offending their ego) is to have discussions on issues that have distinct similarities to the Watchtower brand of mind control, but of which they have no particular vested interest. For instance, Jehovah's Witnesses consider Mormons and the Moonies to be cults, but on the basis of their doctrines rather than their methodology.

Jehovah's Witnesses will not be familiar with the mind control methods used by cults, so to share the methods of, let's say, the Moonies, will probably take them by surprise. As you discuss the four levels of control of the Unification Church over its members in terms of thought control, emotional control, control of behavior, and of information, the Jehovah's Witness just may turn out to be a captive audience. You are not threatening them or their organization, after all! But what if they suspect you are trying to say that the Watchtower Society is like the Moonies?

It is therefore important to be as casual and inoffensive as possible when dealing with the Jehovah's Witness. Since their training is to resist anything critical of the Watchtower Society, you must avoid discussing the Watchtower Society when trying to draw parallels in their mind. If you are, for instance, trying to explain the control of information as used by the Moonies, you do not want to simultaneously compare them with the Watchtower Society.

Let the Jehovah's Witness draw their own conclusions! Give them the benefit of the doubt that they are smart enough to sense the similarities in time ... and time is what they need. Experience has shown that it might take several informal sessions of discussing mind control methods as used by other religious groups or political groups before the Jehovah's Witness even begins to get the point. Watch movies together with them that are based on mind control themes. Give them time, and let them draw their own conclusions. They must make the information their own; it is their life.

A proven method as used by professional exit counselors of cult members is to set up a planned conversation with the Jehovah's Witness, who will hopefully not be threatened by it. People are not usually intimidated by someone sitting next to them at a bus stop or on the airplane or waiting in line or at the grocery store if the conversation comes up casually.

For instance: A man has a wife who is a JW, and he wants her to be free from Watchtower mind control. He knows the futility of arguing with her or trying to show her old Watchtower material that might showthem up to be false prophets. So he arranges for an ex-Mormon or Moonie to sit next to her on some occasion while traveling, and the ex-cultist strikes up an informal conversation about what they used to be involved in, at the same time not asking the JW too many questions or being overly curious. The JW will often feel more at ease if the stranger doesn't even know they are a JW, especially if the subject is religious organizations that are mutually recognized as cults.

Jehovah's Witnesses are not stupid; they know others consider them to be a cult, so they usually prefer to keep a low profile in such conversations.

The stranger's job is not to show them the Watchtower Society is a cult, but to help them to see the similarities between the cults and their own faith in their own minds. That is simply too embarrassing. Jehovah's Witnesses must ultimately face what they have done with their own life. You are simply giving them opportunity to think objectively once more (something they may have unwittingly given up long ago with regards to the Bible or God).

Several well-planned conversations of this type can do much to prepare the ground for more intensive discussions, which are also planned in advance. The family member or Christian who is working to get the Jehovah's Witness out of the Watchtower Society befriends an ex-cultist (not an ex-JW!) and invites him/her over for dinner. It is important that the Jehovah's Witness is not intimidated, so please, no preaching allowed! (unless it is very clear that the Holy Spirit is moving you in this direction). The conversation should be directed towards subjects such as:

* how they woke up to the control they were under (avoid making this a religious discussion)

* how the group they were in changed their doctrine or made false prophecies (again, avoid discussing the Scriptures)

The reader may be disturbed by the idea of not using the Bible at first. It must be understood that picking up the Bible triggers a "mode" of thought to the Jehovah's Witness. Though they are really ignorant of much of the Scriptures in context, they really feel at home in such discussions. Your goal is to get them into an area of uncomfortability; an area of thinking that does not come automatically to them. You are promoting thought on issues that they have conveniently brushed aside or never considered. Bringing out the Bible at such an inappropriate time will only snap them out of their pensive thoughtfulness (that you have painstakingly created) and restore their full confidence that they know all about the Bible and that you are not in "the truth," and therefore have no business trying to teach them. Many a Christian has shipwrecked their efforts to share with the Jehovah's Witness by getting into "Bible discussions." The sad part is that the Christian actually thinks they are getting through to the Jehovah's Witness by bringing up certain Scriptures or fine points they can't answer, yet the true fruitage is obvious when the JW will not talk to them again.

They have not won the case at all; the Jehovah's Witness still believes that "they know the Bible and that they have the truth."

"Apostates often appeal to the ego, claiming that we have been deprived of our freedoms, including the freedom to interpret the Bible for ourselves. (Compare Genesis 3:15.) In reality, these would-be defilers offer nothing more than a return to the nauseating teachings of "Babylon the Great." (Revelation 17:5; 2 Peter 2:19-22) Others appeal to the flesh, urging former associates to "take it easy" because the humble work of witnessing from house to house is "unnecessary" or "unscriptural." (Compare Matthew 16:22,23.) True, such smooth talkers may look outwardly clean in a physical and moral way. But inside they are spiritually unclean, having given in to prideful, independent thinking. They have forgotten all that they learned about Jehovah."

Typical words to be found within the pages of "The Watchtower" magazine, a former Jehovah's Witness would say, regarding the above quote from "The Watchtower" of November 1, 1987 (p. 19,20). In fact, you might want to compare not only the message but the attitude behind it with the statement made by "The Watchtower" from their article on "An Open or a Closed Mind: Which Do You Have?" (Awake!, 11/22/84, p. 3,4).

"Slurs and innuendoes" are indeed a mark of prejudice and a closed mind. Almost every Jehovah's Witness who decides to leave the Watchtower organization has had other members of his congregation make up lies about why they left or what their problem was. The Jehovah's Witnesses must comfort themselves with the thought that those who leave are certainly proud, despise door-to-door work, or are homosexuals or prostitutes. "There is no honorable way out of this organization," some have said candidly.

I remember the spirit that was manifest among the Brooklyn Bethel headquarters of the Governing Body in 1979-1980 when word got out that their own Writing Department had discovered flaws in their "chronology". This was information that was to be kept under wraps. To talk about it would bring doubts into the minds of the brothers, it was said. At times I heard factory overseers say, "You just can't trust the brothers." They had to be watched and policed, for fear they would get out of line. The flow of information had to be controlled, lest their tiny minds misunderstand it or develop new liberties in the flesh. I remember how Nathan Knorr, ~~third~~ fourth president of the Watchtower Society, kept the Bethelites working a half a day every Saturday for years, because three or four brothers were killed in a car accident on a long weekend trip.

While life at Bethel may have eased over the years, the control over one's life pattern for all Jehovah's Witnesses has increased. Jehovah's Witnesses are not to have parties, special meetings on their own, develop their own public talks, or act as spokesmen for the Watchtower Society nowadays.

The ever-increasing restrictions speak only too clear that the Watchtower Society trusts its own followers less and less. What is the reason for this trend?

Most cults based on the Bible go through similar transition stages. They begin by promising freedom from church tradition, false doctrine, and hypocrisy. As time goes on, and the prophecies fail, and the people lose heart, the machine is kept going through new laws and requirements designed to fortify the elitist mentality of the group.

After all, to be the only true Christians requires a good outward appearance! As the idealism in the ranks wanes, it must be replaced with legalism and corporate mentality. Eventually, fear must become a motivating force to keep the people together. Fear of almost anything foreign to the group, including the devil, nonmembers, religious symbols, holidays, media programs, and especially ex-members.

APOSTASY! is the word that strikes fear into their hearts, as the threat of dying at Armageddon, going to hell, or some other horrible fate is said to await them. Though "apostasy" means leaving the teachings of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Bible, for another so-called "truth" (2 John 9,10), it is twisted around in the cults to mean the abandoning of one or more teachings of the cult as spelled out in its own publications.

The Jehovah's Witness with doubts is not aware of the thousands of Mormons who have doubts, along with Moonies, Armstrongites, etc. who are struggling with crippling fear for the same reason. Cults believe that they are the only true religion, so to leave the organization is equated with leaving God Himself. Let us work and pray to set free the minds and hearts of those bound up with fear, through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the mediator for "all men," regardless of what religious leaders may say. (1 Tim. 2:5,6)

ABSTRACT: An extensive study of the influence of the religion known as Jehovah's Witnesses (JW's) on the mental health* of its members clearly finds both positive and negative influences present. Involvement with the Witnesses as involvement with any other social group, exposes the adherent to factors that both facilities and hinder emotional adjustment. The effect of the Watchtower (Witness) Society's teachings on its members is difficult to study because most members are converts and the Witness. Movement tends to attract certain types of persons. Even of those raised in the movement, only certain types of individuals elect to remain in the sphere of the Witness' influence. It is also difficult to separate the influence of the Witness From the pervasive tendency for members to be recruited from, and remain in, the lower socio-economic being tend to be the indicator used to measure spiritual well-being. Emotional growth, too, is considered, although it is not stressed as such and the "growth" is not always in a positive direction. For example, increased commitment and identity with the Witnesses cause the student to identify with them emotionally and, as expected, become defensive against ideas which are considered "non-Witness" or seen as incompatible with Witness theology. The result is often a mistrust of all non-Witness sources of information, even though most of the information published by the Witness Society is from non-Witness sources.

Practical activities, at least practical relative to religious requirements are also stressed. At least one meeting per week is devoted to the practical aspects of becoming a better Witness, including improving one's door-to-door presentation, one's incidental witnessing, and, more recently, improving one's family life, budgeting one's money, time, etc. Even here Witnesses are highly goal-oriented. They, as the Witness Society stresses, should, and often do, have a definite purpose in life. Even in achievement is difficult and tangible rewards are few, the dominant concern of JW's is with convincing outsiders of the validity of Witness theology; although with many, proselytizing is somewhat perfunctorily performed, it is an important part of their general goal-oriented behavior. The Witness theology too, is such where one's purpose is very specific and defined -- true, defined by the Wt Society, but nevertheless defined.

The exact rate of mental illness among JW's is difficult to determine, but it is clear that it is significantly higher than the rate for the population as a whole. There have been relatively few published studies which document this level. One of the most recent was done by Spencer (197). During the 36 month period from January 1971 to December, 1973, Spencer examined the records of all 7,546 in-patient admission to all West Australian Psychiatric Hospitals. Utilizing the patients' self-reported religious affiliation, Spencer found 50 cases that stated they were active JW's. Utilizing the Witnesses' statistics of approximately 4,000 members in West Australia and a population of 1,068,469 the ratio of general admissions to the ratio of JW admissions was determined. Spencer found for all diagnosis a ratio of 2.54 per 1,000 for the population as a whole compared to 4.17 per 1,000 for JW's. The rate for schizophrenia s .38 for the population compared to 1.4 for the JW's. Thus, according to these figures, the incidence of schizophrenia among the Witnesses is about 3 times as high as for the rest of the population and paranoia schizophrenia is about 4 times as high.

There are several reasons to believe even these high rates for JW's are significantly underreported. Spencer had to rely on self-reporting. It was possible that a patient could state he was an active member when he was not, but this is unlikely. The reverse is much more probable. Of the many religions, one would want falsely to claim to belong to one of the lowest on the list would be the JW's. This writer, in about 10 years experience working in a research capacity for both a large mental hospital and a large circuit court, had never seen even one case where a non-Witness claimed to be a Witness.* Possibly in criminal cases a person may want to claim he is a JW, feeling this religious claim would cause he court to look more favorable upon his case. But considering the Witness teaching that "we are the most hated of all religions," and their general reputation for being "crack-pots," religious fanatics, etc., it would seem that even this in unlikely. As the Witnesses play up greatly their persecution, one endeavoring to present a martyr complex may blindly identify with JW's, but would not commonly do so in an effort to make his person appear better. The opposite distortion, though, is quite common. This writer had worked with numerous cases whom he knew from his work in the community to be active JW's (or raised as Witnesses) and who tried to hide their religious affiliation. Especially Witnesses who were committed to a mental hospital, or were charged with felonies, tended to deny their affiliation with the Witnesses. In the writer's work as a therapist, a significant number of Witness patients clearly would never have sought psychotherapy if the writer had not been seen as an active Witness. Witnesses are often ashamed of the fact they have emotional problems, and will commonly not consult medical help due to the concern of "bringing reproach on Jehovah's organization," The feeling that just being in "Jehovah's organization" should prevent emotional problems is common: its presents is actually a frightening contradiction of the JW faith. This reluctance to seek out professional help does not just include Witnesses with neurotic problems. The writer has worked with a large number of JW's who were clearly psychotic - some in a "catatonic state," suffering from severe depression or even brain damage, who would not consult a psychiatrist because of the fear of tarnishing the Witness Society's image. Further, many of the hundreds of thousands of persons raised in a Witness environment, active in youth, who later disassociated themselves from the Society (although many later reassociate), often fail to identify themselves as Witnesses. Many of these cases, even though they had a Witness upbringing and were highly influenced by Witness theology often still accepting the basic Witness belief structure, are not reported in the literature.

Using the same technique that Spencer utilized, this writer estimates that the mental illness rate of JW's is approximately 10 to 16 times higher than the rate for the general, non-Witness population. About 10% of the publishers in the average congregation are in serious need of professional help, even though many Witnesses are able to hide this fact quite well, especially from outsiders. It is a common experience to hear hours of verbalizations, expressing severe hopelessness, hostility towards both insiders and outsiders, regret and serious doubt from a Witness who 20 minutes later can effectively convince a householder that "JW's are marvelously happy people, happy in God's organization."

Another study which examined the mental health of JW's was done by Pescor (1949). He found, of the total group of Witnesses he examined, all of whom were imprisoned because of conscientious objection to the Selective Service law in the USA, 16% were on hospital status, and, of these, 44% were diagnosed as psychotic and 50% were chronic medical patients. Thus, 8% of the total number of Witnesses imprisoned were classified as psychotic. This is about 40 times higher than the rate for non-Witness population using a psychosis rate of about .2% for any one year. His sample would be a good cross section of all young male Witnesses, considering that the majority of draft age Witness who were drafted went to prison at the time the study was done in the late 1940's. As some JW's took alternative service, contrary to the Witness Society's instructions, and possibly those who accepted alternative service were better adjusted, the rate Pescor found is likely to be higher than is actually the case among JW's as a whole. Unfortunately, Pescor does not give the percent who were imprisoned compared to the percent who took alternative service, but the number is probably quite small. It is also possible that some JW's feigned psychotic states in a desire to be released from prison; but the fact that this action did not serve to release one from prison, but simply resulted in prison hospital status, would reduce this possibility. It is quite possible, though, that hospital status was more desirable status within the prison and the Witnesses feigned illness so as to improve the conditions during their prison stay, but this factor would be more likely to increase the number of medical diagnoses not the number of psychiatric diagnoses.

The only other psychiatric study done on JW's is that by Janner (1962). Janner examined100 random cases of Swiss citizens who object to military service and were imprisoned in a Swiss prison. About 85% of the C.O.'s were JW's. Of this 85% Janner found a significant number who had a high level of fear anxiety, were severely introverted were loners. Or severely neurotic. Of his group, one third were unskilled workers and more than half were involved in some type of semi-skilled trade. Only 3 could be considered semi-professional or professional workers (one technician, one teacher and one college student). Of the JW's 10.4% had been previously convicted of a crime. Of these, about half were sexual offenses (including pedophiliacs and exhibitionists) and the rest were offenses against private property or persons. As a whole Janner found the JW's "quite colorless persons, and somewhat removed from reality, although some JW's demonstrated intense religious feelings." Thus, all past studies demonstrate the level of mental illness is well above that of the population. The staff of most large mental hospitals are usually quite familiar with the JW's. One hospital, a doctor told this writer, is "clogged with them" Another mental hospital is even nick-named "The Watchtower House" because it has so many Witness patients.

The fact that JW's are overwhelmingly lower class is a very important factor influencing the mental illness rate. Upper-middle-class and upper-class members are almost totally unknown.* One branch overseer stated, "of 40,000 Witnesses, I know of only 2 families that might be termed upper-middle class, but no one else. University professors are almost totally unknown." There are very few medical doctors - very few - and probably a fair number of chiropractors. But to be a chiropractor a few years ago required as little as 3 years schooling beyond high school. Even the few JW's with a high school diploma tend to be less serious about the Witnesses. A large number quit high school in the 10th grade or so. Witnesses also tend to marry quite young partly because marriage is one of the few acceptable pursuits open to young Witnesses besides pioneering that do not result in social pressure to conform.

Very few intelligent or well-educated people join the Witnesses, and those few who do involve themselves with the Witnesses generally do not stay. It is difficult for an active, intelligent, aware person to remain a Witness - not because their beliefs are unfounded, but because Witness Hierarchy tends to want to control the belief structure of its members in even minor areas. Even a Witness endeavoring to serve as an apologist is not tolerated. The authoritarian Witness Hierarchy prohibits religious publishing among members and even discourages most theological research and discussion. JW's are constantly encouraged not to "run ahead of the Society" as though this was even possible according to the Society's own teachings. Many Witnesses, through their independent Bible research, have anticipated major changes that the Society later brought out. Until that time, those who have the audacity to mention the results of their own research have often been severely reprimanded, even if the Society may later on confirm the results of their research. One prominent Witness stated:

"One of the things that bothers me most about the Society is the incredibly arrogant attitude of those at Bethel -- refusing to listen to reason or even give credit for the individual members having a mind . Although eventually I feel the Witnesses may become an upper-class religion and will tend to attract the more intellectually oriented at present it is predominantly a lower-class religion with extremely few college graduates. Actually, virtually everyone I know that is fairly well educated has left them, even though there were a few bright members who were, at one time, in the movement."

Witnesses are encouraged to give up a wide variety of things when they become a Witness, often including their careers, whether it be an artist, a journalist or an executive, and take on menial occupations. Thus the more intelligent or better educated have more to give up. Many avocations not directly connected with their Witness work are dropped, under pressure. Witnesses are commonly discouraged from involvement in a wide variety of things. This researcher has worked with a number of cases where a Witness has, in time, become disillusioned and extremely bitter as a result of what he was persuaded to give up when he accepted Witness teachings. Even if the Witness does not leave the moment, what he gives up is often later a source of conflict. For example, the Witnesses glamorize pioneering - and those who become pioneers often become disillusioned, wishing they had pursued their previous goals, often feeling that it is too late to resume them.

The more intelligent JW's are less likely to rely on the defense mechanisms which the typical Witness overuses. Further, the value system of the average Witness is often quite antagonistic to the more intelligent members, including their tendency to listen to opposing arguments, to be less suspicious of statements perceived to have their source from "big government, big business or big religion," and especially general intellectual pursuits. Even efforts to find support for the "faith that is within you" are, in effect, squelched. One psychiatrist (who was raised a Witness) stated:

"In my clinical work with Witnesses I have noticed there is a distinct tendency for the better educated, more intelligent, more conscientious Witnesses to have emotional problems.5 This is the opposite of that many studies indicate is true among non-Witnesses. This is partially because the more intelligent Witnesses are more aware of the contradictions and problems in JW teachings. This awareness causes them to question and doubt , and this doubt in influential in developing their mental illness. The more Jehovah's Witnesses 'accept everything' (or almost everything) and thus live with less dissonance. And, importantly, there is a lack of acceptance of, and in some cases actually a strong prejudice against, better educated or more intelligent Witnesses on the part of the typical Witness. About the only way one can be fully accepted is if he in essence, ensconces his education and fully adopts the Witness' essentially lower class culture, including obtaining work which is, more or less, unskilled.

Another important causal element in the high mental illness rate is the Society's practice of discouraging Witnesses from consulting or seeking professional help (Salisbury, 1965, p. 202). Among the quotes from the Witness Publications which illustrate the attitude of JW's towards psychiatrists and psychologists is one which, after citing an experiment where psychologists were to diagnose emotional problems from drawings supposedly done by children (but actually done by chimpanzees) stated: "Without doubt psychologists do know a little about human and animal personalities, but also without doubt they have a lot to learn and they think they know more than they actually do, or they would not have let two chimpanzees make such monkeys out of them" (Awake! 1954). In answering the question: Should a Christian consult a psychiatrist?" the Awake! Of March, 1960, p. 27 said:

"as a rule, for a Christian to go to a worldly psychiatrist is an admission of defeat, it amounts to 'going down to Egypt for help.' - Isaiah 31:1. Often when a Witness of Jehovah goes to a psychiatrist, the psychiatrist will try to persuade him that his troubles are caused by his religion, entirely overlooking the fact that the Christian witnesses of Jehovah are the best-oriented, happiest and most contented group of people on the face of the earth." They have the least need for psychiatrists. Also, more and more psychiatrists are resorting to hypnosis, which is a demonic form of worldly wisdom." (sic.)

Interestingly, although comments to the effect that "JW's are the happiest people" were at one time commonly made, they have not appeared in Witness Publications, to this writer's knowledge, in a number of years. Evidently, the Witness Society is more aware of the high mental illness rate among Witnesses. This is not surprising in view of the fact that a number of very prominent Witness Officials have become severely mentally ill, including several branch servants, many members of the Society's former legal staff, and even several members of the board of directors. The above article concluded, "Yes, what is need at such times is not worldly psychiatrists who may wholly ignore the change that the truth and God's holy spirit have made in one's life and who know nothing of their power to help one put on a new Christian personality. Rather, what is needed at such times is a mature Christian in whom one has confidence and who is vitally interested in one's welfare and who will not shrink back from administering needed reproof or counsel so that one may get healed." The advice is much the same in later publications in spite of recent statements such as "whether a Christian will consult a psychiatrist or any other doctor, is a matter for personal decision" (The Watchtower, 1975, p. 255). Yet the typical Witness is still quite hostile to consulting any mental health person because of statements such as the one found in the August 22, 1975 Awake ! page 25 (which is effect reversed the ruling in the 1975 Witness, p. 255)7 "Is the turning of people from the clergy to the psychiatrists a healthy phenomenon? No, for it really is a case of jumping from the frying pan into the fire. They are (the psychiatrists' clients) worse off than they were before. That they (psychologists and psychiatrists) are not the ones to go to for help when one is depressed and beset with all manner of problems is to be seen from the fact that suicides among them are twice as frequent as among the population in general."8 "Instead of turning to psychiatrists and psychologists who likewise, for the most part, are without such faith, let lovers of righteousness turn to the Bible for wisdom, comfort and hope" Thus, while The Watchtower of 1975 (p. 255) states it is up to the Witness' individual conscience whether or not he consult a psychiatrist, this article is written in such a way that it would be difficult for most Witnesses to do so. Thus Witnesses nearly always consult the Elders, who, unfortunately, as will be discussed, are very poorly equipped to deal with emotional problems.9

The JW Elders tend to apply one solution for all emotional problems, namely: study and pray more, in short live up, more firmly to the dictates of the Witness Society. Instead of trying to dissipate the intensive guilt that the Witnesses have be channeling it into constructive action and trying to work on whatever the Witnesses are being troubled by, the Elders tend to create more guilt. They often behave in a disapproving manner toward the Witnesses, tending to feel that their role is that of a disciplinarian. Having no training in dealing with people or emotional problems, they typically offer very poor advice.

Elders tend to feel that mental illness is caused by one of two things, sin and demonism, and thus commonly probe the Witness for sins he may have committed (which usually results in intensifying any guilt feelings). Elders often, but clearly not always, threaten to disfellowship or put the Witness on probation in spite of the fact that the Witness is often submissively seeking help. Often the very mention of "demons" is quite frightening to a Witness. Instead of receiving reassurance, comfort and positive helpful feedback, the Witness tends to be frightened and, at least later, resentful. This researcher has worked with many cases where the suggestion of "demon influence" has been the factor that caused a neurotic Witness to become completely psychotic. The concern over demonism is partially the result of the Witnesses' lower class background and the tendency for JW's to come from the more fundamental religious, and not necessarily a result of the Witness's explicit teaching, although the Witness Does little to counteract it. The most tragic result of the concern over demonism is a tendency to focus away from the true problem and on to such things as finding the "source" of the demons.

The Elders tend to have little insight into inter-personal dynamics. They recognize the needs of eating and sleeping (but even here they tend to glamorize sacrifices Witnesses make for their religion), but refuse to accept the validity of other basic needs, especially ego needs. As Witnesses are discouraged from seeking satisfaction of these needs outside of the congregation, they seek them within the congregation. This typically creates power struggle, constant verbal battles and personally conflicts. JW's tend to be both highly critical of the world, which they clearly see does not follow their set of rules, and highly critical of fellow Witnesses, who also fail to live up to the ideal picture of a Witness painted by the Witness Society. One Witness stated to the writer that "95% of the Witnesses are very corrupt people - but that still does not mean it is not God's organization, Israel was also very corrupt, but that still did not change the fact that they were God's people." As a result of the frustration in satisfying their ego needs in the congregation (especially the need to be accepted, looked up to, respected, etc.) Witnesses typically withdraw into themselves channeling inward the hostility which results from their frustrated attempts to satisfy these needs, creating depression and hostility which sometimes erupts into very violent, aggressive behavior. This is one crimes against persons found among the Witnesses.

JW's are required to follow strictly all dictates, however minor, from the Witness Headquarters. Love and acceptance tend to be conditional upon rigid adherence to rules established by a few. Little consideration is given to the necessity for children to learn from their own decisions in view of the fact that growth requires learning from one's failures as well as success. Witnesses are pressured to do things correctly the first time. If indeed, they are expected to do something a first time. More recently the Witness Society has stressed the need to examine the sinner's attitude, but for the past 20 years. In many congregations, if certain sins were committed - especially sexual sins - disfellowshiping was automatic, no matter what the sinner's attitude was. True, evidence of repentance is supposed to be taken into consideration, but it would normally be expected that at a disfellowshiping hearing the accused would be defensive, and any signs of defensiveness hearing the accused would be defensive, and any signs of defensiveness - a common reaction in this situation, especially when someone is being confronted with three Elders - tends to be misinterpreted as "displaying an unrepentant attitude," or even "attempting to justify the sin." Thus, a normal and expected reaction is misconstrued, and an expected and necessary attempt to maintain one's own ego intact is seen as "evil, selfish, and unrepentant." Only those who have a talent for turning most of their hostility inwards have, at least in the past, a good chance of escaping disfellowship.

Another common assumption is that a Witness who is mentally ill has displeased his Creator and thus has incurred the wrath of God, similar to medieval idea. The Witnesses rarely phrase their belief in this way, but normally verbalize that the one mentally ill has displeased Jehovah and as a result of Jehovah's holy spirit "has been removed, from the person. One who is a Witness presumably has Jehovah's holy spirit, and doing something to displease Jehovah merits the removal of His spirit, and doing something to displease Jehovah merits the removal of His spirit. This concept often leads to a general lack of sympathy or concern on the part of most Witnesses towards their mentally ill brethren. One manifesting any symptoms of mental illness or emotional disorder is thus often seen as having "done something wrong" is poor association, and thus one to be avoided. Both the belief that human frailties can cause the removal of God's holy spirit and the resultant social withdrawing (or social aloofness) tend to intensify the mentally ill Witnesses' adjustment. Often, Witnesses who become mentally ill and seek out professional help are most intelligent than the average Witness and yet more conscientious, endeavoring conscientiously to live up to the Witness Society's high standards, standards that few Witnesses can live up to. Criticism elicits guilt which is seriously intensified when the symptoms that result from the guilt are construed to result from withdrawal of God's holy spirit because of one's personal shortcomings.

It is a common observation among mental health personnel, supported by all published studies, that the mental illness rate among JW's far surpasses that of the population as a whole. Many factors are found to contribute to this - JW's tend to recruit individuals with emotional problems; there is a great deal of pressure to conform within the congregation, and there is a belief structure which clearly causes emotional turmoil. The fact that JW's are recruited from the lower socio-economic statuses of society and tend to seriously alienate and often force out of the movement the more intelligent and better educated members is also highly instruments in contribution to the mental illness rate. Once a JW develops emotional problems he is actively encouraged to avoid accepting "worldly advice" either from secular books or secular mental health personnel. The psychiatric profession as a whole is severely criticized, and Witnesses are encouraged to consult only their Elders, most of whom are poorly equipped to deal with most normal interpersonal relation frictions let alone what be termed neurotic and psychotic maladjustment. In dealing with members, Elders tend to offer poor advice and rely on punitive criticism or threats ("If you do not ... you will not survive Armageddon") to change behavior. This approach typically elicits increased guilt and/or a high level of aggression in the Witnesses. This factor is probably influential in the high rate of aggression crimes found among Witnesses.