New Study: People With Hard Lives Are More Gullible. Applies to JW's?

under_believer

A new study (available here) run at the University of Leicester seems to indicate that people who have lived hard lives, been knocked around, or otherwise had things go south on them are more likely to be gullible and easily misled or even brainwashed. You should read the entire article, because it's full of things I can identify with as a JW. So what kind of people are typically affected?

"People who have experienced an adverse childhood and adolescence are more likely to come to believe information that isn't true- in short they are more suggestible, and easily mislead which may in turn impact upon their future life choices; they might succumb to peer pressure more readily."

And

'Adverse life experiences' examined included major personal illnesses/injuries, miscarriage (from the male and female perspective), difficulties at work (being fired/laid off), bullying at school, being a victim of crime (robbery, sexual violence), parental divorce, death of family member and others.

This study seeminly offers an explanation for why the Witnesses meet a measure of success. It explains why the Witnesses always say they're looking for people who are "sighing and crying." These are exactly the kind of people who are likely to be misled by and believe in the Witnesses and their message of hope, and who will be more accepting of the bizzare concept of a human organization. Also, it helps us to understand why the Society is so adamantly against opposing viewpoints--because Witnesses are often highly impressionable and susceptible to being misled, it's just good common sense on the Society's part to ask them to avoid any contrasting viewpoints. Here's why, again from the study:

“The majority of people may learn through repeated exposure to adversity to distrust their own judgment; a person might believe something to be true, but when they, for example, read something in a newspaper that contradicts their opinion, or they talk to someone with a different view-point, that individual is more likely to take on that other person's view.

Anyways, does this study ring true for anybody else in relation to Witnesses?

Virgochik

Makes sense to me! My Grandmother was isolated on a farm with two little girls while her husband worked seven days a week during the Depression. It was a tough life, and she was lonely for adults to talk to. They grew their `` own produce and had a well and windmill. The outhouse was their only bathroom. When my Mom, one of the little girls, was small, the Witnoids came calling. The relatives looked down on Grandma and my Mom and Aunt because they were so poor, but with the "friends" they were instantly accepted. They belonged, had someplace to go, were important. They didn't mind any more if Grandpa was always at work, or the relatives were snooty. They were going to live forever in Paradise!

Suddenly, the relatives were the ones looked down the noses at. Mom said, "Who cares about their ol' birthdays, or that fake Santy Claus? We'll be in Paradise while the crows eat them!"

It really filled an empty spot in this poor farm family, and they took the bait, hook line and sinker. So convinced was my Grandma, that she gave her life when she refused a blood transfusion. She died when I was just five years old, fully convinced that Jehoopla would resurrect her soon.

aalaaskaanmaan

Then they need exposure to differing views and more will exit .

moomanchu

Made me think of this scripture 2 Tim 3 : 5,6,7

having a form of Godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak - willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

greendawn

That is part of their psychological trickery though not all people that become JWs are in this category of the despondent. I noted how the JWs always try to make out that the world is in a big mess to attract the sympathy of these people.

For a despondent person finding what he believes to be a good support group is a very enticing prospect.