I believe the convert is conditioned from the second day of the study.
- By the second day, they will be warned that family and friends will dissuade them from this course, and attribute this opposition to Satan.
- During the six months of study (never less), many questions will come up which will be deferred to some indefinite future. The questions will be answered in time, is the promise. They aren't. The candidate is conditioned to tolerate ambiguity.
- At their first visit to the Kingdom hall, they will be warmly welcomed. In subsequent visits, they will slowly be encouraged to conform to the dress code, starting with the tie. ('bait and switch')
- At their first public talk, they will be applauded warmly by the audience. Even this talk is highly controlled. Newbies are started out with a recitation of bible verses. No creativity allowed!
- Much fuss is made over field service, but it is deadly boring. They are spreading an unwelcome, unsolicited message to the uninterested. In order to tolerate the dissonance, they comfort themselves with all sorts of excuses (stiff-necked householders, it is not the numbers that count, etc.)
- Much fuss is made of the baptism, but the execution, imo, is impersonal. Everyone is prayed over as a group, they file off as a group, and are baptized sometimes three at a time. Compare this to the adult baptism in my church, where the candidate prepares a personal testimony and often a respected friend speaks as well.
- After baptism of course, the convert can no longer be recorded as "time". Party's over, buddy! Conform.