In my psychology studies we've been examining the use of "labels" and how they influence peoples behaviour. I sometimes wonder if the GB or their helpers know exactly what they're doing when it comes to psychological manipulation.
It's been observed that by labeling someone or something it changes your entire perception of that person or thing. It colours it entirely, quite unfairly in some cases. For example, if we asks someone about Bob, and someone says "Bob is an alcoholic" what do we now think about Bob? Perhaps we imagine his home strewn with beer bottles. A man who lacks self control, most likely ill and selfish to his own desires rather than providing for his family. Alcoholics sometimes hide their addiction, so maybe Bob is hiding alcohol right now?
Is this an unfair label? I'd say so. Nothing is said of the fact that Bob is a recovering alcoholic. He's been sober for 18 years and works as a teacher in a blind school. He raises money for those affected by alcoholism and runs recovery groups.
Now lets take most of us on here. The GB have given us the label of "apostate". Fortunately for the JWs, the GB have lovingly told them their definition of an apostate:
“Suppose that a doctor told you to avoid contact with someone who is infected with a contagious, deadly disease. You would know what the doctor means, and you would strictly heed his warning. Well, apostates are ‘mentally diseased’, and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings.” - Watchtower 15 July 2011
Now, think back to when we were JWs, what images were conjured up when you heard that word? Placards, angry faces, liars, dangerous, mentally diseased? Little was ever said of that fact that more than half of us were converts, meaning we were apostates according to other religions. Or that Jesus himself is regarded as an apostate by the majority of Judaism.
This is why it's vital that the Watchtower society keep on throwing that label around. Why it's important for them to liken us to Korah when in fact it's the GB themselves who are Korah, putting themselves in place of Moses (anti-type for Jesus).
We're a lot of things, not just one label. If we pay attention to what labels we're using it changes our entire perception. The further into my degree I go, and the more I learn, I wonder more and more if the GB have actually studied psychology themselves. Even when I did my hypnosis course, there were things there like loaded language and misdirecting the audience which the GB use all the time.
Notice the language the magazines use... "we" and "true Christians think such and such"... directing the reader to a conclusion.