Island Man said:
By dunking them in the water before the turbulent adolescent years, it makes it more difficult for them to leave the cult when they get older due to the prospect of losing all their JW family due to shunning.
You hit the nail on the head! The fear of shunning is all around them. And if they see that their friends were shunned, they will think twice about leaving or acting out on '' the turbulent adolescent years.''