CREDIBILITY ATTACKS AGAINST FORMER CULT MEMBERS by Stephen
![CREDIBILITY ATTACKS AGAINST FORMER CULT MEMBERS by Stephen A. Kent FECRIS 2011, WARSAW CREDIBILITY ATTACKS AGAINST FORMER CULT MEMBERS by Stephen A. Kent FECRIS 2011, WARSAW](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-1.jpg)
CREDIBILITY ATTACKS AGAINST FORMER CULT MEMBERS by Stephen A. Kent FECRIS 2011, WARSAW
![](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-2.jpg)
![1. FORCED DECONVERTS: a. Began with 1970 s deprogrammings. b. group denunciations at the 1. FORCED DECONVERTS: a. Began with 1970 s deprogrammings. b. group denunciations at the](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-3.jpg)
1. FORCED DECONVERTS: a. Began with 1970 s deprogrammings. b. group denunciations at the end of the deprogramming as signed statements or press conferences.
![Sociologists’ reactions: a. developed non-coercive conversion models b. asserted that deprogrammings caused trauma, not Sociologists’ reactions: a. developed non-coercive conversion models b. asserted that deprogrammings caused trauma, not](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-4.jpg)
Sociologists’ reactions: a. developed non-coercive conversion models b. asserted that deprogrammings caused trauma, not cult involvement
![2. RETURNEES: a. deprogrammed/exit counseled; denounced group; then rejoined b. called into question the 2. RETURNEES: a. deprogrammed/exit counseled; denounced group; then rejoined b. called into question the](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-5.jpg)
2. RETURNEES: a. deprogrammed/exit counseled; denounced group; then rejoined b. called into question the integrity of the denunciations
![Academics’ reactions: a. deprogrammed—most critical exit counseled—somewhat critical voluntary—least critical b. all former member Academics’ reactions: a. deprogrammed—most critical exit counseled—somewhat critical voluntary—least critical b. all former member](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-6.jpg)
Academics’ reactions: a. deprogrammed—most critical exit counseled—somewhat critical voluntary—least critical b. all former member accounts are untrustworthy ‘atrocity tales’
![3. DELUSIONAL ALLEGED FORMER MEMBERS Mentally ill; never belonged, but probably believed that they 3. DELUSIONAL ALLEGED FORMER MEMBERS Mentally ill; never belonged, but probably believed that they](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-7.jpg)
3. DELUSIONAL ALLEGED FORMER MEMBERS Mentally ill; never belonged, but probably believed that they had.
![](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-8.jpg)
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![3 -PART (INADEQUATE) TEST A) told the same story consistently B) Experts confirmed that 3 -PART (INADEQUATE) TEST A) told the same story consistently B) Experts confirmed that](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-10.jpg)
3 -PART (INADEQUATE) TEST A) told the same story consistently B) Experts confirmed that such things did happen C. ) Had good character references
![PROBLEM: CONSISTENCY, PLAUSIBILITY, AND A CONVINCING CHARATER DO NOT PROVE THE VALIDITY OF HISTORICAL PROBLEM: CONSISTENCY, PLAUSIBILITY, AND A CONVINCING CHARATER DO NOT PROVE THE VALIDITY OF HISTORICAL](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-11.jpg)
PROBLEM: CONSISTENCY, PLAUSIBILITY, AND A CONVINCING CHARATER DO NOT PROVE THE VALIDITY OF HISTORICAL EVENTS.
![4. CON ARTISTS a. Never belonged, and know it. b. Lie for money/power/fame c. 4. CON ARTISTS a. Never belonged, and know it. b. Lie for money/power/fame c.](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-12.jpg)
4. CON ARTISTS a. Never belonged, and know it. b. Lie for money/power/fame c. Religious, well-intentioned people most vulnerable
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![5. SPIES: a. Still belong, but pretend that they don’t. b. Espionage, theft, possibly 5. SPIES: a. Still belong, but pretend that they don’t. b. Espionage, theft, possibly](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-14.jpg)
5. SPIES: a. Still belong, but pretend that they don’t. b. Espionage, theft, possibly subversion c. Be kind to a caught spy—some do deconvert
![6. EX-MEMBERS WITH ‘HISTORIES’: a. Want to become spokespersons against their former groups b. 6. EX-MEMBERS WITH ‘HISTORIES’: a. Want to become spokespersons against their former groups b.](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-15.jpg)
6. EX-MEMBERS WITH ‘HISTORIES’: a. Want to become spokespersons against their former groups b. May have done/said things that groups will throw back at them c. Anti-cult groups must help these people make best decisions for themselves
![7. PROFESSIONAL FORMER MEMBER ANTI-CULTISTS: a. Become expert witnesses, authors, exit counselors, anti-cult organizational 7. PROFESSIONAL FORMER MEMBER ANTI-CULTISTS: a. Become expert witnesses, authors, exit counselors, anti-cult organizational](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-16.jpg)
7. PROFESSIONAL FORMER MEMBER ANTI-CULTISTS: a. Become expert witnesses, authors, exit counselors, anti-cult organizational staff, etc. b. Tough positions to maintain: little money; one’s information likely becomes dated c. Must resist the impulse to embellish/overstate/perjure
![8. FORMER MEMBERS WHO BECOME PROFESSIONALS: a. Can be very effective critics because they 8. FORMER MEMBERS WHO BECOME PROFESSIONALS: a. Can be very effective critics because they](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-17.jpg)
8. FORMER MEMBERS WHO BECOME PROFESSIONALS: a. Can be very effective critics because they have professional credentials b. Credentials, however, are no necessary guarantee of producing, objective, critical work
![9. CONCLUSION: a. Blanket rejection of former members’ testimony is ideological—worse than bad science 9. CONCLUSION: a. Blanket rejection of former members’ testimony is ideological—worse than bad science](http://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image/6c1b0066529ab34c83dfe32beed26446/image-18.jpg)
9. CONCLUSION: a. Blanket rejection of former members’ testimony is ideological—worse than bad science b. Triangulate—try to get similar information from multiple sources c. What happened to anti-cult groups in North America likely will repeat (is repeating) in Europe d. Bottom line—former members are valuable assets; just be careful
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