THE RECRUITING TACTICS OF HIGH PRESSURE GROUPS
WHAT ARE HIGH PRESSURE GROUPS?
It's a good feeling to be wanted, and it's flattering to be asked to join a group. Now that you're in college, you'll find yourself invited to spend time with lots of organizations: fraternities, sororities, intra- mural teams, clubs, religious groups and organizations of all kinds. Most rely on your free choice for joining; however you may encounter some who use coercive techniques to win you over.
You could find yourself as a subject of the attention of a group which uses high pressure tactics -- deception, manipulation, and/or thought management to recruit and gain control over you. Such high pressure methods in the extreme characterize the recruitment and retention methods of destructive cults.
HOW CAN I IDENTIFY THESE GROUPS?
Observe the group's responses to you and how you are made to feel. If you can answer yes to any three statements below, you should seriously reconsider your involvement.
- The group seems to be perfect and claims to have "all the answers."
- At initial meetings you are showered with lots of flattering attention and group pressure.
- There is a press for emotional intimacy, despite the fact that you just met.
- The group encourages you to put its meetings before all other commitments, including studying.
- You are increasingly pressured to choose between the group and your family and friends.
- You are expected to show complete obedience to their leader or teacher and reveal your deepest thoughts to him/her.
- The group speaks in a derogatory way about your past affiliations, including those of a religious nature.
- You feel guilty, ashamed and unworthy.
- Doubt and questions are seen as signs of a weakness. You are shunned or continually pressured if you persist in these doubts.
- You are aggressively recruited to attend a retreat without sufficient information about the group or the purpose of the retreat.
- You are required or pressured into donating sizable sums of money to the support of the group.
- You want to leave the organization but they refuse to release you and harass you.
WHY ARE SUCH GROUPS HARMFUL?
- They tend to isolate you from family, friends and other groups.
- They may ask you to give up control of your life, thoughts, decisions and finances.
- They tend to focus on guilt and shame.
- They may promote crises with school, your career, your love life, or your family.
- They may resort to frightening you and inducing guilt to the point that you stop making decisions and asking questions for yourself.
- They may scapegoat others, projecting blame or even hate on individuals or groups.
WHEN WILL I BE RECRUITED?
College is an adult world with many decisions, anxieties and pressures.There are times when you may be homesick, feel unloved or overwhelmed, or believe you will never straighten out your life. Learning to cope and keeping such matters in proper perspective is an opportunity college provides. Yet, it is these times that destructive high pressure groups tend to seek you out and begin recruiting.
You Are Lonely
- You are homesick for familiar friends and places.
- You feel left out of social groups.
- You miss your significant other who is at another school.
You are hurting
- You just had a fight on the phone with your parents.
- You are grieving over a person or a relationship.
- Everyone has a date for an important social event except you.
- You haven't been recruited by anyone for anything.
- It's the same dull routine of dinner, homework and bed.
You are in academic trouble
- You feel like a failure because you are failing one or more courses.
- You are under pressure to improve your grades.
- You are embarrassed because you've never had C's and D's in your life until now.
Remember, these feelings and reactions can be confronted, put into proper focus and overcome. They do, however, leave you vulnerable and can provide an opportunity for high pressure recruiters.
You Can Take Steps to Deal with These Groups
Reach out and get the opinion of someone you trust who is not a member of the group, such as a friend, parent, professor, counselor, residence hall staff member or a member of the clergy.
- Examine yourself: Are you vulnerable?
- Don't be afraid to take a stand.
- Learn to say "No."
- Don't be afraid to ask questions! Be skeptical.
- Call a phone number below for help and information.
WHERE YOU CAN GET HELP
If you want to talk with someone, here are some people you can contact on campus who will listen to your concerns.
- Counseling & Student Development Center - 753-1206
- Student Involvement & Leadership Development - 753-1421
- University Ombudsman - 753-1414
- Judicial Affairs - 753-1571
- Student Association - 753-0482
- Division of Student Affairs - 753-1573
Published by the Division of Student Affairs at Northern Illinois University
