High Pressure Groups

Why are high-pressure groups so harmful?

• They tend to isolate you from family, friends, and other groups.
• They may ask you to give up control of your thoughts or decisions.
• They may focus on guilt and shame.
• They may promote crises with school, your career, or your social life.

What are warning signs of a high-pressure group?

Ask yourself these questions: Does the group or its representatives:

• Speak in a derogatory way about your past religious affiliation?
• Describe your parents as unable to understand or help you with religious matters?
• Label your doubts and questions as signs of a weak faith?
• Invite you on a retreat but can't (or won't) give you an overview of the purpose or activities before you go?
• Insist that you spend so much time with them that you can't get your studying done or you don't have time for your other friends and activities?
• Pressure you to get others involved in the group?
• Discourage you from keeping in touch with your family and friends or not allow you to talk to your friends or your family alone?
• Deflect questions you ask about their group and tell you they'll answer your questions later?
• Claim to have the answers to your problems and that you can't find answers anywhere else?
• Pressure you to give them money?

Answering "yes" to one or two questions doesn't mean that a group is destructive or harmful, but it does mean you should proceed slowly and investigate the group more carefully.