Goldsmiths - University of London

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Responding to High-Pressure Groups

There are groups.... and there are high-pressure groups.

It's a good feeling to be wanted. It's flattering to be asked to join a group. As a student you will be invited to spend your time with lots of organizations... societies, teams, clubs and organizations of all kinds. Some rely on your free choice for joining, while others are persistent in their efforts to recruit you.

Among the clubs and organizations you'll find religious, political, and social groups. Some are well organized, some are very informal. Choosing to belong to various groups is an important decision in your time at Goldsmiths. We want to offer you information that will help you make an informed, free choice about such groups, and help you to notice when certain tactics are intended to undermine your freedom of choice.

At any given time there may be one or more organized and informal religious, political or social groups using high-pressure recruiting tactics. Listing names would be a waste of time since the names of the groups change frequently. However, you can identify these groups by what they do.

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 life, thoughts and decisions.
  • They tend to focus on guilt and shame.
  • They may cause conflicts with your commitment to your coursework, to your career or to your love life.
  • They may resort to frightening you to the point that you stop making decisions and asking questions for yourself.

When Will I Be Recruited?

University is a world with many decisions, anxieties and pressures. There are times when you may be homesick, feel unloved or stressed, or overwhelmed, or believe you aren’t able to straighten out your life. Learning to cope with such feelings and keeping them in proper perspective is an opportunity University provides. Yet, it is at these times that high-pressure religious groups tend to seek you out and begin recruiting.

You Are Most Vulnerable To High-Pressure Groups When...

You are lonely.

  • You are homesick for familiar friends and places.
  • Your flatmates are always out with other friends.
  • You miss your significant other who is at another University or College.

You are Hurting.

  • Your friends forget to get you a seat at a concert.
  • You’ve just had an argument on the phone with your family.
  • You are grieving over a person or relationship.

You are having a tough time socially.

  • Everyone has a date except you.
  • You haven't been recruited by anyone for anything.
  • It's the same dull routine of dinner, studying and bed.

You are in trouble academically.

  • 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 are, however, uncomfortable if left unattended... and they're a clear invitation to high-pressure recruiters.

How Can I Identify These High-Pressure Groups?

Observe the group's responses to you and how you feel. If you can answer "yes" to any three of these statements, you should seriously reconsider your involvement.

  • The group seems to be perfect. Everyone agrees and follows all orders cheerfully.
  • The group claims to have "all the answers" to your problems.
  • You are asked to recruit new members soon after joining.
  • You begin to feel guilty and ashamed, unworthy as a person.
  • The group encourages you to put their meetings and activities before all other commitments, including studying.
  • The group speaks in a derogatory way about your past religious, social or political affiliations.
  • Your parents and friends are defined as unable to understand or help you with religious, political or other matters.
  • Doubts and questions are seen as signs of weak faith or commitment. You are shunned if you persist in these doubts.
  • Leadership of the group is mostly male, and males in general are believed to have different rights and abilities than females.
  • You are invited on a retreat with the group, but they can't give you an overview of the purpose, theme or activities before you go.

You Can Take Steps To Deal With High-Pressure Groups.

Reach out and get the opinion of someone you trust who is not a member of the group, such as a friend, tutor, parent, counsellor, or a chaplain.

  • Find out about new religious groups from your church, temple, mosque or synagogue at home.
  • Don't be afraid to ask questions! Be sceptical. Don't accept evasive answers.
  • Don't be afraid to take a stand.
  • Learn to say "NO".
  • Examine yourself; are you vulnerable?
  • Think before you go to a meeting to check it out. Will you get a clear picture?
  • Call the phone numbers on this page for help and information.

Where Can You Get Help...

If you want to talk about groups of this sort or you have questions you would like to ask, here are some contacts where you will be listened to:

Chaplaincy Centre:

Tel: 020 7717 2953
E-mail: chaplaincy (@gold.ac.uk)
Web: Goldsmiths Chaplaincy Centre

Counselling service:

Tel: 020 7919 7147
E-mail: counselling-service (@gold.ac.uk)
Web: Goldsmiths Counselling Service

INFORM: (Information Network Focus On Religious Movements)

Tel: 020 7955 7654
E-mail: inform@lse.ac.uk
Web: www.inform.ac