A master thesis from Aalborg University
En undersøgelse af ex-medlemmer af Jehovas Vidners oplevelser med udstødelsesprocessen
[A study of former Jehovah's Witnesses' experiences with the disfellowshipping process]
Forfatter(e)
Semester
4. semester
Uddannelse
Udgivelsesår
2024
Afleveret
2024-07-30
Antal sider
66 pages
Abstract
In national research, one must search extensively for studies that describe the consequences of being ostracized from closed, religious communities. The available knowledge is mainly rooted in the attention of previous governments on Muslim communities, where the focus is based on economic cohesion. In other words, there is a knowledge gap in studies of ex-members' subjective experiences of being socialized into and subsequently ostracized from religious environments, where social control can have consequences for the individual’s well-being and identity formation opportunities. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the experiences associated with the ostracism process among former members of Jehovah's Witnesses. By employing the narrative method, the goal is to gain insight into ex-members' opportunities for identity formation before, during, and after the ostracism process. I assume that there are psychosocial consequences of being ostracized from a high-cost environment such as Jehovah's Witnesses, and therefore I also seek to find out how ex-members have coped with these. The study is based on empirical data from life stories of five women and one male interviewee. The analysis of the life stories incorporates theories by Peter L. Berger & Thomas Luckmann, Helen R. F. Ebaugh, Richard Jenkins, as well as concepts from narrative theory. The study shows that the ex-members had limited opportunities to develop a stable identity while they were members of Jehovah's Witnesses. Prior to ostracism, they all lived under social control, which resulted in their being cut off from the surrounding society and its alternative opportunities for identity formation. Three of the ex-members were subjected to sexual abuse and another three to psychological and/or physical violence, none of whom received subsequent support but instead experienced stigmatization and mistrust. All ex-members developed doubts about their role identity, which resulted in fear, anxiety, and psychological distress. The ostracism process was complex and involved ambivalent feelings of relief, relational and identity loss, grief, and existential crisis. Five out of six ex-members use their experiences in activist efforts, which helps them and others who can relate to their trauma narratives. The study shows that the life stories of ex-members can be used in the field of social work, as they provide insight into the fact that being socialized into and ostracized from a high-cost religion like Jehovah's Witnesses can entail a risk of vulnerability and social exclusion. At the same time, the study shows that further research in the area can illuminate its complexity and contribute to the prevention of (ex)-members' psychosocial issues.
Emneord
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