Interpersonal problems of new religious movement members

Author(s): Eckert, J.

Journal/Book: Gruppenpsychother Gruppendyn. 1997; 33: Theaterstrasse 13, Postfach 77, W-37070 Gottingen, Germany. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. 283-295.

Abstract: A wide-spread presumption is that New Religious Movement members are often persons who have specific interpersonal problems or have developed such problems by being a member of a New Religious Movement. Starting from this presumption, we examined 222 members of the Hare-Krishna-Movement by the German short version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (HOROWITZ et al. 1994). Altogether the Hare Krishnas complain about rather few interpersonal problems compared to a representative sample (N = 3047). This fits to the known result that members of New Religious Movements describe themselves in psychometric studies as mentally healthy (RICHARDSON 1985, 1995). Considering the types of interpersonal problems regardless of their extent, it turns out that the Hare Krishnas see themselves as somewhat ''overly exploitable''. Women in the Hare-Krishna-Movement moreover describe themselves as ''too nonassertive''. Hare Krishnas report a particularly low amount of problems with regard to being ''too cold''. The self description of the Hare Krishnas tends to correspond to the way they are usually perceived by externals, particularly by critics of the Hare-Krishna-Movement. The results are interpreted on the basis of the Hare Krishnas' religious beliefs and practices.

Note: Article Kraus D, Univ Hamburg, Klin Psychiat & Psychotherapie, Martinistr 52, D-20246 Hamburg, GERMANY

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