The Social Psychology of Social Movements (Psychology Revivals) by Hans Toch

Author:Hans Toch
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781317970484
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2013-11-25T18:30:00+00:00

A convert to Elijah Muhammad's Black Muslims declares:

I find that Islam provides conditions of peace and comfort for me and for all those who may wish to tread the path prescribed by it, whoever they may be, whatever they may be and wherever they may be.33

As suggested in this last quotation, the convert may feel that his satisfactions can be widely shared. More often than not, he ignores his own role in the conversion transaction, and attributes his contentment to his beliefs. Since, moreover, he also experiences the need to justify his conversion, he may develop a strong urge to prescribe his beliefs for others.

If a movement is obviously unpopular, and it therefore becomes difficult for the convert to see himself surrounded by potential fellow-members, he may resort to another stratagem. This is illustrated in the following excerpts from proceedings of the Third Annual Spacecraft Convention—a meeting of Flying Saucer enthusiats—in Yucca Valley, California:

The Reverend Morris Ludwig of Portland, Oreg. set the tone for the convention, when, in his invocation he expressed thanks to God for being part of a group interested in searching for the higher purposes of life. “Help us not to force our opinions on others,” he said, “but only to point the way to right living and understanding.”

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