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Inner Experience and Conversion
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
Abstract
Cognitive therapy is similar to religious conversion in that both are associated
with changes in a person's fundamental assumptions about the world, self, and
others. These fundamental assumptions derive in large part from experience,
rather than rational deliberation. In some conversions, powerful inner
experiences, whether manipulated ("outer generated") or not ("inner generated"),
may cause a person to adopt new fundamental assumptions. Sometimes, a new set of
experiences can cause a convert to reject the new assumptions and leave the
group. The resulting disillusionment may cause serious adjustment problems. The
impact and implications of inner experiences should be considered when trying to
help former group members.
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