A sample of 75 ex-members of cults or new religious movements complete
d two personality inventories: the short form of the Eysenck Personali
ty Questionnaire and the Beck Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale. Compared to t
he norms, the sample exhibited elevated scores on neuroticism, sociotr
opy and autonomy. The elevated neuroticism scores increasingly approac
hed the norm as a function of time out of the cult. Ex-members in cont
act with support groups showed reduced levels of neuroticism and socio
tropy in comparison with those who were not. While it is not possible
to draw firm conclusions from a study of this design, the results are
consistent with the view that people with high autonomy scores are lik
ely to leave or be ejected from cults or new religious movements and t
hat doing so may cause psychological difficulties which are ameliorate
d by time and attendance at a support group.