THE PERSONALITY OF EX-CULT MEMBERS

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.