WARNING ABOUT HIGH PRESSURE GROUPS
College can be a great place to broaden your horizons by participating in many kinds of activities. However, some organizations may be dangerous or destructive. People going through significant transition and stress can be especially vulnerable because their healthy boundaries and reality checks may be absent. Therefore, college students should be cautious about participating in high pressure groups.
Below are some guidelines for recognizing high-pressure groups. If you are considering getting involved in a group that has several of these characteristics, you may want to think twice about joining up:
- Unrealistic Demands on your Time or Money: Does participating in the group mean that you neglect academic studies, friendships, or other activities that used to be important to you? Are you required to spend a great deal of money to participate? Does it change your eating or sleeping patterns?
- Emphasis on Recruitment: Are you asked to recruit new members soon after you have joined? Are you made to feel guilty if you have not enlisted others?
- Providing the "Answers": Does the group claim to be able to solve all of your problems? Are questions or doubts discouraged as a sign of weak commitment? Does the group put down your past religious, social, or political affiliations?
- Encouraging Dependency: Are you kept in constant group situations? Does the group provide you with a new set of "instant friends"? Does it discourage connections with other people or groups because "they can't understand you"?
If you have any questions concerning a group that you or a friend is involved in, you can talk to:
College Chaplain: Rev. Carolyn Fure-Slocum,
Associate Chaplain: Rabbi Ze'ev Harari,
Wellness Center Counselors: Linda Helmich, Marit Lysne, Hussein Rajput, Juni Banerjee-Stevens, or Bonnie Houg.
For an appointment, please call the Office of the Chaplain at x4003 or the Wellness Center at x4080.
