Self-Appropriation between Social Mourning and Individuation: a Qualitative Study on Psychosocial Transition among Jehovah’s Witnesses

Abstract

Loss and its associated grief are important elements of many adverse life events. The focus of this study is centred on a particular form of mourning: the affliction derived from the social identity loss caused by the disaffiliation with a religious sect. In postmodern society, this phenomenon needs to be better evaluated because it may be causing severe distress in an increasing number of people. The literature describes the stress caused by switching from one religious group to another, but less analysis has been done on the potential deleterious effects of the loss of social identity because of the breaking down of relationships with people within the original group. Following the grounded theory approach, 14 former Jehovah's Witnesses were interviewed with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three main profiles emerged-born into the faith, converts to the faith, and inactive members-with different difficulties deriving from the loss of social identity and the relational network. The inquiry was focused on the effects of the identification versus individuation processes and also addressed the role of death anxiety. Results confirmed on the one hand a high level of distress that often caused death anxiety, alcoholism, panic attacks, and depression, as described in the literature. On the other hand, the importance of the individuation process emerged, following theologian Paul Tillich's concept of "courage of self-affirmation" and Bernard Lonergan's "self-appropriation," whose development occurs in three phases: de-identification and loss, grieving and crisis, and the work of grief and complete self-affirmation or self-appropriation. The usefulness of communicating these specific themes to a broad audience by enhancing community education through widespread spiritual counseling is also addressed.

Loss of Close Relationships and Loss of Religious Belonging as Cumulative Ostracism: From Social Death to Social Resurrection

“…If, on the whole, what is known about serious and long-term forms of ostracism within close relationships (e.g., in a family) derives mostly from anecdotal reports, diaries and/or novels, the present research intends to contribute to the knowledge of ostracism in real life [42]. The researchers analyze the transition from social death to social resurrection of Catholic partners who have suffered ostracism both in the couple (with the consequent divorce) and in the religious community to which they belong (social isolation and banishment from religious practices).…”

The Hospice as a Learning Environment: A Follow-Up Study with a Palliative Care Team

“…Distal defences often involve existential reflection on the meaning of finitude and the construction of cultural apparatuses that allow individuals to give meaning to their lives and actions. Religions, for example, are very important in this area because they make it possible to envisage individual existence beyond earthly life and beyond death [ 3 , 4 ]. However, these systems are fragile because they are constantly being questioned by common and rational thought [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Life after Social Death: Leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Identity Transition and Recovery

“…There are typically two routes of leaving the JW: (1) disfellowship (forced exit), the result of contravening religious rules, and (2) leaving the group voluntarily (known as disassociation or fading). Regardless of the exit route, former members often report being mandatorily shunned by their family and friends who remain in the faith (Holden 2002b;Hookway and Habibis 2015;Lalich and McLaren 2010;Ransom, Monk and Heim 2020;Testoni et al 2019), and this can impact individuals in different ways. For example, in a study of former members who were born and raised as JWs before accepting that they were gay and subsequently found it impossible to reconcile their sexual and religious identities, respondents describe their religious exit as a distressing experience associated with self-destructive behavior, suicide, and suicidal ideation (Lalich and McLaren 2010).…”