The JW Cycle of Control explains how the organisation attracts and keeps its members. There are numerous ways to cut and shut the many facets of the JW religion, so for simplicity I have grouped the main types of JW teachings, beliefs, and practices into five categories. Each element flows through to the next, demonstrating how members are ‘hooked’ into the religion and then remain trapped within the system.

If you were born-in you are already within the cycle. But otherwise, new members join either out of fear (such as avoiding death at Armageddon), or because they are enticed by the rewards (perhaps seeing a loved one again in Paradise). No one is enticed by the system of compliance or the idea of suppressing their identity and becoming totally reliant on an organisation they had previously never heard of. This is why none of that is pedalled in the public facing literature or videos. But once you are in, the cycle begins:

1. Fear: Fear type teachings include fear of dying at Armageddon, fear of displeasing God, fear of losing your rewards, and fear of implications for leaving. Using fear serves the organisation’s needs by keeping you fearful of outside influences, and therefore isolated and under their control.  

2. Identity suppression: You suppress your identity to put the needs of the organisation first, because it lessens the fear and makes you feel like you are doing what you need to do to support God and be on the ‘right side’.

3. Reliance: Once you have handed over your identity, you are more open to becoming reliant, infantile, and dependent on the organisation for all of your information and decision making.

4. Compliance and culture: When you are reliant and have no sense of your own identity, you accept the compliance measures (sticks) in place to keep members inline and you go along with the culture of not doubting and not questioning.  You put up with the compliance measures and cultural norms because you want the rewards (carrots).

5. Rewards: If you do all the right things, you will receive rewards, and to be rewarded means you have God’s/the Governing Body’s approval. When you receive rewards however, you are aware that it isn’t ‘once saved always saved’ and you are in fear of losing your rewards, so the cycle goes around again.

God/the Governing Body/Watchtower organisation: In the JW religion, they are one and the same. The Governing Body are driving and perpetuating this entire system, so they are at the top of the cycle diagram.

JW Cycle of Control: