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Missouri State University

Jim Jones: an Analysis of a Persuader

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

None of the various accounts of Jim Jones and his followers offers a singular focus on the rhetoric of Jim Jones --what he said and what his messages may have meant to those who listened. The purpose of this study is to describe the rhetoric of Jim Jones through the collection and analysis of messages sent by Jones. An historical account of Jim Jones and the People's Temple provides a context for messages. The collection of messages is a sample of what Jones said divided into categories based on the general content of the messages. This collection provides the data required for the analysis. Analysis of the messages focuses on what can be learned about Jim Jones from each message, and what can be determined about Jones' perceptions of his audiences. From the analyses, several propositions are drawn about Jones and his perceptions of his audiences.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts in Communication
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Communication
Year
1987

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Stengel, Richard William
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Ralph Smith

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • © Richard William Stengel

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/505
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1506

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Missouri State University
Base URL
bearworks.missouristate.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Stengel, Richard William. Jim Jones: an Analysis of a Persuader. Masters thesis, 1987. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/505