Vocational Implications of Cult Involvement

<p>Currently, the majority of studies published on cult membership have been quantitative and have focused primarily on theories and trends about cult membership. These studies have been insufficient in shedding light on the individual’s experience. Qualitative studies are necessary to explore the individual’s accounts of their experiences with past cult involvement and the impact these experiences have on employment. Because of the potential vocational impacts of cult involvement, it is valuable to explore the psychoSocial aspects of work. A qualitative methodology informed by phenomenology was utilized to investigate the unique experience of individuals obtaining employment after leaving a cult. Seven essential themes were found through data analysis: hiding the past, fear, application difficulties, difficulty obtaining employment, inability to maintain employment, talking it out, and symptoms of psychiatric disabilities.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Wilkins, Melissa Dawn Jones

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Williams, Brent T.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Owen, Tanya R.
• Ramey, Mary A.

• Social sciences
• Education
• Cults
• Disabilities
• Employment
• Rehabilitation
• Trauma
• Clinical Psychology
• Family, Life Course, and Society
• Vocational Education
• Work, Economy and Organizations

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1525

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uark.edu:etd-3064