Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Copyright © 2003 University of Maryland.
All rights reserved.
Revised: June 30, 2003
PROGRESSIVE STAGES OF RECRUITMENT
How does a dangerous group gain control over an individual’s life? It does not
happen all at once. The process involves a series of stages, and it relies
heavily on peers who reinforce and isolate the individual from those people who
might impede the process.
Stage One: Gain Involvement
In the initial stage, the individual is targeted by a group in a number of ways,
such as through an individual written or oral response, or a random encounter.
Stage Two: Solidify Involvement, Gain Control
In the second stage, the group works to gain increasing commitments of time,
effort, and resources from the individual while increasing the individual’s
isolation from peers and family outside the group. Group members will engage the
individual in greater depth on thoughts, beliefs, activities and choices.
Stage Three: Solidify Control
In the third stage, the individual begins to unwittingly cede control over major
aspects of his/her life to the group and its leadership. By this point, the
radical changes in the individual’s beliefs, activities, and commitments are
likely to be clearly discernible to former friends or family due to their
extremity.
