Snapping is a term coined by Conway and Siegelman in the book of the same name to describe the mental process by which a recruit is converted by a "mind control cult" and also to describe the process of "snapping out of it" during deprogramming.

Ted Patrick, the "father of deprogramming", said:

"They have the ability to come up to you and talk about anything they feel you're interested in, anything. Their technique is to get your attention, then your trust. The minute they get your trust, just like that they can put you in the cult." [1]

The book did not make it clear what the difference is between a conversion to a mainstream religion and that to a cult. Marjoe Gortner explained some of the tricks, methods in the book that he used when he was still an evangelical preacher.

Opposing views

There are many competing theories to explain religious conversion and the theory of snapping has been criticized for its lack of empirical basis.

See also

• Anti-cult movement
• Apostasy
• Brainwashing
• Coercive persuasion
• Deprogramming
• Christian countercult movement
• Exit counseling
• Mind control,
• Thought reform

References

1. Conway, Flo , Siegelman, Jim . Snapping: America's Epidemic of Sudden Personality Change ISBN 0964765004
2. Shupe Anson D., Jr, Six Perspectives on New Religions: A Case Study Approach(1981),p.125. The Edwin Mellen Press