Durkheim's One Cause of Suicide

ever, that its terms are general enough, and its elements articulated in such a way as to provide a reasonable starting point for 'the study of conversion to other types of groups and perspectives. A closing caveat. The D .P. had few competitive advantages, if any, over other unusual religious groups, in terms of the potential converts' predispositions. In terms of situational conditions the D.P. advantage was simply that they were on the scene and able to mak their pitch, develop affective bonds and induce intensive interaction. We hope our effort will help dispel the tendency to assume some deep, almost mystical, connection between world views and their carriers. Like conceptions holding that criminals and delinquents must be really different, our thinking about other deviants has too often assumed some extensive characterological conjunction between participant and pattern of participation.