Linking deprogramming to coercion seems likely to be a negative marketing move by exit counsellors (who pride themselves on not using coercion).
This is plausible, but is not how it happened. Historically, “deprogramming” became associated with coercion, so “exit counselling” was set up to do the same thing without coercion.
I appreciate your concerns that “deprogramming” shouldn’t imply coercion, but in normative usage it does.
Some people are trying to screw up this perfectly good word. I suspect that is probably for marketing reasons. Or maybe it was just a misunderstanding. Whatever reasons there are, they are not anything to do with good terminology. The proposed meaning involving coercion necessarily being involved totally sucks. I recommend not promoting such ugly nonsense.
This is plausible, but is not how it happened. Historically, “deprogramming” became associated with coercion, so “exit counselling” was set up to do the same thing without coercion.
I appreciate your concerns that “deprogramming” shouldn’t imply coercion, but in normative usage it does.
Not really. Here are some better definitions:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/deprogramming
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deprogramming
Some people are trying to screw up this perfectly good word. I suspect that is probably for marketing reasons. Or maybe it was just a misunderstanding. Whatever reasons there are, they are not anything to do with good terminology. The proposed meaning involving coercion necessarily being involved totally sucks. I recommend not promoting such ugly nonsense.