 Although many popular commentators , including psychologist Margaret Singer , speculate that Applewhite brainwashed his followers , many academics have rejected the " brainwashing " label as an oversimplification that does not express the nuances of the process by which the followers were influenced . Lalich speculates that they were willing to follow Applewhite in suicide because they had become totally dependent upon him , and hence were poorly suited for life in his absence . Davis attributes Applewhite 's success in convincing his followers to commit suicide to two factors : he isolated them socially and cultivated an attitude of complete religious obedience in them . Applewhite 's students had made a long @-@ term commitment to him , and Balch and Taylor infer that this is why his interpretations of events appeared coherent to them . Most of the dead had been members for about 20 years , although there were a few recent converts . 
 Although many popular commentators , including psychologist Margaret Singer , speculate that Applewhite brainwashed his followers , many academics <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>have</mark></a> rejected the " brainwashing " label as an oversimplification <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>does</mark></a> not express <a href='None' title='4'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>nuances</mark></a> of the process by which the followers <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> influenced . Lalich <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>speculates</mark></a> that they <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> willing to follow Applewhite in suicide because they <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>had</mark></a> become totally dependent upon him , and hence <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> poorly suited for life in his absence . Davis <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>attributes</mark></a> Applewhite <a href='null_genetive' title='12'><mark>'s</mark></a>success in convincing his followers to commit suicide to two factors : he isolated them socially and cultivated an attitude of complete religious obedience in them . Applewhite <a href='null_genetive' title='13'><mark>'s</mark></a>students <a href='been_done' title='14'><mark>had</mark></a> made a long @-@ term commitment to him , and Balch and Taylor infer that this is why his interpretations of events appeared coherent to them . Most of the dead had been members for about 20 years , although <a href='dey_it' title='15'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='16'><mark>were</mark></a> a few recent converts . 
Although many popular commentators , including psychologist Margaret Singer , speculate that Applewhite brainwashed his followers , many academics done rejected the " brainwashing " label as an oversimplification do not express no nuances of the process by which the followers was influenced . Lalich speculate dat they was willing to follow Applewhite in suicide because they done become totally dependent upon em , and hence was poorly suited for life in his absence . Davis attribute Applewhite  success in convincing his followers to commit suicide to two factors : he isolated em socially and cultivated an attitude of complete religious obedience in them . Applewhite  students done made a long @-@ term commitment to him , and Balch and Taylor infer tdatthis is y his interpretations of events appeared coherent to them Most of the dead had been members fa abt 20 years , although it was a few recent converts .