 Lewis argues that Applewhite effectively controlled his followers by packaging his teachings in familiar terms . Richard Hecht of the University of California , Santa Barbara , echoes this sentiment , arguing that members of the group killed themselves because they believed the narrative that he had constructed , rather than because he psychologically controlled them . In his 2000 study of apocalyptic movements , John R. Hall posits that they were motivated to commit suicide because they saw it as a way to demonstrate that they had conquered the fear of death and truly believed Applewhite . 
 Lewis <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>argues</mark></a> that Applewhite effectively controlled his followers by packaging his teachings in familiar terms . Richard Hecht of the University of California , Santa Barbara , <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>echoes</mark></a> this sentiment , arguing that members of the group killed themselves because they believed the narrative <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a>he <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> constructed , rather than because he psychologically controlled them . In his 2000 study of apocalyptic movements , John R. Hall <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>posits</mark></a> that they <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> motivated to commit suicide because they saw it as a way to demonstrate that they <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>had</mark></a> conquered the fear of death and truly believed Applewhite . 
Lewis argue that Applewhite effectively controlled his followers by packaging his teachings in familiar terms . Richard Hecht of da University of California , Santa Barbara , echo this sentiment , arguin that members of the group killed themselves bc they believed tdanarrative he done constructed , rather den because he psychologically controlled them . In his 2000 study of apocalyptic movements , John R. Hall posit that they was motivated to commit suicide becaucause saw it as a way to demonstrate dat they done conquered the fear of death and truly believed Applewhite .