The sectarian Amana Society of Iowa existed for 89 years as a communal enterprise. In 1932, for a combination of reasons, the Society abandoned communalism and reorganized as a joint-stock corporation. The reasons for the change are discussed in terms of double-bind theory. It is argued that all members faced a conflict between the demands of the sect's plan for salvation and the group's economic dependence on external markets. In addition, the elders experienced a second bind between preserving the community and upholding its rules. The stresses in the Society were resolved through reorganization.
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