It doesn’t take a whole lot of the mockery and ridicule to make some people begin to doubt.  In the parable, Jesus describes the shallow believer who turns away because he is shamed by those who don't believe the truth. In the original Greek, the term is skandalizo. It’s the same word we get “scandalized” from.

It literally describes entrapment because of personal displeasure. Skandalizo is evil’s seduction – laying a snare for you. Yes, you know what is true, but you are afraid that your friends will find out.