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Cognitive Dissonance: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Cognitive-dissonance.jpg|right|thumb|370px|A simple example of '''''cognitive dissonance''''']] | [[Image:Cognitive-dissonance.jpg|right|thumb|370px|A simple example of '''''cognitive dissonance''''']] | ||
Cognitive dissonance is something that was first written about by Dr. Leon Festinger. The implications for those that follow William Branham is that they are becoming more fervent in their beliefs and behave more like a cult as a direct result of the work of this website and others like it. | |||
=Prediction= | |||
Because of the mass of evidence that has been produced by [[List of Issues with the Message|this website]] and [[Research Sources for William Branham and His Message|others like it]], cognitive dissonance will cause an increase in fervency of message believers. This will result in the message becoming more cult-like. Those in the message who are Christians will start to leave the message which, in turn, will cause the message to become even more cultish. This prediction was made on December 10, 2012. Please note that this is a prediction and not a prophecy. | |||
=Definition= | =Definition= | ||
In 1956, Dr. Leon Festinger wrote a book entitled, "When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World". Here is a quote from that book that describes perfectly what happens when a message follower is confronted with evidence that William Branham's visions failed: | |||
:''A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point. | :''A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point. | ||
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:''We have all experienced the futility of trying to change a strong conviction, especially if the convinced person has some investment in his belief. We are familiar with the variety of ingenious defenses with which people protect their convictions, managing to keep them unscathed through the most devastating attacks. | :''We have all experienced the futility of trying to change a strong conviction, especially if the convinced person has some investment in his belief. We are familiar with the variety of ingenious defenses with which people protect their convictions, managing to keep them unscathed through the most devastating attacks. | ||
:''But man's resourcefulness goes beyond simply protecting a belief. Suppose an individual believes something with his whole heart; suppose further that he has a commitment to this belief and he has taken irrevocable actions because of it; finally, suppose that he is presented with evidence, unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: '''what will happen?''' The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken | :''But man's resourcefulness goes beyond simply protecting a belief. Suppose an individual believes something with his whole heart; suppose further that he has a commitment to this belief and he has taken irrevocable actions because of it; finally, suppose that he is presented with evidence, unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: '''what will happen?''' The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before. Indeed, he may even show a new fervor for convincing and converting other people to his view. <ref>Festinger, Leon; Henry W. Riecken, Stanley Schachter (1956). ''When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World.'' University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 1-59147-727-1.</ref> | ||
'''Cognitive dissonance''' is a term used in psychology to describe the feeling of discomfort when one is confronted with facts or information that is in conflict with a firmly held belief. In a '''state of dissonance''', people may sometimes feel "disequilibrium": '''frustration, nausea, dread, guilt, anger, embarrassment, anxiety, etc.'''<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance Cognitive Dissonance - Wikipedia]</ref> | '''Cognitive dissonance''' is a term used in psychology to describe the feeling of discomfort when one is confronted with facts or information that is in conflict with a firmly held belief. In a '''state of dissonance''', people may sometimes feel "disequilibrium": '''frustration, nausea, dread, guilt, anger, embarrassment, anxiety, etc.'''<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance Cognitive Dissonance - Wikipedia]</ref> | ||
In the | In the 1950s, Leon Festinger proposed the theory of cognitive dissonance. Festinger observed that when a person held a belief that was later disproved, the individual held the belief more strongly afterward if certain conditions were present. | ||
Cognitive dissonance theory is simple. An individual holds | Cognitive dissonance theory is simple. An individual holds a particular strongly held belief (e.g., I believe that William Branham is a prophet). They are presented with clear evidence to the contrary (e.g. some of William Branham's visions failed). Conflicting information creates dissonance, a state of anxiety that the individual is motivated to reduce or at least not increase. The mental distress causes changes in the individual’s behavior (e.g. getting angry) or beliefs (e.g. the believe the message more strongly). They may also seek limit exposure to the negative information (e.g. they stop reading this website). | ||
The amount of dissonance indicates the importance of the beliefs to the person. Beliefs that are held strongly are capable of arousing more dissonance than | The amount of dissonance indicates the importance of the beliefs to the person. Beliefs that are held strongly are capable of arousing more dissonance than less important beliefs. | ||
Dissonance may be reduced by changing behavior, altering a belief, or adding a new one. When the person makes a decision where the alternate choices each have positive and negative aspects, dissonance may result from the decision.<ref>David G. Benner and Peter C. Hill, eds., Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology & Counseling, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 220.</ref> | Dissonance may be reduced by changing behavior, altering a belief, or adding a new one. When the person makes a decision where the alternate choices each have positive and negative aspects, dissonance may result from the decision.<ref>David G. Benner and Peter C. Hill, eds., Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology & Counseling, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 220.</ref> | ||
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Most people will avoid situations or information sources that give rise to feelings of uneasiness, or dissonance. If this uneasiness is not reduced by changing one's belief, the dissonance can be resolved by '''misperception, rejection or refutation''' of the information, '''seeking support from others who share the alternative beliefs''', and '''attempting to persuade others'''. | Most people will avoid situations or information sources that give rise to feelings of uneasiness, or dissonance. If this uneasiness is not reduced by changing one's belief, the dissonance can be resolved by '''misperception, rejection or refutation''' of the information, '''seeking support from others who share the alternative beliefs''', and '''attempting to persuade others'''. | ||
Cognitive dissonance leads people to '''accept any information that affirms their already established opinions''', rather than referencing material that contradicts them. For example, a person who is politically conservative will only read newspapers and watch news commentary that is from conservative news sources. This bias appears to be particularly apparent when faced with deeply held beliefs, i.e. | Cognitive dissonance leads people to '''accept any information that affirms their already established opinions''', rather than referencing material that contradicts them. For example, a person who is politically conservative will only read newspapers and watch news commentary that is from conservative news sources. This bias appears to be particularly apparent when faced with deeply held beliefs, i.e. when a person has 'high commitment' to his or her attitudes. | ||
The process of attempting to eliminate cognitive dissonance is referred to as '''''dissonance reduction'''''. Many Message Believers deal with the dissonance created by William Branham's failed prophecies by avoiding websites like this. A number of Message Ministers have supported this approach by preaching that members of their churches should avoid the internet altogether. | The process of attempting to eliminate cognitive dissonance is referred to as '''''dissonance reduction'''''. Many Message Believers deal with the dissonance created by William Branham's failed prophecies by avoiding websites like this. A number of Message Ministers have supported this approach by preaching that members of their churches should avoid the internet altogether. | ||
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#A belief must be held with deep conviction and it must have some relevance to action, that is, to what the believer does or how he or she behaves. | #A belief must be held with deep conviction and it must have some relevance to action, that is, to what the believer does or how he or she behaves. | ||
#The person holding the belief must have committed | #The person holding the belief must have committed themselves to it; that is, for the sake of their belief, they must have taken some important action that is difficult to undo. In general, the more important such actions are, and the more difficult they are to undo, the greater is the individual's commitment to the belief. | ||
#The belief must be sufficiently specific and sufficiently concerned with the real world so that | #The belief must be sufficiently specific and sufficiently concerned with the real world so that evidences may unequivocally refute the belief. | ||
#Such undeniable disconfirmatory evidence must occur and must be recognized by the individual holding the belief. | #Such undeniable disconfirmatory evidence must occur and must be recognized by the individual holding the belief. | ||
#The individual believer must have social support. It is unlikely that one isolated believer could withstand the kind of disconfirming evidence that has been specified. If, however, the believer is a member of a group of convinced persons who can support one another, the belief may be maintained and the believers may attempt to proselytize or persuade nonmembers that the belief is correct.<ref>Festinger, Leon; Henry W. Riecken, Stanley Schachter (1956). ''When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World.'' University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 1-59147-727-1.</ref> | #The individual believer must have social support. It is unlikely that one isolated believer could withstand the kind of disconfirming evidence that has been specified. If, however, the believer is a member of a group of convinced persons who can support one another, the belief may be maintained and the believers may attempt to proselytize or persuade nonmembers that the belief is correct.<ref>Festinger, Leon; Henry W. Riecken, Stanley Schachter (1956). ''When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World.'' University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 1-59147-727-1.</ref> | ||
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Smoking is a common example of cognitive dissonance because it is widely accepted that cigarettes can cause lung cancer, and smokers must reconcile their habit with the desire to live long and healthy lives. In terms of the cognitive dissonance theory, the desire to live a long life is dissonant with the activity of doing something that is likely to shorten one's life. | Smoking is a common example of cognitive dissonance because it is widely accepted that cigarettes can cause lung cancer, and smokers must reconcile their habit with the desire to live long and healthy lives. In terms of the cognitive dissonance theory, the desire to live a long life is dissonant with the activity of doing something that is likely to shorten one's life. | ||
Smokers may alter their belief about the dangers of smoking by telling themselves that they "''know a 70 year old man who has smoked since he was a teenager and is still very healthy''". Or a person could believe that smoking keeps one from gaining weight, which would also be unhealthy. | Smokers may alter their belief about the dangers of smoking by telling themselves that they "''know a 70-year-old man who has smoked since he was a teenager and is still very healthy''". Or a person could believe that smoking keeps one from gaining weight, which would also be unhealthy. | ||
Other smokers just don't read anything about the dangers of smoking, so that they don't have to think about the negative consequences of their decision to smoke. That is one of the reasons that some governments require warning labels to be printed on all cigarette packaging. | Other smokers just don't read anything about the dangers of smoking, so that they don't have to think about the negative consequences of their decision to smoke. That is one of the reasons that some governments require warning labels to be printed on all cigarette packaging. | ||
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#The belief that '''William Branham is a prophet of God is held with deep conviction''' and, in most cases, creates '''a significant change in the life style of message believers'''. | #The belief that '''William Branham is a prophet of God is held with deep conviction''' and, in most cases, creates '''a significant change in the life style of message believers'''. | ||
#Following the "message" generally involves a '''significant personal commitment'''. This will also often involve significant confrontation with family members and close friends and a '''deep separation''' from these people. '''For women, it generally involves a complete change in dress and hairstyle''' that is obvious to friends and relatives. | #Following the "message" generally involves a '''significant personal commitment'''. This will also often involve significant confrontation with family members and close friends and a '''deep separation''' from these people. '''For women, it generally involves a complete change in dress and hairstyle''' that is obvious to friends and relatives. | ||
#The '''beliefs held by message believers about William Branham are very specific''' with respect to his prophecies and general credibility. Sufficient evidence to unequivocally refute belief in William Branham | #The '''beliefs held by message believers about William Branham are very specific''' with respect to his prophecies and general credibility. Sufficient evidence to unequivocally refute belief in William Branham has been presented on this website. | ||
##It has been shown conclusively that all of '''William Branham's prophecies were "after the fact"'''. | ##It has been shown conclusively that all of '''William Branham's prophecies were "after the fact"'''. | ||
##It has been proved that the few "before the fact" '''prophecies that he made all failed'''. | ##It has been proved that the few "before the fact" '''prophecies that he made all failed'''. | ||
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Examples include: | Examples include: | ||
#[[The Municipal Bridge Vision]] | #[[The Municipal Bridge Vision]] | ||
# | ##The fact that this vision took place when William Branham was a child is grounds for it being ignored, as he could have made a mistake. This ignores the fact that he said that it was fulfilled, and it is the fulfillment that creates the problem, i.e. it never happened. | ||
##This happened a long time ago and therefore it is likely that the deaths of the workers simply went unreported. This ignores the fact that the wives, parents and children of a group of 16 men that perished in a construction accident would not permit their memory to be forgotten. For that reason, the deaths in the construction of the Big Four Bridge are still remembered. A death of one person might be forgotten but not 16 men. | |||
#[[The Vision of the Meetings in South Africa|African Vision]] - To avoid this issue, people will say that William Branham was referring to India, not Africa, even though he specifically mentions Durban, South Africa in the vision. Or another method of avoiding the implication of this failed vision is to state that well over 300,000 people have heard the tapes in South Africa thereby fulfilling the vision, although this again is an irrelevant rationalization. | #[[The Vision of the Meetings in South Africa|African Vision]] - To avoid this issue, people will say that William Branham was referring to India, not Africa, even though he specifically mentions Durban, South Africa in the vision. Or another method of avoiding the implication of this failed vision is to state that well over 300,000 people have heard the tapes in South Africa thereby fulfilling the vision, although this again is an irrelevant rationalization. | ||
#[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] - To deal with this failed prophecy, followers of William Branham search out explanations that are rooted in conspiracy theory. | #[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] - To deal with this failed prophecy, followers of William Branham search out explanations that are rooted in conspiracy theory. | ||
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