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Cognitive Dissonance: Difference between revisions
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Leon Festinger, a social psychologist at the University of Minnesota who first coined the term "cognitive dissonance", related an account of the followers of a UFO cult as reality clashed with their fervent belief in an impending apocalypse. | Leon Festinger, a social psychologist at the University of Minnesota who first coined the term "cognitive dissonance", related an account of the followers of a UFO cult as reality clashed with their fervent belief in an impending apocalypse. | ||
In the summer of 1954, Festinger was reading the morning newspaper when he encountered a short article about Dorothy Martin, a housewife in Chicago who was convinced that the apocalypse was coming. Martin had experimented with automatic handwriting and started getting messages from an extra-terrestrial from the planet Clarion | In the summer of 1954, Festinger was reading the morning newspaper when he encountered a short article about Dorothy Martin, a housewife in Chicago who was convinced that the apocalypse was coming. Martin had experimented with automatic handwriting and started getting messages from an extra-terrestrial from the planet Clarion a few years before, but now the messages were getting eerily specific. According to the alien, human civilization would be destroyed by a massive flood before dawn on December 21, 1954. | ||
Martin’s prophecy soon gained a small band of followers. They trusted her messages, they had left jobs, college, and spouses, and had given away money and possessions to prepare for their departure on a flying saucer which was to rescue the group of true believers, who called themselves ''the Brotherhood of the Seven Rays''. | Martin’s prophecy soon gained a small band of followers. '''They trusted her messages, they had left jobs, college, and spouses, and had given away money and possessions''' to prepare for their departure on a flying saucer which was to rescue the group of true believers, who called themselves ''the Brotherhood of the Seven Rays''. | ||
Festinger realized that the Brotherhood of the Seven Rays would make a great research subject and infiltrated the group by pretending to be a true believer. Festinger wanted to study the reaction of the cultists on December 21, when the prophecy failed. | Festinger realized that the Brotherhood of the Seven Rays would make a great research subject and infiltrated the group by pretending to be a true believer. Festinger wanted to study the reaction of the cultists on December 21, when the prophecy failed. | ||
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On the night of December 20, Keech’s followers gathered in her home and waited for the aliens to appear. Midnight inexorably approached. When the clock read 12:01 and there were still no aliens, the cultists began to worry. A few began to cry. The aliens had let them down. But then Keech received a new telegram from outer space, which she quickly transcribed on her notepad. “''This little group sitting all night long had spread so much light'',” the aliens told her, “''that god saved the world from destruction. Not since the beginning of time upon this Earth has there been such a force of Good and light as now floods this room.''” It was their stubborn faith that had prevented the apocalypse. | On the night of December 20, Keech’s followers gathered in her home and waited for the aliens to appear. Midnight inexorably approached. When the clock read 12:01 and there were still no aliens, the cultists began to worry. A few began to cry. The aliens had let them down. But then Keech received a new telegram from outer space, which she quickly transcribed on her notepad. “''This little group sitting all night long had spread so much light'',” the aliens told her, “''that god saved the world from destruction. Not since the beginning of time upon this Earth has there been such a force of Good and light as now floods this room.''” It was their stubborn faith that had prevented the apocalypse. | ||
They faced acute cognitive dissonance: had they been the victim of a hoax? Had they donated their worldly possessions in vain? Most members chose to believe something less dissonant to resolve reality not meeting their expectations: they believed that the aliens had given earth a second chance, and the group was now empowered to spread the word that earth-spoiling must stop. | '''They faced acute cognitive dissonance: had they been the victim of a hoax? Had they donated their worldly possessions in vain?''' Most members chose to believe something less dissonant to resolve reality not meeting their expectations: they believed that the aliens had given earth a second chance, and the group was now empowered to spread the word that earth-spoiling must stop. | ||
Although the prophecy had failed, the group was now more convinced than ever that the aliens were real. The group dramatically increased their proselytism despite the false prophecy, sending out press releases and recruiting new believers. | '''Although the prophecy had failed, the group was now more convinced than ever that the aliens were real.''' The group dramatically increased their proselytism despite the false prophecy, sending out press releases and recruiting new believers. | ||
This is how they reacted to the dissonance of being wrong: by being more sure than ever that they were right. They were so committed to their beliefs – they had so much invested in the idea that the world would end – that dissonant facts made them double-down. It would be too painful to be wrong, and so they convinced themselves that they were right. | '''This is how they reacted to the dissonance of being wrong: by being more sure than ever that they were right.''' They were so committed to their beliefs – they had so much invested in the idea that the world would end – that dissonant facts made them double-down. '''It would be too painful to be wrong, and so they convinced themselves that they were right.''' | ||
==Smoking== | ==Smoking== | ||