A Theory Of | Cognitive Dissonance

In 1954, Leon Festinger , a social psychologist, found himself fascinated by a bizarre newspaper headline about a cult called the Seekers. Led by a woman named Dorothy Martin, they believed that on December 21, the world would be destroyed by a great flood, and they alone would be rescued by a flying saucer from the planet Clarion.

Then came the pivot. At 4:45 a.m., Martin claimed to receive a new message: the group had spread so much light that God had decided to save the world from the flood. A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance

Suddenly, the despair vanished. Instead of feeling foolish, the cult members became more fervent than ever. They didn't just stay in the group; they began calling newspapers and proselytizing on street corners, more desperate to convince others than they had been before the failed prophecy. The Theory is Born In 1954, Leon Festinger , a social psychologist,