In the 1950s, a social psychologist and two of his associates joined a "doomsday" group in order to study how the group members would react when the world did not end as predicted by their leader. How did the believers respond?
Analyze their responses according to the theory of cognitive dissonance.
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: A good answer will include the following key points.
• This study was done by Leon Festinger and two associates.
• The researchers predicted that believers who had made no public commitment to the prophecy and awaited the end of the world at home by themselves would simply lose their faith.
• Festinger also predicted that those who had acted on their conviction (selling their property, etc.) would increase their religious belief to avoid the intolerable realization that they had behaved foolishly and others knew it.
• The results were as predicted. The leader said the world was spared because of the faith of her small band of people.
• By increasing their faith, these people were able to "justify" their actions, thus keeping actions and attitudes consistent.
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