#leon festinger

[gothicseverance]

The reader experiences the effects of what Leon Festinger (1919-1989) calls Cognitive Dissonance; that is, negative emotional states such as anxiety that are created by a person having to encounter two contradictory ideas (cognitions) that relate to the same phenomenon at the same time. We might say that the unease caused by this Cognitive Dissonance epitomizes the experience of the ‘Gothic of the Normal’ for the reader.

—Poe and the Gothic of the Normal

[diegomatute1984]

Las personas tienden a mantener coherencia y consistencia entre las acciones y los pensamientos. Cuando no es el caso, las personas experimentan un estado de disonancia cognitiva.

[printedword]

"I've had to go a long way. I've given up just about everything. I've cut every tie: I've burned every bridge. I've turned my back on the world. I can't afford to doubt. I have to believe."

— Cult member Dr. Armstrong, quoted in Leon Festinger's When Prophecy Fails

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

💭Cognitive Dissonance and Social Comparison🧠

🔍 Explore How Social Comparison Creates Cognitive Dissonance on Medium How do social comparisons affect your everyday thoughts and emotions? 🔥🌈 It isn’t always bad. Yet, Social Comparison Creates Cognitive Dissonance and can be detrimental. In 1954, Psychologist Leon Festinger, developed his Theory of Social Comparison. Cognitive Dissonance —AI image generated with Canva 🤔 Explore the concept…

[calicojack1718]

Unskewing the Polls: Decoding the Deceptive Polling Numbers of Election 2024

All of the polls seem to have Trump leading Biden both nationally and in swing states. How can that be? Does no one remember the debacle of the Trump years? Can their be some systematic error in the polling? Can science explain it? Yes, it can.

SUMMARY: Election 2024 presidential polling has Trump beating Biden nationwide and in swing states. Let’s take a closer look at that polling data and use social trust to decipher some of the more confounding results. Then, we’ll use protests and past voting behavior to predict who will turn out in 2024. The roll of cognitive dissonance and irrevocable actions will be used to analyze who is…

[vonneumannmachine]

La caja de herramientas para jugar en el mundo (I)

Me parece muy apropiado entender el cerebro como una caja de herramientas, una más o menos ordenada amalgama de recetas, atajos, heurísticas, fórmulas variadas, fruto tanto de eones de evolución como de una increíble capacidad de adaptación y aprendizaje cultural. Así, repetimos continuamente patrones conductuales en virtud de su eficacia: repetimos el chiste que vimos que hacía gracia, contamos…

[mazamara]

The social comparison theory by Festinger is the most neo-liberal thing i have ever heard in my life.

And who the fuck identify themselves in the self-growth triad come on

[covid-safer-hotties]

When the Mind Shuts the Door: How Cognitive Dissonance Keeps Doctors from Seeing Long COVID - Posted Sept 24, 2024 on Twitter (or X or whatever you want to call it)

By @dave_it_up

In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort experienced when someone holds two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. In medicine, this phenomenon often arises when new evidence challenges long-standing practices. Instead of adapting, some doctors experience discomfort, leading them to downplay or reject new information to maintain their sense of consistency. As psychologist Leon Festinger, who developed the theory of cognitive dissonance, once said: “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.”

This resistance to change has occurred throughout the history of medicine, from dismissing the importance of handwashing to ignoring the dangers of smoking. Today, we see the same dissonance with Long COVID. Many doctors are reluctant to fully recognize the long-term impacts of COVID-19, despite overwhelming evidence and patient reports. As cognitive dissonance prevents doctors from accepting new realities, millions of patients are left without the care they desperately need.

Historical Resistance in Medicine

One of the earliest examples of cognitive dissonance in the medical community was the resistance to hand hygiene in the mid-nineteenth century. Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician, discovered that requiring doctors to wash their hands between patients dramatically reduced infections and deaths in hospitals. Yet, the medical community at large rejected his findings because it implied that doctors were responsible for spreading disease—a concept that clashed with their perception of themselves as healers. It wasn’t until decades later, with the widespread acceptance of germ theory, that handwashing became standard practice in hospitals.

Similarly, when Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch developed germ theory, it met with significant skepticism. At the time, the dominant belief was that diseases were caused by “miasma” or bad air. Doctors resisted abandoning this familiar theory, even as new evidence showed that microorganisms were responsible for illnesses.

In the 1980s, cognitive dissonance surfaced again during the early stages of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Initially, the medical community viewed the disease as limited to certain marginalized populations, and many were slow to recognize the growing evidence that it was a much broader public health issue. The bias of previous experience and reluctance to confront new evidence delayed effective treatment and public health responses, just as it had in the past.

Modern Examples of Cognitive Dissonance

Even within the past 40 years, cognitive dissonance has continued to shape medical responses. One striking example is the slow acceptance of the bacterial cause of stomach ulcers. For decades, stress and spicy food were blamed for ulcers, even as mounting evidence suggested otherwise. When Australian scientist Barry Marshall demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori bacteria were the real cause, his findings were initially ignored. Marshall even resorted to infecting himself with the bacteria and developing ulcers to prove his point. Still, it took years for the medical community to shift its thinking and change treatment protocols.

The opioid crisis is another clear example. For years, pharmaceutical companies promoted opioids as safe and non-addictive, despite early warning signs of widespread addiction. Cognitive dissonance prevented many doctors from altering their prescribing habits, even as evidence mounted that overprescription was contributing to the crisis. The delay in adapting to new realities contributed to the devastating public health consequences we’re still dealing with today.

A more recent example is the shift in understanding the role of dietary fat and sugar in heart disease. For decades, the medical community emphasized low-fat diets, even as research increasingly showed that refined carbohydrates and sugar were the real culprits. The persistence of the low-fat narrative illustrates how hard it is to shake entrenched ideas, especially when they have shaped public health guidelines for years.

Long COVID: The New Frontier of Cognitive Dissonance

Now, we see cognitive dissonance at work again with Long COVID. Despite increasing evidence that COVID-19 can cause long-term symptoms—ranging from chronic fatigue and brain damage to cardiovascular and neurological issues—many doctors are reluctant to fully acknowledge its existence or scale. This dissonance arises from several factors.

First, doctors are trained to view viral infections as acute illnesses with clear beginnings and endings. The idea that a virus can trigger long-term, debilitating symptoms does not fit this framework, creating discomfort for many clinicians. It’s easier to dismiss or downplay Long COVID than to confront the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 may behave differently than other viruses.

Additionally, cognitive dissonance stems from previous experience with viruses. Many doctors didn’t observe long-term complications from previous viral outbreaks, such as SARS or MERS, leading them to assume that COVID-19 would follow a similar course. This bias towards established beliefs makes it difficult for some to accept the growing evidence that COVID-19 may have lasting effects on a significant number of patients.

There’s also a systemic element. Recognizing the scale of Long COVID would require healthcare systems to make significant changes, from allocating more resources to chronic care to investing in long-term research. Admitting the severity of Long COVID would necessitate a major overhaul of healthcare practices, which many find daunting. Instead of pushing for these changes, many doctors are minimizing the issue to avoid confronting the discomfort that comes with acknowledging such a widespread problem.

Overcoming Cognitive Dissonance in Medicine

Breaking the cycle of cognitive dissonance in the medical community is crucial for progress. Overcoming this resistance requires education, empathy, and systemic reform.

First, doctors must be willing to adapt their understanding as new evidence emerges. Continuing medical education programs should emphasize the importance of flexibility and adaptability in the face of evolving scientific knowledge. Training that teaches clinicians to challenge their own assumptions is key to overcoming cognitive dissonance.

Empathy also plays a critical role. Doctors need to listen to patients’ experiences and recognize that symptoms like those reported by Long COVID sufferers may not fit into traditional diagnostic frameworks. Patient-reported outcomes can offer valuable insights, even if they aren’t fully captured by clinical tests. Listening to patients with an open mind can help bridge the gap between new realities and outdated practices.

Finally, the healthcare system needs to be more agile. We need systems that respond more quickly to emerging evidence, update guidelines in real time, and ensure that resources are available for long-term research. Without these changes, cognitive dissonance will continue to hold back progress, and patients will suffer the consequences.

Cognitive dissonance has long been a barrier to progress in medicine. From rejecting handwashing in the nineteenth century to delaying responses to the opioid crisis in the twenty-first, this resistance to change has caused harm. Today, Long COVID is the latest frontier where cognitive dissonance is holding doctors back. By understanding the roots of this resistance and addressing it head-on through education, empathy, and systemic reform, we can begin to make progress in treating the millions of patients suffering from this complex condition. As we’ve seen throughout history, overcoming cognitive dissonance is the first step toward true medical progress.

[creature-wizard]

What books would you recommend for someone trying to get into spirit work with a background in divination, that's currently reading The Crooked Path and The Witch's Familiar?

When Prophecy Fails by Leon Festinger.

[boredtechnologist]

The PC port of "BioShock" takes players deep into the underwater city of Rapture, a dystopian vision built on the ideals of objectivism and unchecked scientific progress. Central to the narrative is the character of Atlas, who is later revealed to be Frank Fontaine. Fontaine’s intricate web of deception is a pivotal element of the game, exploring themes of manipulation, trust, and identity. This psychological analysis delves into the deceptive tactics employed by Fontaine and draws upon the insights of famous psychologists to understand the psychological mechanisms at play.

"BioShock" begins with the protagonist, Jack, crashing into the Atlantic Ocean and finding his way to Rapture. Guided by the seemingly benevolent Atlas, Jack embarks on a journey through the city, following Atlas’s instructions to survive and ostensibly to rescue Atlas's family. This narrative setup establishes a relationship of trust and dependency, which is later shattered when Atlas reveals his true identity as Frank Fontaine, a ruthless manipulator. This betrayal is not only a narrative twist but also a profound psychological shock that prompts an examination of deception and manipulation.

The deception employed by Fontaine can be examined through the lens of cognitive dissonance, a theory developed by Leon Festinger. Cognitive dissonance occurs when an individual experiences discomfort due to holding conflicting beliefs or behaviors. Throughout most of the game, players are led to trust Atlas, forming a bond based on mutual goals and empathy. When the truth about Fontaine's identity is revealed, players experience cognitive dissonance, as the trusted guide turns out to be the antagonist. This dissonance heightens the emotional impact of the deception, making the betrayal feel personal and profound.

Fontaine’s manipulation techniques can also be analyzed using Robert Cialdini’s principles of influence, particularly the principles of authority and reciprocity. Fontaine, as Atlas, presents himself as a figure of authority and a savior, which compels players to follow his guidance. He also employs reciprocity by offering help and protection, creating a sense of indebtedness that motivates players to assist him in return. These psychological principles explain how Fontaine effectively manipulates both Jack and the players, demonstrating the power of perceived authority and reciprocation in shaping behavior.

Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, particularly the concept of trust versus mistrust, provides further insights into the psychological impact of Fontaine’s deception. The early stages of the game build a foundation of trust between Jack and Atlas, akin to the development of trust in early childhood. When this trust is broken, it leads to a crisis similar to the mistrust experienced by infants who are betrayed by their caregivers. This violation of trust forces players to reassess their understanding of the game’s world and their own judgment, highlighting the fragility of trust in human relationships.

"BioShock" and the character of Frank Fontaine offer a rich exploration of psychological themes related to deception, manipulation, and trust. By examining Fontaine's tactics through the theories of Festinger, Cialdini, and Erikson, we gain a deeper understanding of the psychological mechanisms that make his betrayal so impactful. The game challenges players to confront the discomfort of cognitive dissonance, the power of manipulation, and the vulnerability of trust. This analysis not only enhances our appreciation of "BioShock" as a narrative experience but also underscores the intricate interplay of psychological factors that drive human behavior and relationships. Through its complex portrayal of deception, "BioShock" serves as a compelling study of the dark side of human psychology, leaving a lasting impression on players and scholars alike.

[irenemave]

thought

I've always been deeply fascinated by the concept of gatekeeping, and I find myself pondering why it seems to be such a common behavior among people. Gatekeeping manifests in various ways: individuals often protect their fandoms, interests, friendships, and even their musical tastes from outsiders or newcomers. For instance, I was particularly taken aback when I learned that some fans were gatekeeping Paul Mescal, an incredibly talented and emerging actor who is quickly becoming a household name. It struck me as utterly ridiculous that people felt the need to restrict access to someone so culturally significant.

Intrigued by this phenomenon, I delved into some research to understand the psychological underpinnings of gatekeeping and the human desire for individuality within a social context. This need for uniqueness arises from a fundamental tension between two opposing drives: the desire to stand out and the instinctual need to belong to a community. This duality is compelling because it highlights how these drives can conflict yet coexist harmoniously.

For instance, someone might proudly declare that they were the first person to discover and appreciate Harry Styles, which reflects their desire to assert their individuality and claim a unique identity. At the same time, this claim links them to the broader Harry Styles fandom, illustrating their belonging to a community. This interplay makes it clear that people have an intrinsic need to feel special and unique, which often manifests in behaviors designed to establish that distinctiveness.

Psychological research has shown that people often engage in gatekeeping behaviors to protect their sense of identity and the social value they derive from belonging to certain groups. In fact, studies suggest that gatekeeping is an adaptive mechanism to preserve group cohesion and authenticity. By excluding others, individuals can reinforce their own sense of worth and control, which may explain why people sometimes go to extreme lengths to protect their personal interests, such as fandoms, from what they perceive as "undesirable" outsiders.

However, despite this longing for individuality, conformity remains prevalent in our society. This raises the question: do we conform to fit in and be accepted by others, or do we conform out of fear of being ridiculed or ostracized? The struggle to maintain a unique identity while adhering to social norms is evident; even as individuals strive for distinctiveness, they often mask their true selves to align with group expectations. This tension between individualism and conformity is central to the idea of social identity theory, which posits that we derive part of our sense of self from the groups we belong to. The need for inclusion often outweighs the desire for individuality, leading to complex social behaviors.

Furthermore, the concept of social comparison plays a significant role in this dynamic. Humans have an inherent tendency to gauge how unique or similar they are to others. Social comparison theory, proposed by psychologist Leon Festinger, suggests that people determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others. This tendency may explain why some individuals seek to differentiate themselves from others by gatekeeping—whether it's restricting access to certain interests or asserting their superiority based on who "discovered" something first. In this way, gatekeeping is not only a mechanism for maintaining individuality but also a tool for elevating one's social standing.

I wonder if the desire for individual distinction and the drive for group conformity create an internal conflict, leading to a complex collision of motivations. It baffles me that our innate drives can simultaneously urge us to conform while also fostering a longing to be uniquely ourselves. This intricate balance between the need for acceptance and the quest for individuality is a captivating aspect of human behaviour that deserves deeper exploration.

[spaceintruderdetector]

When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group That Predicted the Destruction of the World is a classic work of social psychology by Leon Festinger, Henry Riecken, and Stanley Schachter published in 1956, which studied a small UFO religion in Chicago called the Seekers that believed in an imminent apocalypse and its coping mechanisms after the event did not occur. Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance can account for the psychological consequences of disconfirmed expectations. One of the first published cases of dissonance was reported in this book.

one of my favorite books.

When Prophecy Fails : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

[diegomatute1984]

[hermeticphoenix]

Ascended Masters

In mid-1950s, the automatic writing practitioner Dorothy Martin, aka Sister Thedra, received a communication from an entity calling itself Sananda – the “galactic name” of Jesus in the Ascended Master Teachings. After conveying spiritual teachings to Martin and her esoteric group, the Seekers, Sananda “revealed” that a global cataclysm would destroy the Earth in 1954. The enlightened Seekers, would, however, be rescued by a flying saucer and taken to Ananda’s planet.

Many Seekers quit their jobs, gave away their possessions, and waited for a flying saucer that never came to rescue them from a cataclysm that never happened.

This true story was described in the pioneering social psychology work When Prophecy Fails, by Leon Festinger, Henry Riecken, and Stanley Schachter, published in 1956. I re-read this book often and take it as a warning. Like Dorothy Martin, we, as practicing magicians, receive signs and communications from beyond the ordinary. One of our challenges is not falling prey to self-deception.

Why are we in danger of self-deception? It’s tempting to interpret any extraordinary experience as evidence of success at magic. Our subconsciousness reflects back what we give it – the principle that Robert Anton Wilson summarised as “what the thinker thinks, the prover proves.” If we read about Egyptian and Indian deities, our subconsciousness will dress our experiences with these symbols.

Add to this that the astral-mental regions are full of elementals and larvae that can pose as helpful guides to feed off our astral matrix. It is conceivable that the entity moving Dorothy Martin’s pen was one such mischievous elemental.

This deceptive allure is sometimes called “glamour.” Certain authors, like theosophist Alice Bailey, pay much attention to keeping safe of glamour in their writings.

One tactic for dealing with glamour is disregarding all unusual phenomena. In certain teaching orders, the prevalent practice is to invalidate any experience a student might have as “illusion,” “Maya,” “distraction” or some such. This is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. If we wish to study magic, we must study the effects of magic.

So let’s look at some practical ways in which we can address such phenomena. I would recommend, first of all, detached journaling of such phenomena. Then, their analysis with respect of whether they flatter and whether they impose themselves. The soul mirrors are an invaluable tools for their examination, and a good magic hygiene a way to prevent them.

One of my favourite esoteric authors, Paul Foster Case, wrote that the true Voice will never flatter and never command. I understand flattery to mean anything that arouses self-importance, such as suggesting that a person is exceptionally talented, successful, and chosen for a special mission or favour. Flattery may come in form of a messiah complex: a notion that the individual has been chosen to save others. Or, conversely, it may come as a belief that we will be spared something that “ordinary” people are due.

Let’s go back to the story of Dorothy Martin and see how it compares to these suggestions. First, Martin didn’t practice detached journaling, but took every transmission from “Sananda” at face value. She allowed “Sananda” to flatter her as a chosen “channel” of teachings beyond her level of spiritual maturity, and command her to prepare for the rapture on the threat of cataclysm. The Seekers as a group didn’t take their deteriorating familial, social and professional relationships as a warning that something was amiss. Finally, the group was open to any and all influences to the point of exhaustion, rather than consuming information mindfully and cultivating balance.

Developing resilience to glamour is a prerequisite to a sustainable and productive magic practice, and I hope that these musings will at least serve as a reminder of this, just as When Prophecy Fails serves as a reminder to me when I get a bit carried away.

This article is not written by me. I only shared it. To learn more about this article, you can click this link: https://perseusarcaneacademy.com/post…

[pigeonflavouredcake]

Previously in the cult section of my grimoire I referenced Steven Hassan's BITE model. I had no clue until recently that in 2020 he said some nasty shit about us trans babes on Twitter and that made me feel real fukin shitty so I scrambled to change it.

I'm still referencing the BITE model because, I'll admit, it's everywhere. If you research cults everyone you look at is bound to know about it one way or another but before i get into it I threw down the critique on the smarmy boy. That has given me a whole extra page of just criticism and it was worth the pain because i know so much more now.

I'm gonna keep going on the cult page, i'm not done yet. I will be adding some info on Leon Festinger and cognitive dissonance.

[calicojack1718]

The Pernicious Role of Cognitive Dissonance in our Social Intercourse

Cognitive dissonance helps survive mental crises but it also helps us maintain erroneous beliefs like racial enmity that then respond to racist dog whistles and cause otherwise "decent" white people to vote Republican.

You’re Endorsing Who? Lately, I’ve been a studying more and more on the role that cognitive dissonance plays in maintaining some of our worst social interactions, namely racism and sexism. The notion that more than half of white America voted for Trump just sticks in my craw. Knowing that just over half of white women voted for Trump just seems un-fucking-believable to me. That he gained voters…