When Prophecy Fails [Paperback]

Leon Festinger (Author), Henry RIECKEN (Author), Stanley SCHACHTER (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 2009

2009 reprint of 1956 First edition. When Prophecy Fails [1956] is a classic text in social psychology authored by Leon Festinger, Henry Riecken, and Stanley Schachter. It chronicles the experience of a UFO cult that believed the end of the world was at hand. In effect, it is a social and psychological study of a modern group that predicted the destruction of the world, and the adjustments made when the prediction failed to materialize. "The authors have done something as laudable as it is unusual for social psychologists. They espied a fleeting social movement important to a line of research they were interested in and took after it. They recruited a team of observers, joined the movement, and watched it from within under great difficulties until its crisis came and went. Their report is of interest as much for the method as for the substance."-Everett C. Hughes, The American Journal of Sociology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Martino Fine Books (November 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578988527
• ISBN-13: 978-1578988525
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 8.9 x 5.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,198,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Landmark Example of Participant-Observation Research and Much Much More... September 18, 2009

By Jayson Dibble

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

When Prophecy Fails is as relevant today as it was decades ago when a little doomsday cult predicted a flood that never came. I'm a professor in a social scientific-minded communication department. It seems that no matter what class I teach, I'm always using this book as an example. From a theoretical and research perspective, it's a great field study designed to test Festinger's ideas about cognitive dissonance. It also stands as a rigorous and meticulous example of the method of data collection via participant-observation. Readers will also appreciate the beginning material chronicling known failed predictions throughout history.

And the writing style is lucidly accessible and the detailed characterizations of the people involved and action unfolding are compelling enough for even the casual reader. I've always been a fan of Leon Festinger's work, but no matter one's personal givings about dissonance theory, it is tough not to appreciate the laborious efforts of this tireless and dedicated research team in producing this study. I admire those who are able to foresee real-world applications of their ideas in advance so as to be able to properly test them as the real-world events unfold. Festinger et al. were brilliant in this regard. A must-read for anyone interested in solid research methodologies and applied learning.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More relevant than ever December 21, 2009

By Winston Barclay

Format:Paperback

In the half-century since this breakthrough book appeared, the phenomena it so carefully describes continue unabated -- witness the "Left Behind" books and the 2012 brouhaha. In short, it documents how the factual failure of prophecy can counter-intuitively increase rather than weaken faith. When personal investment reaches a certain point of commitment, many people find it psychologically impossible to let go of apocalyptic belief, even with clear disproof. There must have been a mistake in the calculations. Or a god was "testing our faith." Or any of a number of rationalizations. In fact, we still have in our midst the remnants of the Millerite prophecy flop from the early 19th century. I recommend this book as a present to friends and family who are credulously receptive to prophesy talk -- if you can get them to read it.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a delight to read July 2, 2010

By CaRaPr

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't have a background in social psychology, therefore I cannot evaluate this book on its technical merits. However, I had a really good time reading it. As far as its theory is concerned, it is presented in a very clear manner and makes sense.