When Prophecy Fails [Paperback]

Leon Festinger (Author), Henry W. Riecken (Author), Stanley Schachter (Author), Elliot Aronson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2009

In 1954 Leon Festinger, a brilliant young experimental social psychologist in the process of outlining a new theory of human behavior - the theory of cognitive dissonance - and his colleagues infiltrated a cult who believed the end of the world was only months away. How would these people feel when their prophecy remained unfulfilled? Would they admit the error of their prediction, or would they readjust their reality to make sense of the new circumstances?

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Pinter & Martin Ltd; 1st edition (January 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905177194
• ISBN-13: 978-1905177196
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,189,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 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 (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When Prophecy Fails (Paperback)

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.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

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

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Winston Barclay (Iowa City, IA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When Prophecy Fails (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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

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

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CaRaPr - See all my reviews

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This review is from: When Prophecy Fails (Paperback)

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.