The World-Will-End-on-June-7 group got together on June 7 to pray as the world ended. The next day the world did not end. The leader of the group said, "Our prayers saved the world." What process was responsible for the attitude change?

Question

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The leader's original belief that the world will end on June 7 was inconsistent with the reality that the world did not end. This creates a cognitive dissonance, which is an uncomfortable state of psychological tension. To reduce this tension, the leader justified their belief by saying that their prayers saved the world, effectively changing their attitude towards the situation.

The World-Will-End-On-June-7 Group Got Together on June 7 to Pray