Sometimes people like to believe in their beliefs however absurd it sounds and however contradictory the facts and evidence are to their beliefs. And these absurd beliefs range from the U.S. presidency to coronavirus, from mars colonization to time travel, and many more.

Why do we cling to belief?

There are two reasons:1) we cling to beliefs that resonate with our sense of "self".2) we cling to beliefs that resonate with our social groups.One of the reasons was the cult member's personality resonated with the personality of the Seekers. And the second reason being the group of Seekers altogether had this unbreakable belief in their idea.

What factors lead us to cling to our beliefs

Let's take a look at the work of social psychologist Leon Festinger.In the 1950s, Festinger joined a cult known as the "Seekers"

What motivates such stubborn beliefs

It is easy when our trust is broken. We see the truth from a bird-view, but when our idea resonates with the group, it becomes much harder to break the chain of beliefs and see the reality. This is because our group gives us a sense of belonging. This idea is taken from the book 'The power of Us' written by Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer.

A sense of belonging

Seekers were a group of people in the 1950s who were believed to have been warned by the aliens that a massive flood would swap the western seaboard of the U.S. on December 21, 1954. They published this prophecy in the local newspaper. And Festinger wanted to inspect what this cult actually was, but more than that, Festinger wanted to know what happens when the day arrives and this prophecy comes to a final end(whether it goes true or fails).

Who are these "Seekers"?

The prophecy turned out to be a huge failure. Nothing happened to the western coast that day. To this, the members of the cult should have abandoned the cult, right?

The decisive day: December 21, 1954

This question arises for sure.This is because when their beliefs were put to an extreme end, the Seekers went through a mental phase called Cognitive Dissonance. This put them in a grave situation and to reduce this discomfort, they could respond in one of two ways: whether they have to accept the change or try to defend it even after witnessing all the evidence.To defend this belief, they broadcasted that the faith of the world grew too strong that god saved them from the apocalypse.

But Why?

These ideas provide us with a lot of information about human psychology.

A “fascinating” (Charles Duhigg) and “must-read” (Annie Duke) “page-turning package” (Publishers Weekly starred review) for understanding identity and showing how our groups have a powerful influence on our feelings, beliefs, and behavior—and can inspire both personal change and social movements. If you're like most people, you probably believe that your identity is stable. But in fact, your identity is constantly changing—often outside your conscious awareness and sometimes even against your wishes—to reflect the interests of the groups you belong to. In The Power of Us, psychologists Dominic Packer and Jay Van Bavel integrate their own cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to explain how identity really works and how to harness its dynamic nature to: Boost cooperation and productivity Overcome bias Escape from echo chambers Break political gridlock Foster dissent and mobilize for change Lead effectively Galvanize action to address persistent global problems Along the way, they explore such seemingly unrelated phenomena as why a small town in Germany spent decades divided by shoes, why beliefs persist after they are disproven, how working together synchronizes our brains, what makes selfish people generous, why effective leaders say “we” a lot, and how playing soccer can reduce age-old conflicts. Understanding how identity works allows people to take control, moving beyond wondering, “Who am I?” to answer instead, “Who do I want to be?” Packed with fascinating insights, vivid case studies, and a wealth of pioneering research, The Power of Us will change the way you understand yourself—and the people around you—forever.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

books

Books

A “fascinating” (Charles Duhigg) and “must-read” (Annie Duke) “page-turning package” (Publishers Weekly starred review) for understanding identity and showing how our groups have a powerful influence on our feelings, beliefs, and behavior—and can inspire both personal change and social movements.   If you're like most people, you probably believe that your identity is stable. But in fact, your identity is constantly changing—often outside your conscious awareness and sometimes even against your wishes—to reflect the interests of the groups you belong to.   In The Power of Us, psychologists Dominic Packer and Jay Van Bavel integrate their own cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to explain how identity really works and how to harness its dynamic nature to:<ul><li>Boost cooperation and productivity</li><li>Overcome bias</li><li>Escape from echo chambers</li><li>Break political gridlock</li><li>Foster dissent and mobilize for change</li><li>Lead effectively</li><li>Galvanize action to address persistent global problems</li></ul>  Along the way, they explore such seemingly unrelated phenomena as why a small town in Germany spent decades divided by shoes, why beliefs persist after they are disproven, how working together synchronizes our brains, what makes selfish people generous, why effective leaders say “we” a lot, and how playing soccer can reduce age-old conflicts.    Understanding how identity works allows people to take control, moving beyond wondering, “Who am I?” to answer instead, “Who do I want to be?”  Packed with fascinating insights, vivid case studies, and a wealth of pioneering research, The Power of Us will change the way you understand yourself—and the people around you—forever.