Dorothy Martin, the Leader of a UFO Cult, Said That

Multiple Choice

Dorothy Martin, the leader of a UFO cult, said that she had been in contact with aliens after two of her prophecies had failed to occur. The aliens told her that the cult and Earth would be saved because the cult had acted so commendably. The alien message fulfilled the function of:

A) reinterpreting the failed prophesy and reducing cognitive dissonance.
B) encouraging the group's belief bias by explaining away the failed prediction.
C) using confirmation bias to ignore the negative evidence and maintain belief.
D) making an argument from possibility for the group's belief bias to be maintained.