Ideas Travel - Origin of Dissonance Theory

The Theory of Cognitive Dissonance developed by Leon Festinger is a classic in the study of psychology well-known in academic circles world-wide. Not much, however, is known how Festinger got started. This monograph is the story of origin of the theory that may interest many as an article by the late Professor J. Prasad on rumor caused by the earthquake that occurred in north east India in 1935.