The 7 laws of magical thinking : how irrational beliefs keep us happy, healthy, and sane / Matthew Hutson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hutson, Matt, 1978-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Magical thinking.

Physical Description:

viii, 296 pages ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Seven laws of magical thinking

Place of Publication:

New York : Hudson Street Press, [2012]

Summary:

"Psychologists have documented a litany of cognitive biases--misperceptions of the world--and explained their positive functions. Now, Matthew Hutson shows us that even the most hard-core skeptic indulges in magical thinking all the time--and it's crucial to our survival. Drawing on evolution, cognitive science, and neuroscience, Hutson shows us that magical thinking has been so useful to us that it's hardwired into our brains. It encourages us to think that we actually have free will. It helps make us believe that we have an underlying purpose in the world. It can even protect us from the paralyzing awareness of our own mortality. In other words, magical thinking is a completely irrational way of making our lives make rational sense. With wonderfully entertaining stories, personal reflections, and sharp observations, Hutson reveals our deepest fears and longings"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: We're all believers

Objects carry essences : cooties, contagion, and historicity

Symbols have power : spells, ceremonies, and the law of similarity

Actions have distant consequences : using superstition to make luck work for you

The mind knows no bounds : psychokinesis, ESP, and transcendence

The soul lives on : death is not the end of us

The world is alive : animals, objects, and gods are people, too

Everything happens for a reason : you've got a date with destiny

Epilogue: The world is sacred : a stab at a secular spirituality.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1594630879

9781594630873

OCLC:

726817980

Publisher Number:

99948264856