Imaginary Realities : The Psychology of Everyday Delusions.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (209 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 2026.

Summary:

Why do so many people do crazy things on a daily basis? Why does the world so often seem to be flying off the rails under the influence of people who have bizarre beliefs but have managed to attain power? Imaginary Realities provides answers to these question from a psychological perspective. Although others' beliefs and motivations often seem delusional to us, people's imaginary realities allow them to make sense of the world and function effectively in it. This book examines the psychology of imaginary realities with respect to anxieties, morality, joy, humor, and several issues threatening the world today, including ecological destruction, AI, and biomedical interventions.

Contents:

Cover

Title page

Copyright page

Contents

Preface

1 The Imagination of a Cultural Animal

2 The Elements, Origins, Costs, and Benefits of Imaginary Realities

3 Anxiety-Prone Threat Detectors: Why We Imagine the World as Full of Threats

4 Moral Egoism: Imagining Ourselves on the Side of the Angels

5 Joy: Imagining Bliss

6 Humor: Reinforcing and Puncturing Imaginary Realities

7 Imaginary Realities and the Human Future: Niche Destruction, AI, and Lifespan Extension

Notes

References

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

0-19-781739-4

OCLC:

1578076064