Everyday Irrationality: How Pseudo-scientists, Lunatics and the Rest of Us Systematically Fail to Think Rationally Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

Everyday Irrationality: How Pseudo-scientists, Lunatics and the Rest of Us Systematically Fail to Think Rationally Book

Robyn Dawes defines irrationality as adhering to beliefs that are inherently self-contradictory, not just incorrect, self-defeating, or the basis of poor decisions. Such beliefs are unfortunately common. Witness two examples: the belief that child sexual abuse can be diagnosed by observing symptoms typically resulting from such abuse, rather than symptoms that differentiate between abused and non-abused children; and the belief that a physical or personal disaster can be understood by studying it alone in-depth rather than by comparing the situation in which it occurred to similar situations where nothing bad happened. This book first demonstrates how such irrationality results from ignoring obvious comparisons. Such neglect is traced to associational and story-based thinking, while true rational judgment requires comparative thinking. Strong emotion--or even insanity--is one reason for making automatic associations without comparison, but as the author demonstrates, a lot of everyday judgment, unsupported professional claims, and even social policy is based on the same kind of irrationality.Read More

from£21.07 | RRP: £19.50
* Excludes Voucher Code Discount Also available Used from £4.14
  • 081336552X
  • 9780813365527
  • Robyn Mason Dawes
  • 1 April 2001
  • Westview Press Inc
  • Hardcover (Book)
  • 240
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you click through any of the links below and make a purchase we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Click here to learn more.

Would you like your name to appear with the review?

We will post your book review within a day or so as long as it meets our guidelines and terms and conditions. All reviews submitted become the licensed property of www.find-book.co.uk as written in our terms and conditions. None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.

All form fields are required.