Bruce M. Hood

A neuroscientist identifies a high prevalence of belief in supernatural phenomena and superstition while explaining why people are innately subject to such beliefs, in an account that explores why superstitions promote societal bonding.

why we believe in the unbelievable

Supersense

“In an account chock full of real-world examples reinforced by experimental research, Hood’s marvelous book is an important contribution to the psychological literature that is revealing the actuality of our very irrational human nature.” — Science In the vein of Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, Mary Roach’s Spook, and Dan Ariely’s Predictably Irrational, The Science of Superstition uses hard science to explain pervasive irrational beliefs and behaviors: from the superstitious rituals of sports stars, to the depreciated value of houses where murders were committed, to the adoration of Elvis.

How the Developing Brain Creates Supernatural Beliefs

SuperSense

The Science of Superstition

Incrociare le dita, toccare ferro, evitare i gatti neri, sottostare a pregiudizi scaramantici, seguire rituali propiziatori continuano a essere pratiche molto diffuse. Viviamo in un'era tecnologica avanzatissima, eppure l'antica fiducia nelle credenze soprannaturali resiste, anche in persone che si ritengono scettiche e razionali. Lo psicologo cognitivista Bruce M. Hood ha formulato un'ipotesi rivoluzionaria per spiegare perché, nonostante ogni prova contraria (e malgrado la ricchissima letteratura scientifica, da Dawkins a Dennett, che pretende di smantellare razionalmente ogni tipo di credenza), gli esseri umani si affidino a forze soprannaturali. In "Supersenso", Hood dimostra come la nostra mente sia naturalmente incline a decifrare il mondo secondo schemi regolari, strutture e meccanismi ricorrenti, quando però è impossibile far coincidere le nostre intuizioni alla realtà del mondo, entra in gioco il supersenso. Il pensiero soprannaturale, che si concretizza in forme culturali e religiose, si genera dalla nostra propensione a presumere l'esistenza di dimensioni nascoste della realtà. Un processo che dall'individuo si estende alla società, dando vita a una rete di credenze condivise, indispensabile per la convivenza. "Supersenso" è una conversazione piacevole e brillante che, con l'autorevolezza del saggio scientifico, abbraccia discipline religiose, psicologiche e biologiche.

Supersenso

Daniel Gilbert

Daniel Schacter

Daniel Wegner

Psychology: European Edition is a landmark new textbook for introductory psychology modules. Written by world-renowned researchers who are also award-winning popular science authors, the book introduces students to the core areas of this broad and fast-moving field with irresistible enthusiasm, insight, and humour. Psychology: European Edition features: • Totally up-to-date research coverage and a modern neuroscientific approach • A storytelling style that deftly weaves the historical with the contemporary • An innovative approach that highlights how insights into the mind are often derived from slips and errors – what the authors term mindbugs • Comprehensive coverage without unmanageable detail • A full range of pedagogical features, including Hot science boxes on cutting-edge research, and The real world boxes on psychology in everyday life • Fully adapted and new content for European students written by an eminent psychologist at Bristol University, UK who is also a renowned communicator of science. The Psychology: European Edition online package includes an extensive array of high-quality materials for lecturers and students. Lecturer materials include: • 2500 question testbank: multiple choice and true/false questions adapted by Bruce Hood for the European Edition • Worth Digital Media Archive: 64 video clips of classic and more recent experiments, interviews with psychologists and 3D brain models • Lecturer manual: containing lecture suggestions, discussion questions, class exercises, essay questions with guideline answers, a media planner and a BPS syllabus matrix • PowerPoint slides complete with figures and tables for every chapter. Student materials include: • PsychSim 5: an online activity program placing students in simulated research as the experimenter or subject, and dynamic demonstrations illustrating key psychological principles • Multiple choice questions, video and web assignments and weblinks, written and compiled by Bruce Hood • Additional information on studying psychology for Scandinavian students.

Bruce M. Hood

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