Everyday Irrationality: How Pseudo- Scientists, Lunatics, And The Rest Of Us Systematically Fail To Think Rationally [Paperback]

Preface -- Irrationality Is Abundant -- Irrationality Has Consequences -- Irrationality: Emotional, Cognitive, Both, or Neither? -- Irrationality as a Reasonable Response to an Incomplete Specification -- Probabilistic Rationality and Irrationality -- Three Specific Irrationalities of Probabilistic Judgment -- Good Stories -- Connecting Ourselves with Others, Without Recourse to a Good Story -- Sexual Abuse Hysteria -- Figure Versus Ground (Entry Value Versus Default Value) -- Rescuing Human RationalityRobyn 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. This book demonstrates how such irrationality results from ignoring obvious comparisons, while instead falling into associational and story-based thinking. Strong emotionor even insanityis 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 everyday irrationality.Robyn Dawes demonstrates how irrationality results from ignoring obvious comparisons, while instead falling into associational and story-based thinking. He also demonstrates that a lot of everyday judgment, unsupported professional claims, and even social policy is based on everyday irrationality.USCopyright ? 2001 Taylor & Francis