Présentation de l'éditeur
50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology uses popular myths as a vehicle for helping students and laypersons to distinguish science from pseudoscience. Uses common myths as a vehicle for exploring how to distinguish factual from fictional claims in popular psychology Explores topics that readers will relate to, but often misunderstand, such as ′opposites attract′, ′people use only 10% of their brains′, and ′handwriting reveals your personality′ Provides a ′mythbusting kit′ for evaluating folk psychology claims in everyday life Teaches essential critical thinking skills through detailed discussions of each myth Includes over 200 additional psychological myths for readers to explore
Contains an Appendix of useful Web Sites for examining psychological myths Features a postscript of remarkable psychological findings that sound like myths but that are true Engaging and accessible writing style that appeals to students and lay readers alike
Revue de presse
"Written in an accessible and entertaining style, the book examines a wide range of myths from all areas of psychology. . . Accordingly, the book is a much–needed antidote to the avalanche of misinformation that masquerades as psychology and should be required reading for anyone with a passing interest in psychology or, for that matter, the human condition." (Department of Psychology, 1 June 2011)
"Not only does the book illustrate just how often our intuitions are wrong, it also shows us how – in comparison to the truth – uninteresting they are. Shallow judgments imply over–confidence, assumption and monotomy. Assuming that you know something prior to giving any consideration to where that knowledge comes from is a mistake for many reasons but perhaps most of all because such presumption precludes surprise. To be surprised – shocked, provoked, scandalized – is a pleasure. . . 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology tells us that we need urgently to deal with our tendency to judge books by their covers. And just maybe, rather than considering any idealistic appeal to our rationalism, we should deal with this problem by considering an inversion similar to Kubrick′s: for now at least, when it comes to presenting discoveries about the mind, we ought not to try in vain to change our nature – our tendency towards prejudice – but instead do something simpler: tell better stories, and design better covers." (The Skeptic, 2011)
"As you can tell from my reactions above I found this a very informative book and I′m only touching on particular things with my comments. If you′re a writer, this book should be read post–haste so you don′t keep repeating things you thought were true and obviously aren′t. For everyone else, the revelations should make you sit up and take heed of what not to be taken in by." (SFCrowsnest.co.uk, 1 May 2011)
"This would be an ideal book to have in offices where people have to spend some time waiting for appointments." (Education Digest, November 2010)
"This book would suit educators involved in study skills and critical thinking courses who might be looking for some new angles with which to update or spruce up their courses. It should be equally digestible to the A–level student and the first–year undergraduate." (PLATH, December 2010)
"I love 50 Great Myths and used it in my winter seminar. This should be on every psychologist′s shelf." (Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, October 2010)
"This is a refreshing and fun look at many of the concepts that have been accepted as fact by our popular culture." (Book End Babes, September 01, 2010)
"At the end of each sub–section covering an individual myth is a list of anti–factoids about related matters and their factual antidotes. By this means a considerable range of topics is covered." (Education Review, July 2010)
"Maybe we should pay more attention to books like 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: Shattering Widespread Misconceptions about Human Nature. The four psychology professors who authored this enli
