1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910820968403321

Autore

Reznek Lawrie

Titolo

Delusions and the madness of the masses [[electronic resource] /] / Lawrie Reznek

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Lanham, : Rowman & Littlefield, c2010

ISBN

9781442206052

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (255 p.)

Disciplina

302/.17

Soggetti

Crowds

Collective behavior

Hallucinations and illusions

Social psychology

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Contents; Acknowledgments; Introduction: Delusions about Delusions; Chapter 1. The Translation Paradox; Chapter 2. The Incorrigibility Paradox; Chapter 3. Is Everyone Mad?; Chapter 4. The Community Paradox; Chapter 5. Communal Madness:Religious and Secular; Chapter 6. The Rationality Paradox; Chapter 7. The Evolution of Error; Chapter 8. Delusions Are Dangerous; Conclusion: The Sleep of Reason; Notes; Bibliography; Index; About the Author

Sommario/riassunto

According to the author, there is an alarming inclination for people to succumb to delusional thinking. Contrary to popular opinion, such thought processes are not limited to the mentally ill. Instead, there is growing evidence to show that large segments of the public harbor a wide variety of delusions, none of which are innocent, and many of which are pushing our societies to the brink of war. This book aims to understand the nature of delusions and how they are generated. By providing a deeper understanding of delusions, the author challenges the assumption that a whole community cannot be