Title: Annals of gullibility : why we get duped and how to avoid it /
Authors: Greenspan, Stephen
Publisher: Praeger,
Year: 2009
Subjects: Deception Psychological aspects.
Abstract: From the Publisher: The first book to provide a comprehensive look at the problem of gullibility, this groundbreaking work covers how and why we are fooled in areas that range from religion, politics, science, and medicine, to personal finance and relationships. First laying the groundwork by showing gullibility at play in the writings of historic authors we all know, developmental psychologist Stephen Greenspan follows with chapters that describe social duping across the gamut of human conduct. From people who pour bucks into investment scams, to those who follow the "faith" of scientologists, believe in fortunetellers, or champion unfounded "medicine" akin to snake oil, we all know someone who has been duped. A lot of us have been duped ourselves, out of naive trust. It's not a matter of low intelligence that moves us to, without evidence, believe the words of politicians, salesmen, academics, lawyers, military figures, or cult leaders, among others. Greenspan shows us the four broad reasons we become drawn into gullible behavior, and he presents ways people can become less gullible. Greenspan takes us into the vast realm of gullibility from the fictional Pied Piper to the historical Trojan Horse, then through modern-day military maneuvers, political untruths, police and criminal justice scams, and financial and love lies. While there have been earlier books focused on "liars" and manipulators of all sorts, this is the first to focus on the gullible who are their victims, and how the gullible can become less likely to be taken again.
Contents: Foreword / by Donald S. Connery -- Introduction -- Why a book on gullibility? -- What is gullibility? -- What are the causes of gullibility? -- Gullibility as a form of "foolish action" -- Developmental factors in gullibility and its diminution -- Is gullibility unique to humans? -- Gullibility in literature and folk tales -- Pinocchio was one gullible puppet -- Dangerous gullibility: Little Red Riding Hood and the Pied Piper -- The emperor's new clothes and the power of group modeling -- Mark Twain, chronicler of a credulous age -- Was Gulliver gullible? -- Gullibility as a theme for Herman Melville -- Othello and other Shakespearean dupes -- Gullibility in religion -- Samson and other Bible stories -- Belief in God and supernatural phenomena -- Satan as a manipulator of the gullible -- Believers in end-of-the world predictions -- The gullibility of those who believe in mediums -- Gullibility in anti-semitism -- Christian Science as a magnet for gullibles -- -- Gullibility in war and politics --