Believing in magic
Subtitle: the psychology of superstition
By: Stuart A. Vyse
Edition: Updated edition.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 316
ISBN-13: 9780199996926
Subjects: Superstition
Description: "While we live in a technologically and scientifically advanced age, superstition is as widespread as ever. Not limited to just athletes and actors, superstitious beliefs are common among people of all occupations, educational backgrounds, and income levels. In this fully updated edition of Believing in Magic, renowned superstition expert Stuart Vyse investigates our tendency towards these irrational beliefs. Superstitions, he writes, are the natural result of several psychological processes, including our human sensitivity to coincidence, a penchant for developing rituals to fill time (to battle nerves, impatience, or both), our efforts to cope with uncertainty, the need for control, and more. In a new Introduction, Vyse discusses important developments and the latest research on jinxes, paranormal beliefs, and luck. He also distinguishes superstition from paranormal and religious beliefs and identifies the potential benefits of superstition for believers. He examines the research to demonstrate how we can better understand complex human behavior. Although superstition is a normal part of our culture, Vyse argues that we must provide alternative methods of coping with life's uncertainties by teaching decision analysis, promoting science education, and challenging ourselves to critically evaluate the sources of our beliefs"--

"In this fully updated edition of Believing in Magic, renowned superstition expert Stuart Vyse investigates our tendency towards these irrational beliefs"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-308) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Believing in magic; title: The superstitious person; title: Superstition and coincidence; title: Superstitious thinking; title: Growing up superstitious; title: Is superstition abnormal, irrational, or neither?; title: A magical view of the world.