Wilful blindness
Subtitle: why we ignore the obvious at our peril
By: by Margaret Heffernan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2010
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 391
ISBN-13: 9781847377708
Subjects: Avoidance (Psychology); Social influence; Psychology; Influence; Social psychology; Social choice; Defense mechanisms (Psychology); Évitement (Psychologie); Influence sociale; Psychologie; Choix collectif; Mécanismes de défense; Psychologie sociale; Vermeidungsreaktion; Sozialpsychologie
Description: In this book, distinguished business woman and writer, Margaret Heffernan, examines the phenomenon of wilful blindness. Drawing on a wide array of sources from psychological studies and social statistics to interviews with the relevant protagonists she examines what it is about human nature which makes us so prone to wilful blindness. Taught from infancy to obey authority, and absorbing the importance of selective vision as a key social skill, humans exacerbate their tendency to become institutionalised by joining organisations which are run by like-minded people. Wilful Blindness looks at how hard-work and the information overload of the modern workplace add to the problem. And examines why whistleblowers and Cassandras are so very rare.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p.350 -374) and index.
Table of contents: title: Affinity and beyond; title: Love is blind; title: Dangerous convictions; title: The limits of your mind; title: The ostrich instruction; title: Just following orders; title: The cult of cultures; title: Bystanders; title: Out of sight, out of mind; title: DE-moralising work; title: Cassandra; title: See better.