Annals of gullibility
Subtitle: why we get duped and how to avoid it
By: Stephen Greenspan ; foreword by Donald S. Connery.
Publisher: Praeger Publishers
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Westport, Conn
Language: eng
Number of pages: 199
ISBN-13: 9780313362163
Subjects: Deception -- Psychological aspects
Description: 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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Foreward / by Donald S. Connery; title: Introduction; title: Why a book about gullibility?; title: What is gullibility?; title: Gullibility is a form of "foolish action"; title: Developmental factors in gullibility and its diminution; title: Is gullibility unique to humans?; title: What are the causes of gullibility?; title: Gullibility in literature and folk tales; title: Pinocchio was one gullible puppet; title: Red Riding Hood and Pied Piper; title: Emperor's new clothes; title: Gullibility in Mark Twain; title: Was Gulliver gullible?; title: Melville's "confidence man"; title: Shakespeare on gullibility; title: Gullibility in religion; title: Samson and other Bible stories; title: Belief in God and supernatural phenomena; title: Satan as a manipulator of the gullible; title: Believers in end-of-the world predictions; title: Those who believe in mediums; title: Anti-semitism as an obsession for gullibles; title: Christian Science as a gullibility magnet; title: Gullibility in war and politics; title: The Trojan Horse and military deception; title: Vietnam and the march of folly; title: The Second Iraq War; title: Gullibility on the right; title: Gullibility on the left; title: Suicide bombers : psychotic or super gullible?; title: Believing conspiracy theories; title: Spin doctoring and believing semi-lies; title: Gullibility in criminal justice; title: Gullible murder accomplices; title: A trial as a test of a jury's gullibility; title: Gullibility of lawyers; title: Believing crime scares; title: Naïve notions of criminal redemption; title: The interrogation situation; title: Child witnesses and gullible interrogators; title: Gullibility in science and academia; title: The sokal hoax; title: The art world; title: Cold fusion; title: Academic hiring decisions; title: Gullibility in therapists and patients; title: Alternative health practices; title: Facilitated communication; title: Gullibility in vulnerable populations; title: False confessions in people with brain damage; title: Social vulnerability of young people; title: Frail elderly and people with Alzheimer's; title: People with developmental impairments; title: Gullibility in autism; title: Brain damage and syndromes; title: Gullibility in finance and relationships; title: Choice of vacation destinations; title: Inheritance scams; title: Believing rumors; title: Subjects of journalists; title: Sexual relationships; title: Practical jokes; title: Tulipmania and investment crazes; title: Believing family members; title: Questions about gullibility; title: Is gullibility a form of stupidity?; title: Is affect the key to understanding gullibility?; title: Does low energy contribute to gullibility?; title: Does self-deception affect gullibility?; title: Should gullible people be blamed for being gullible?; title: Is gullibility a personality trait?; title: Is gullibility an absence of autonomy?; title: Is gullibility part of the legal definition of incompetence; title: Becoming less gullible; title: Make it a point to avoid acting impulsively; title: Engineer situations that reduce the likelihood of gullible outcomes; title: Know one's limitations; title: Seek to become more socially intelligent; title: Work up a repertoire of disengagement tactics; title: Help young people to be less gullible; title: Cultivate skepticism but not cynicism; title: Gullibility can decrease as one becomes older and wiser.