Clear thinking with psychology
Clear thinking with psychology: separating sense from nonsense John Ruscio,
Publisher: Belmont, CA : Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning, c2002.
ISBN: 053453659X
DDC: 150.72
LCC: BF77
Edition: (alk. paper)
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (p. 203-215) and index.
Empowering Students to Evaluate Claims for Themselvesxv
--1.Distinguishing Science from Pseudosciencexv --2.Teaching
Scientific Reasoning Skillsxv --3.Using Memorable Examplesxvi
--4.Exploring Material Relevant to Many Coursesxvi --Broad Coverage
Is Complemented by Electronic Resourcesxvi --Evaluating Sources
Whether in Print or on the World Wide Webxix --Sharpening and
Levelingxx --Criteria for Evaluating the Quality of Sourcesxxi
--Popularityxxi --The Internet as a Research Toolxxiii --The Content
of Web Sitesxxiii --Internet Searchesxxiv --Thinking for Yourselfxxv
--Chapter 1Introduction: Pseudoscience and the Need for Clear
Thinking1 --Separating Sense from Nonsense3 --Studying Human
Reasoning3 --Systematic Errors Reveal Our Mental Shortcuts4 --The
Pros and Cons of Relying on Shortcuts5 --Thinking Clearly5 --Applying
the Tools of Clear Thinking6 --Ten Characteristics of Pseudoscience6
--1.Outward Appearance of Science6 --2.Absence of Skeptical Peer
Review7 --3.Reliance on Personal Experience7 --4.Evasion of Risky
Tests8 --5.Retreats to the Supernatural8 --6.The Mantra of Holism8
--7.Tolerance of Inconsistencies9 --8.Appeals to Authority9
--9.Promising the Impossible9 --10.Stagnation10 --Part 1Deception11
--Part 2Self-Deception11 --Part 3Psychological Tricks12 --Part
4Decision Making and Ethics13 --Part 1Deception --Chapter 2Language:
Misleading and Evasive Tactics16 --Weasel Words and Framing Effects16
--Cooperation and Conversational Maxims20 --Quality: The Myth of
"Health Food"20 --Quantity: Suggestive and Leading Questions21
--Relation: The Irrelevant Language of "Alternative" Health Care23
--Manner: The Emptiness of "Holism"25 --Closing Thoughts: False
Dichotomies and the Slippery Slope27 --Chapter 3Magic: The Allure of
Exotic Rituals, Fantasy, and Mysticism30 --Believing in Magic31
--Wishful Thinking31 --Belief in a Vitalistic Energy33 --Putting the
"Human Energy Field" to the Test34 --The Creation of Superstitions
and Exotic Rituals35 --Superstitions as Representative Thinking37
--Maintenance of Superstitions38 --Abuses of Science in Favor of
Mysticism39 --The Magic of Modern Technology40 --Chapter 4Authority:
Appeals to Blind Obedience42 --Milgram's Obedience Research42
--Understanding Milgram's Results45 --When Should We Obey?46
--Untrustworthy Authorities47 --The "Ancient Wisdom" Fallacy47 --The
Popularity Fallacy48 --The Fallacy of Self-Proclaimed Expertise48
--Political Lobbying as a Warning Flag50 --The National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine50 --The Dietary Supplement
Health and Education Act52 --Part 2Self-Deception --Chapter
5Experience: The Limitations of Testimonials as Evidence56
--Self-Deception57 --Competing Explanations58 --The Placebo Effect58
--Spontaneous Remission60 --The Disease Ran Its Natural Course60
--The Cyclical Nature of Many Diseases61 --Misdiagnosis61 --The
"Worried Well"61 --Symptomatic Relief62 --Hedged Bets62 --Derivative
Benefits62 --Psychological Distortion of Reality63 --The Bottom
Line64 --Probabilistic General Principles65 --Chapter 6Plausibility:
All Beliefs Are Not Created Equal68 --Magnet Therapy: Claims Versus
Reality69 --Magnets and Water70 --Magnets and the Human Body71 --The
Strength of "Therapeutic" Magnets71 --Homeopathy: Empty Promises72
--The Law of Similars72 --The Law of Infinitesimals73 --Evasive
Maneuver #1Lowering the Dilution Factor74 --Evasive Maneuver #2"Water
Memory"74 --Alien Abductions: A Modern-Day Misunderstanding75 --The
Contamination Effect75 --Dull Fantasies and Contradictions77 --Sleep
Paralysis78 --Chapter 7Association: Establishing and Interpreting
Correlations80 --Presuming an Association Through Mere Examples82
--Presuming an Association Through a Lone Rate83 --Interpreting a
Correlation84 --Causal Relationships Between Correlated Events84
--Three Conditions for Causality85 --Examining Patterns Across
Multiple Correlations86 --Beware the Media88 --Do Horoscopes Predict
Anything?90 --Chapter 8Science: Evaluating Claims to Knowledge92
--Scientific Reasoning93 --Falsifiability93 --Logic94
--Comprehensiveness95 --Honesty95 --Replicability96 --Sufficiency97
--Antiscientific Beliefs: Postmodernism and Other Fallacious Ideas98
--Postmodernism98 --The "What Works Is Different for Everybody"
Fallacy101 --The "Probability Is Irrelevant to the Unique Individual"
Fallacy102 --The Rejection of Science as a Pseudoscientist's Dream103
--Part 3Psychological Tricks --Chapter 9Risk: Biased Perceptions and
the Media Paradox106 --Vividness106 --Availability108 --The Media
Paradox109 --Falling Airplane Parts Revisited111 --A Radical
Conjecture112 --Mindful Attention to Media Reports113 --Chapter
10Belief: Confirmation Bias, Post-Hockery, and Overconfidence115
--Discovery Versus Verification: The Importance of Prediction116
--The Bible Code116 --The "Hot Hand" in Basketball118 --Confirmation
Bias120 --The Rorschach Ink Blot Test121 --Graphology: Handwriting
Analysis122 --Polygraphy: The "Lie Detector" Test122 --Absent or
Misleading Feedback125 --Hindsight Bias and Overconfidence126
--Foiling Post-Hockery127 --Answers to the Confidence Quiz128
--Chapter 11Schemes: The Seductiveness of Grand Conspiracy
Theories129 --The Three Roles in a Conspiracy Theory129
--Conspirators129 --Saviors130 --Dupes130 --A Grand Conspiracy
Theory: "Area 51"131 --The Role of the Media131 --Thinking Clearly
About Area 51132 --Problems Facing Any Grand Conspiracy Theory133
--The "Hidden Cure" Conspiracy134 --Intense Competition Is Ignored135
--The Alleged Profit Motive Makes No Sense135 --Science Is Never
Going to Cure All Disease136 --Monumental Callousness Is Presumed136
--Why Does the Theory of Hidden Cures Persist?137 --Challenging
Conspiracies138 --Chapter 12Illusions: The Perception of Control140
--The Illusion of Control141 --The Certainty Effect142 --The Dangers
of Illusions of Control143 --Belief in the "Just World" and the
Blaming of Victims143 --Self-Blame144 --Learned Helplessness145 --The
Downside to Mental Imagery145 --The "Choose to Be Healthy" Fallacy146
--Prayer and Religion-Motivated Medical Neglect148 --Part 4Decision
Making and Ethics --Chapter 13Assessment: Classical Decision
Theory152 --Mammograms154 --Classical Decision Theory155 --The Impact
of Low Base Rates156 --Lie Detection157 --Two Different Perspectives
on Accuracy158 --The Impact of Selection Ratios159 --Nutritional
Scams160 --Validity160 --Base Rates161 --Selection Ratio162
--Protecting Against Professional Misconduct163 --Chapter
14Decisions: Clinical Versus Statistical Approaches165 --Two
Approaches to Decision Making166 --Why Is the Statistical Approach
Superior?167 --Validity168 --Units of Measurement168 --Reliability169
--Redundancy170 --Regression Effects171 --Adherence to the Clinical
Approach172 --Knowledge Deficit172 --Fear of Computers172 --Fear of
Unemployment173 --Belief in the Efficacy of One's Judgment173
--Theoretical Identifications174 --The "Dehumanizing" Feel of
Statistical Equations175 --Mistaken Conception of Ethics175
--Embracing Statistical Decisions176 --Pro/Con Lists176
--Professional Practice176 --Statistics Do Apply to the Individual178
--Chapter 15Ethics: The Use and Promotion of Unverified Treatments179
--Overlooking the Obvious in Favor of the Unlikely179 --Repressed
Memories and Multiple Personalities180 --Cost-Benefit Ratio186
--Skewed Projections of Benefit and Harm186 --The Overlooked
Opportunity Costs187 --Truly Informed Consent and Patient Autonomy188
--The "Health Freedom" Fallacy190 --Chapter 16Tools: Suggestions for
Clear Thinking192 --The Dangers of a Pseudoscientific Approach to
Health Care194 --Thinking Clearly195 --Reconceptualize Issues in
Multiple Ways195 --Beware of Wishful Thinking196 --Consider the
Legitimacy of Authorities196 --Seek Risky Tests, Not Weak
Confirmation196 --Don't Be Misled by Testimonials196 --Keep in Touch
with Reality197 --Remember That Correlation Does Not Imply
Causation197 --Beware the Media Paradox197 --Formulate Multiple
Working Hypotheses198 --Ask What Can Be Predicted198 --Challenge
Conspiracy Theories198 --Watch Out for Illusions of Control198 --Be
Careful Not to Blame Victims199 --Consider Both Positive and Negative
Consequences of a Claim199 --Pay Attention to Base Rates199 --Accept
Some Mistakes in Order to Minimize Error199 --Take Advantage of the
Power of Statistical Decision Making200 --Don't Misinterpret
Regression Toward the Mean200 --Consider Both Costs and Benefits200
--Practice Scientific Reasoning201 --A Closing Thought on Wishful
Thinking201.
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