Book

Greenspan, Stephen.

Annals of gullibility : why we get duped and how to avoid it / Stephen Greenspan ; foreword by Donald S. Connery.

Westport, Conn. : Praeger Publishers, 2009.

xvi, 199 pages ; 25 cm

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.

Deception -- Psychological aspects.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-196) and index.

Foreward / by Donald S. Connery -- Introduction -- Why a book about gullibility? -- What is 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: Red Riding Hood and the Pied Piper -- 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 -- The Trojan Horse and military deception -- Groupthink in the planning of the Vietnam war -- Gullibility in the buildup to the Second Iraq War -- Gullibility on the political right -- Gullibility on the political left -- Many people who accept conspiracy theories are gullible -- Suicide bombers are super gullible -- Spin doctoring and believing semi-lies -- Gullibility in criminal justice -- Gullibility among murder accomplices -- A trial as a test of a jury's gullibility -- Gullibility of lawyers -- Gullibility of crime scare stories -- Gullibile application of redemptive and mental health notions -- Gullibility in the interrogation situation -- Gullibility of child witnesses -- Gullibility in science and academia -- The sokal hoax has exposed the gullibility of scholars -- Gullibility in he art world -- Cold fusion as an example of scientific gullibility -- Academic hiring decisions -- Gullibility among psychotherapists and their clients -- Alternative health practices -- Rasputin and facilitated communication -- Gullibility in vulnerable populations -- False confessions in people with brain damage -- Social vulnerability of young people -- Frail elderly and people with Alzheimer's -- People with intellectual disability -- Gullible crime victims -- Sexual exploitation of people with disabilities -- Gullibility in finance and relationships -- Choice of entertainment and vacation purchases -- Inheritance scams -- Tulipmania and other investment bubbles -- Believing rumors -- People interviewed by journalists -- Gullibility in sexual relationships -- Falling for "April Fool" and other practical jokes -- Believing family members -- Questions about gullibility -- Is gullibility a form of stupidity? -- How does affect contribute to gullible behavior? -- Does low energy contribute to gullibility? -- How does self-deception affect gullibility? -- Should gullible people be blamed for being gullible? -- Is gullibility a personality trait? -- Is gullibility an absence of autonomy? -- Is gullibility part of the legal definition of incompetence? -- Becoming less gullible -- Make it a point to avoid acting impulsively -- Engineer situations that reduce the likelihood of gullible outcomes -- Know one's limitations -- Seek to become more socially intelligent -- Develop a repertoire of disengagement tactics -- Help young people to be less gullible -- Cultivate skepticism but not cynicism -- Gullibility can decrease as one becomes older and wiser.

Table of contents

Table of contents only

2008033231

9780313362163

0313362165

236329653

1

0

1

801126

1

1

177.3 Greenspa