1st Edition
Misperceptions of the Social World What We Get Wrong About Sex, Race, Money, and Violence
This volume elucidates some of the very concrete ways in which Americans misperceive the social world and how we are all subject to biases and illusions. As such, it challenges the assumption in much social science theorizing that people are rational actors by exploring how the machinations of cognition, the effect of our past experiences, the news, and social media feeds all factor into our opinion-making process. The chapters highlight common, and often incorrect, perceptions of population diversity, sexual behavior, the economy, health, and relationships. It shows how correcting these misperceptions of the social world can lead to real behavioral and attitudinal change.
Section One: Population Innumeracy
Chapter 1: Racial Minorities
Chapter 2: LGBT
Chapter 3: Immigrants
Chapter 4: Law Enforcement Workers
Section Two: Sex
Chapter 5: Number of Sexual Partners
Chapter 6: Hooking Up (Casual Sexual Encounters)
Chapter 7: Infidelity
Chapter 8: Teenage Pregnancy
Section Three: Money and Work
Chapter 9: Class Mobility
Chapter 10: Willingness to Pay
Chapter 11: Hours Worked
Chapter 12: Calling in Falsely Sick
Chapter 13: U.S. Foreign Aid Spending
Section Four: Health and Wellness
Chapter 14: Calories
Chapter 15: Weight Healthiness
Chapter 16: CPR
Chapter 17: Emotional Well-Being
Section Five: Social Issues
Chapter 18: Divorce
Chapter 19: Violence
Chapter 20: Willingness to Help
Section Six: Biases and Illusions
Chapter 21: Spotlight Effect
Chapter 22: False Consensus Effect
Chapter 23: Optimism Bias
Chapter 24: End of History Illusion
Chapter 25: Survivor Bias
Biography
Eric Beasley is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University and serves as a Special Lecturer for Oakland University.