1st Edition

Misperceptions of the Social World What We Get Wrong About Sex, Race, Money, and Violence

By Eric Beasley Copyright 2018
    196 Pages
    by Routledge

    196 Pages
    by Routledge

    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.