Magic and the Mind

Mechanisms, Functions, and Development of Magical Thinking and Behavior

Nonfiction, Health & Well Being, Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Child & Adolescent, Child Development
Cover of the book Magic and the Mind by Eugene Subbotsky, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Eugene Subbotsky ISBN: 9780190453114
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: March 31, 2010
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Eugene Subbotsky
ISBN: 9780190453114
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: March 31, 2010
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

Magical thinking and behavior have traditionally been viewed as immature, misleading alternatives to scientific thought that in children inevitably diminish with age. In adults, these inclinations have been labeled by psychologists largely as superstitions that feed on frustration, uncertainty, and the unpredictable nature of certain human activities. In Magic and the Mind, Eugene Subbotsky provides an overview of the mechanisms and development of magical thinking and beliefs throughout the life span while arguing that the role of this type of thought in human development should be reconsidered. Rather than an impediment to scientific reasoning or a byproduct of cognitive development, in children magical thinking is an important and necessary complement to these processes, enhancing creativity at problem-solving and reinforcing coping strategies, among other benefits. In adults, magical thinking and beliefs perform important functions both for individuals (coping with unsolvable problems and stressful situations) and for society (enabling mass influence and promoting social harmony). Operating in realms not bound by physical causality, such as emotion, relationships, and suggestion, magical thinking is an ongoing, developing psychological mechanism that, Subbotsky argues, is integral in the contexts of politics, commercial advertising, and psychotherapy, and undergirds our construction and understanding of meaning in both mental and physical worlds. Magic and the Mind represents a unique contribution to our understanding of the importance of magical thinking, offering experimental evidence and conclusions never before collected in one source. It will be of interest to students and scholars of developmental psychology, as well as sociologists, anthropologists, and educators.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Magical thinking and behavior have traditionally been viewed as immature, misleading alternatives to scientific thought that in children inevitably diminish with age. In adults, these inclinations have been labeled by psychologists largely as superstitions that feed on frustration, uncertainty, and the unpredictable nature of certain human activities. In Magic and the Mind, Eugene Subbotsky provides an overview of the mechanisms and development of magical thinking and beliefs throughout the life span while arguing that the role of this type of thought in human development should be reconsidered. Rather than an impediment to scientific reasoning or a byproduct of cognitive development, in children magical thinking is an important and necessary complement to these processes, enhancing creativity at problem-solving and reinforcing coping strategies, among other benefits. In adults, magical thinking and beliefs perform important functions both for individuals (coping with unsolvable problems and stressful situations) and for society (enabling mass influence and promoting social harmony). Operating in realms not bound by physical causality, such as emotion, relationships, and suggestion, magical thinking is an ongoing, developing psychological mechanism that, Subbotsky argues, is integral in the contexts of politics, commercial advertising, and psychotherapy, and undergirds our construction and understanding of meaning in both mental and physical worlds. Magic and the Mind represents a unique contribution to our understanding of the importance of magical thinking, offering experimental evidence and conclusions never before collected in one source. It will be of interest to students and scholars of developmental psychology, as well as sociologists, anthropologists, and educators.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book J. Robert Oppenheimer:A Life by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Defending Democratic Norms by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Supersizing the Mind by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book White Writers, Race Matters by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book One Mississippi, Two Mississippi by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Flawed Advice and the Management Trap:How Managers Can Know When They're Getting Good Advice and When They're Not by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Trumpet Blues by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book For Liberty and Equality by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Beethoven & Freedom by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Drug Use in Prisoners by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book The Monkey Wars by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Legal Reasoning and Political Conflict by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Urbanization and Religion in Ancient Central Mexico by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Smuggler Nation: How Illicit Trade Made America by Eugene Subbotsky
Cover of the book Surviving Images by Eugene Subbotsky
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy