False - How Mistrust, Disinformation, Motivated Reasoning Make Us Believe

This book illuminates the psychology of false belief that lies at the root of the kind of science denialism, political polarization, and rampant belief in misinformation and disinformation alike that has become so common in today's post-truth world.

List of contents

• Preface


• Chapter 1: Delusions, Distortions, and Misbeliefs, Oh My!


• Chapter 2: The Psychology of Overconfidence


• Chapter 3: Confirmation Bias on Steroids


• Chapter 4: The Flea Market of Opinion


• Chapter 5: The Disinformation Industrial Complex


• Chapter 6: Conspiracy Theories Gone Wild


• Chapter 7: Falling for Bullshit


• Chapter 8: Divided States


• Chapter 9: We Are Not Our Beliefs


• Chapter 10: A Prescription for a Post-Truth World


• Bibliography

About the author

Joe Pierre MD is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. As a full-time clinician, he has extensive experience treating people with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, delusional disorder, and substance-induced psychosis. His academic work focuses on the grey area between psychopathology and normality, with an emphasis on delusion-like beliefs including conspiracy theories. He also serves as an expert witness consultant in forensic cases involving the intersection of psychosis, religion, and ideological belief. He has been featured in over 100 news articles and media interviews, appearing in The New York Times, The Guardian, Vanity Fair, Slate, and the award-winning documentary Behind the Curve as well as on CNN, BBC, NPR, and VICE News. His blog Psych Unseen has attracted over 3 million views.

Summary

This book illuminates the psychology of false belief that lies at the root of the kind of science denialism, political polarization, and rampant belief in misinformation and disinformation alike that has become so common in today's post-truth world.

Product details

• Authors: Joe Pierre MD, Joe (Health Science Clinical Professor Pierre MD
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 03.06.2025
• EAN: 9780197765272
• ISBN: 978-0-19-776527-2
• No. of pages: 256
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Miscellaneous; Media Studies, PHILOSOPHY / Social, PHILOSOPHY / Political, PSYCHOLOGY / Social Psychology, PSYCHOLOGY / Clinical Psychology, POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / Diplomacy, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Media Studies, PSYCHOLOGY / Cognitive Psychology & Cognition, Clinical psychology, Social & political philosophy, social and political philosophy, Cognition & cognitive psychology, Social, group or collective psychology, Diplomacy, Cognition and cognitive psychology, Disinformation and misinformation, Cognitivism, cognitive theory