Magic and the Mind: Mechanisms, Functions, and Development of Magical Thinking and Behavior

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