Stuart Vyse Books
Stuart Vyse is an American psychologist, teacher, and author known for his work on superstition, belief, and rational thinking. He has taught at several U.
Known for: The Uses Of Delusion: Why It's Better To Have Beliefs Than To Be Right
Books by Stuart Vyse
The Uses Of Delusion: Why It's Better To Have Beliefs Than To Be Right
In this thought-provoking work, psychologist Stuart Vyse explores the paradoxical benefits of human delusion. Drawing on research in cognitive psychology and behavioral science, Vyse argues that certain irrational beliefs—such as optimism, faith, and self-deception—can serve adaptive functions, helping people cope with uncertainty, maintain motivation, and find meaning in life. The book examines how delusions shape creativity, resilience, and social cohesion, while also warning against their potential dangers when they distort reality too far.
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Defining Delusion
Before we can understand why delusions might be useful, we must clarify what we mean by the term. Clinically, a delusion is a fixed false belief held despite contrary evidence, often arising in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. But most of the beliefs I explore here fall far short of that...
From The Uses Of Delusion: Why It's Better To Have Beliefs Than To Be Right
The Evolutionary Basis of Belief
From an evolutionary standpoint, perfect accuracy is not always the best policy. The human mind favors strategies that improve our chances of reproduction and survival, even at the cost of factual precision. Cognitive biases—such as overconfidence, illusion of control, and optimism—likely emerged be...
From The Uses Of Delusion: Why It's Better To Have Beliefs Than To Be Right
About Stuart Vyse
Stuart Vyse is an American psychologist, teacher, and author known for his work on superstition, belief, and rational thinking. He has taught at several U.S. universities and written extensively on the psychology of irrational behavior, including the award-winning book 'Believing in Magic'. Vyse is ...
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Stuart Vyse is an American psychologist, teacher, and author known for his work on superstition, belief, and rational thinking. He has taught at several U.S. universities and written extensively on the psychology of irrational behavior, including the award-winning book 'Believing in Magic'. Vyse is ...
Stuart Vyse is an American psychologist, teacher, and author known for his work on superstition, belief, and rational thinking. He has taught at several U.S. universities and written extensively on the psychology of irrational behavior, including the award-winning book 'Believing in Magic'. Vyse is also a columnist for Skeptical Inquirer magazine.
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Stuart Vyse is an American psychologist, teacher, and author known for his work on superstition, belief, and rational thinking. He has taught at several U.
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