The Psychology of Belief

We all believe in something. But how do beliefs affect our lives — our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours? Kim’s book masterly summarises the science of belief. It’s both readable for non-experts and a valuable resource for students and academics alike. * Miguel Farias, Professor in Cognitive & Biological Psychology, Coventry University, UK * Nancy Kim provides a detailed, thorough, and engaging overview of cutting-edge research and theories about the psychology of belief. She seamlessly weaves together key ideas from various areas of psychology to give readers insight on why people believe what they do about politics, religion, health, and other important aspects of human life. This is a perfect text for readers new to the empirical study of beliefs or those who simply want to refresh their knowledge of the current state of the science. * Chadly Stern, Professor of Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA * Nancy Kim has written the definitive text on the psychology of belief. She explores our bedrock moral and political views, guides us through fanaticism, conspiracy theories, climate denial, and beliefs in the paranormal, and reveals the surprising real-world importance of our core assumptions about the nature of mind, free will, and human possibility. She clarifies why our convictions are so resistant to change but also shows how they can be reformed. With complete metaphysical certainty, I believe there is nothing quite like this mind-altering book. * Nick Haslam, Professor of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Australia *