The Psychology and Science of Pseudoscience - by Terence Hines (Hardcover)

About the Book

Excellent up-to-date book about pseudoscience and science denial, with an in-depth look at how human psychology promotes these problems. An engaging and comprehensive critical review of a wide range of pseudoscientific topics which explores the underlying psychological factors behind paranormal and related beliefs.

Book Synopsis

This book provides a comprehensive review of numerous areas of pseudoscience and related pathological science. It not only describes the factual bases for rejecting pseudoscientific claims, but also emphasizes the psychological processes that lead to the acceptance of such claims. This book is timely, given the increase in misinformation over the past decade.
Using three principles of cognitive psychology, this book helps explain why people are hard-wired to accept and continue to believe in pseudoscientific claims. It provides up-to-date discussions of numerous paranormal and pseudoscientific topics, including the usual suspects-UFOs and alien abductions, astrology, cryptozoology, and more-but also belief in conspiracy theories, laboratory parapsychology, bogus forensic science techniques, the pseudopsychologies of Freud, medical fraud, and the unethical practices of Big Pharma. Older research that was foundational in the critical examination of several topics is woven throughout to situate them in a historical context.

Review Quotes

"Terence Hines is one of the world's foremost authorities on the science of pseudoscience. He's also a hero of mine. Like his engaging contributions to Skeptical Inquirer magazine, I learned so much from this book, and I believe all readers will benefit from thinking about what's believable (and what's unbelievable) using key principles of cognitive psychology. From historical hogwash to modern malarkey, Hines superbly helps sifts through the silliness toward a better understanding of the human mind." --Stephen Hupp, Editor, Skeptical Inquirer: The Magazine for Science and Reason

About the Author

Terence Hines has been professor of Psychology at Pace University since 1981 and is adjunct professor of Neurology at New York Medical College. After graduate school he had a one-year post-doctorate position at the Boston Veteran's Administration studying the cognitive effects of normal aging. Following that he moved to the Neurology Department of the Cornell University Medical School for two years, doing research on split brain individuals and Parkinson's disease. His major research interests include bilingual memory, representation of number in memory, and the causes of belief in things paranormal.