✨ Featured Offer
Overview
A new book about brain chemistry, neural systems, and the formation of beliefs from the scientist who brought to light serotonin's many crucial roles in human behavior.
Beliefs: What are they? How have evolution and culture led to a brain that is seemingly committed to near endless belief creation? And once established, why are most beliefs so difficult to change? Believing offers answers to these questions from the perspective of a leading neuroscientist and expert in brain-behavior research.
Combining personal anecdotes and the latest research, Dr. McGuire takes the novel approach of focusing on the central and critical role of brain systems and the ways in which they interact with the environment to create and maintain beliefs. This approach yields some surprising and counterintuitive conclusions:
* The brain is designed for belief creation and acceptance.
* It is biased in favor of its own beliefs and is highly insensitive to disconfirming evidence.
* It prefers beliefs that are pleasurable and rewarding to those that are unfavorable.
* Beliefs are "afterthoughts" of unperceived brain activities; they don't cause behavior.
* Our consciousness has minimal influence on the neural systems that create beliefs.
Based on these observations, McGuire concludes that for the foreseeable future people will continue to hold a multitude of beliefs, many of them intransigent.
Beliefs: What are they? How have evolution and culture led to a brain that is seemingly committed to near endless belief creation? And once established, why are most beliefs so difficult to change? Believing offers answers to these questions from the perspective of a leading neuroscientist and expert in brain-behavior research.
Combining personal anecdotes and the latest research, Dr. McGuire takes the novel approach of focusing on the central and critical role of brain systems and the ways in which they interact with the environment to create and maintain beliefs. This approach yields some surprising and counterintuitive conclusions:
* The brain is designed for belief creation and acceptance.
* It is biased in favor of its own beliefs and is highly insensitive to disconfirming evidence.
* It prefers beliefs that are pleasurable and rewarding to those that are unfavorable.
* Beliefs are "afterthoughts" of unperceived brain activities; they don't cause behavior.
* Our consciousness has minimal influence on the neural systems that create beliefs.
Based on these observations, McGuire concludes that for the foreseeable future people will continue to hold a multitude of beliefs, many of them intransigent.
| ISBN-13 | 9781616148294 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 1616148292 |
| Weight | 1.00 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 6.00 x 0.50 x 9.00 In |
| List Price | $19.95 |
| Edition | 1st Edition |
| Format | Paperback |
|---|---|
| Pages | 267 pages |
| Publisher | Prometheus |
| Published On | 2013-09-10 |
View All Offers
Sort by:
Price
Condition
Seller
Seller Comments
Price
Used, Good
Seller details
spellbound
McKeesport, PA, USA
Bruise/tear to cover.
Free delivery by: 02 Apr 2026
Used, Very Good
Seller details
HPB Inc.
Dallas, TX, USA
Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and ...
Free delivery by: 02 Apr 2026
Used, Good
Seller details
Bonita
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
Free delivery by: 02 Apr 2026
✨ Brand New
Seller details
GridFreed
San Diego, CA, USA
Size: 96x12x143; New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!
Free delivery by: 02 Apr 2026