Notice bibliographique
- Notice
Type(s) de contenu et mode(s) de consultation : Texte noté : sans médiation
Auteur(s) : Simler, Kevin (1982-....)
Hanson, Robin (1959-....)
Titre(s) : The elephant in the brain [Texte imprimé] : hidden motives in everyday life / Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson
Publication : New York (N.Y.) : Oxford University press, copyright 2018
Description matérielle : 1 vol. (X-397 p.) : ill. ; 25 cm
Note(s) : Bibliogr. p. 353-384. Notes bibliogr. Index
"Human beings are primates, and primates are political animals. Our brains, therefore,
are designed not just to hunt and gather, but also to help us get ahead socially,
often via deception and self-deception. But while we may be self-interested schemers,
we benefit by pretending otherwise. The less we know about our own ugly motives, the
better - and thus we don't like to talk or even think about the extent of our selfishness.
This is "the elephant in the brain." Such an introspective taboo makes it hard for
us to think clearly about our nature and the explanations for our behavior. The aim
of this book, then, is to confront our hidden motives directly - to track down the
darker, unexamined corners of our psyches and blast them with floodlights. Then, once
everything is clearly visible, we can work to better understand ourselves: Why do
we laugh? Why are artists sexy? Why do we brag about travel? Why do we prefer to speak
rather than listen? Our unconscious motives drive more than just our private behavior;
they also infect our venerated social institutions such as Art, School, Charity, Medicine,
Politics, and Religion. In fact, these institutions are in many ways designed to accommodate
our hidden motives, to serve covert agendas alongside their "official" ones. The existence
of big hidden motives can upend the usual political debates, leading one to question
the legitimacy of these social institutions, and of standard policies designed to
favor or discourage them. You won't see yourself - or the world - the same after confronting
the elephant in the brain." ; "This book exposes our unconscious selfish motives,
those we're reluctant to discuss or even think about. These motives drive our body
language, laughter, and conversation, as well as venerated institutions like art,
school, charity, medicine, politics, and religion"
Sujet(s) : Inconscient
Psychologie cognitive
Déception de soi
Identifiants, prix et caractéristiques : ISBN 9780190495992. - ISBN 0190495995. - ISBN 9780190496012 (erroné) (rel.)
Identifiant de la notice : ark:/12148/cb45464483p
Notice n° :
FRBNF45464483
(notice reprise d'un réservoir extérieur)
Table des matières : Why we hide our motives. Animal behavior ; Competition ; Norms ; Cheating ; Self-deception
; Counterfeit reasons ; Hidden motives in everyday life. Body language ; Laughter
; Conversation ; Consumption ; Art ; Charity ; Education ; Medicine ; Religion ; Politics
; Conclusion
