Naivety and social psychology

Naivety, whether we like it or not, is an essential trait of humans. In social psychology of naivety, Forgas and Baumister explore what we know about the causes, functions, and consequences of naivety and the social psychological processes that promote or inhibit it. With contributions from leading international researchers, the book reveals the contribution of social and cognitive psychology to our understanding of how human judgments and decisions are distorted and undermined. The chapters discuss the nature and functions of naivety, the role of cognitive processes in naivety, the impact of emotion and motivation on naivety, and the social and cultural aspects of naivety. Based on a wealth of experimental research, the contributors explore compelling issues such as the psychology of conspiracy theories, the role of political naivety, naivety in science, the role of the internet in promoting naivety, and thinking failures that contribute to human credibility. Naivety has become a dominant topic of interest in public discourse. Social psychology of naivety is a fundamental reading for researchers, social science students, professionals, practitioners, and all interested in understanding human naivety and the role of naivety in contemporary public affairs.