Research Catalog

Title

The elephant in the brain : hidden motives in everyday life / Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson.

Author

Simler, Kevin, 1982-

Publication

• New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2018]
• ©2018

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Hanson, Robin, 1959-

Description

x, 397 pages : illustrations; 25 cm

Summary

• "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"--

Subjects

• Subconsciousness
• Self-deception
• Cognitive psychology

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

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.

Call Number

JFE 18-7034

ISBN

• 9780190495992
• 0190495995

LCCN

2017004296

OCLC

982092901

Author

Simler, Kevin, 1982- author.

Title

The elephant in the brain : hidden motives in everyday life / Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson.

Publisher

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2018]

Copyright Date

©2018

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Added Author

Hanson, Robin, 1959- author.

Research Call Number

JFE 18-7034