Misperceptions of the Social World

This volume elucidates some of the very concrete ways in which Americans misperceive the social world and how we are all subject to biases and illusions.

Eric Beasley is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University and serves as a Special Lecturer for Oakland University.

Part I: Population Innumeracy 1. Racial Minorities 2. LGBT 3. Immigrants 4. Law Enforcement Workers Part II: Sex 5. Number of Sexual Partners 6. Hooking Up (Casual Sexual Encounters) 7. Infidelity 8. Teenage Pregnancy Part III: Money and Work 9. Class Mobility 10. Willingness to Pay 11. Hours Worked 12. Calling in Falsely Sick 13. U.S. Foreign Aid Spending Part IV: Health and Wellness 14. Calories 15. Weight Healthiness 16. CPR 17. Emotional Well-Being Part V: Social Issues 18. Divorce 19. Violence 20. Willingness to Help Part VI: Biases and Illusions 21. Spotlight Effect 22. False Consensus Effect 23. Optimism Bias 24. End of History Illusion 25. Survivor Bias