Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Imaginary Realities: The Psychology of Everyday Delusions

Imaginary Realities: The Psychology of Everyday Delusions

Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen

Hardcover

General Psychology

ISBN10: 0197817378
ISBN13: 9780197817377
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: Jun 12 2026
Pages: 208
Weight: 0.97
Height: 0.80 Width: 6.63 Depth: 9.30
Language: English
Why do people believe the unbelievable? Why do fictional ideas so often inspire real-world action-sometimes joyful, sometimes destructive-while the people inspired by them never recognize that they are fictional? In Imaginary Realities, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett explores the psychological and cultural forces that lead people to embrace beliefs that defy logic yet shape lives, societies, and history. From religious and magical thinking to conspiracy theories and superstitions, Arnett reveals how these imaginary realities help us make sense of a chaotic world and why we adhere to them even when they mislead us.

This groundbreaking book examines the psychological roots of irrational beliefs and how they soothe anxiety and foster social cohesion; how they underlie the double-edged sword of moral egoism, which motivates many of our best and worst behavior; the surprising role of imaginary realities in joy, humor, and group celebration; and the looming threats posed by modern myths surrounding AI, ecological collapse, and genetic engineering.

With clarity, insight, and cultural depth, Imaginary Realities challenges readers to rethink what we believe and why.

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