What's So Wrong with Being Absolutely Right: The Dangerous Nature of Dogmatic Belief (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781591026570)

"Like pesky wasps buzzing circles around us, people who act as if they were the sole expert on a subject put us on edge. In halls of learning where we least expect to find it, in governments, in religious temples, in businesses, in marriages and families, dogmatism is the arrogant voice of certainty that closes the mind, damages relationships, and threatens peaceful coexistence on this planet." -From chapter 1In this incisive analysis of an increasingly pervasive problem, clinical psychologist Dr. Judy J. Johnson presents a landmark theory that probes the psychological channels of dogmatism. While other books describe the effects of specific types of ideological extremism, a wide-angle theory of dogmatism-in all its manifestations-has been lacking until now. Drawing from traditional and contemporary personality theories, biopsychology, social learning theory, Buddhism, and evolutionary psychology, Johnson explores major influences that shape the personality trait of dogmatism. She uses lively case studies to illustrate twelve characteristics of dogmatism, and suggests strategies for minimizing its harmful effects in our personal lives as well as our educational, political, and other social institutions.Written in a clear, engaging style that is professional in tone yet accessible to a wide audience, Johnson's insightful work will enlighten readers on one of the most important issues of our time.

Author: Judy J. Johnson
ISBN-10: 1591026571
ISBN-13: 9781591026570
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Language: English
Published: 01/01/2009
Pages: 577
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.65lbs
Size: 8.94h x 6.12w x 1.08d

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 05/01/2009 pg. 10