The Experts below are selected from a list of 282 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Tara C Smith - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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denialism how Irrational Thinking hinders scientific progress harms the planet and threatens our lives
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2010Co-Authors: Tara C SmithAbstract:Vaccines remain one of our most critical public health interventions, yet an increasingly vocal group of antivaccinationists call vaccines toxic and attribute numerous conditions, such as autism, to vaccination despite evidence to the contrary. Former Playboy model Jenny McCarthy is viewed as a respected source of information, whereas pediatric infectious diseases researcher Paul Offit receives death threats for his scientific contributions. Journalist Michael Specter describes this phenomenon in Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives. Spector defines denialism as “denial writ large—when an entire segment of society, often struggling with the trauma of change, turns away from reality in favor of a more comfortable lie.” Denialism describes this rejection of fact-based reality in 6 different areas related to health and medicine, beginning with the mistrust of pharmaceutical companies and their products. He also examines the dismissal of racial differences in medical research, the organic food movement as a form of denialism, and the obsession with vitamins and complementary alternative medicine despite evidence that these modalities do not work or may even be harmful. He ends with a look to the future: creation of life itself and why we must overcome denialism and embrace change to continue advancing as a society or risk the survival of our species. This book is sure to cause some controversy. In many circles, the term denialism is still linked to rejection of the Holocaust, and any implication that parents’ refusal of vaccination or the philosophy of choosing organic-only food is akin to dismissal of one of humanity’s great atrocities surely will make some readers dismiss Specter’s arguments. Likewise, although Specter supports industry, he is pragmatic and does not put himself in a cheerleader role, instead acknowledging corporate culpability in driving and perpetuating denialism: “Corporations, wrapping themselves in the mantle of progress but all too often propelled by greed, have done more than religion or even Luddism to inflame denialists and raise doubts about the objectivity of science.” Specter realizes that industry, and scientists, have lost the public’s trust, and this broken relationship needs to be fixed through additional communication to the public by scientists and science writers, open debates about the future of scientific progress and implications of emerging technologies, and improvements in education. Persons picking up this book may be surprised by the lack of discussion about some prominent topics of science denialism, including evolution and global warming. Likewise, Specter does not discuss HIV/AIDS denial, a topic he has covered previously in The New Yorker (1). Referring to the latter, Specter notes that Holocaust and HIV/AIDS denialists are “… intensively destructive—even homicidal—but they don’t represent conventional thought and they never will. This new kind of denialism is less sinister but more pervasive than that.” Furthermore, the types of denialism Specter describes cut across political and religious divisions to combine fear and uncertainty in a manner that makes them contagious. Indeed, a central tenet of denialism is that “fear is more infectious than any virus” and, like infection, needs to be addressed and, ideally, prevented through healthy skepticism. Spector notes that “Denialism must be defeated. There is simply too much at stake to accept any other outcome.” Its defeat is a tall order, but an imperative one if science is truly to be restored to its rightful place. Specter’s book is a good starting place for any scientist or layman interested in delving into this phenomenon.
Michael B Walker - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Irrational Thinking among slot machine players
Journal of Gambling Studies, 1992Co-Authors: Michael B WalkerAbstract:According to the cognitive perspective on gambling, regular gamblers persist in trying to win money at gambling because they hold a set of false beliefs about the nature of gambling, the likelihood of winning, and their own expertise. In order to investigate this claim, twenty seven university students were recruited who played one of three types of games at least twice a week: slot machines, video draw poker, and video amusement games. Subjects played their preferred machines on site (clubs, hotels and amusement arcades) first for at least thirty minutes and then the other two games for a minimum of twenty minutes each. During play, each subject spoke aloud into a microphone describing what he or she was doing or Thinking about in the game. It was hypothesised that slot machine players would verbalise more Irrational Thinking than video poker or video amusement players and that slot machines would elicit more Irrational Thinking than video poker or video amusement machines. Most importantly, it was hypothesised that slot machine players would exhibit relatively greater amounts of Irrational Thinking when playing their preferred game. The data supported all three hypotheses. Out of all of the statements made by slot machine players when playing slot machines, 38% were categorised Irrational. Furthermore, 80% of the strategic statements made by slot machine players while playing slot machines were categorised as Irrational. These results are consistent with earlier work which showed high levels of Irrational Thinking in artificial gambling games. Together, the results provide support for a cognitive view of the origins of gambling problems.
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Irrational Thinking among slot machine
1992Co-Authors: Michael B Walker, D PhilAbstract:According to the cognitive perspective on gambling, regular gamblers persist in trying to win money at gambling because they hold a set of false beliefs about the nature of gambling, the likelihood of winning, and their own expertise. In order to investigate this claim, twenty seven university students were recruited who played one of three types of games at least twice a week: slot machines, video draw poker, and video amusement games. Subjects played their preferred machines on site (clubs, hotels and amusement arcades) first for at least thirty minutes and then the other two games for a minimum of twenty minutes each. During play, each subject spoke aloud into a microphone describing what he or she was doing or Thinking about in the game. It was hypothesised that slot machine players would verbalise more Irrational Thinking than video poker or video amusement players and that slot machines would elicit more Irrational Thinking than video poker or video amusement machines. Most importantly, it was hypothesised that slot machine players would exhibit relatively greater amounts of Irrational Thinking when playing their preferred game. The data supported all three hypotheses. Out of all of the statements made by slot machine players when playing slot machines, 38% were eategorised Irrational. Furthermore, 80% of the strategic statements made by slot machine players while playing slot machines were categorised as Irrational. These results are consistent with earlier work which showed high levels of Irrational Thinking in artificial gambling games. Together, the results provide support for a cognitive view of the origins of gambling problems.
David Lester - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Absolutism in the Diary of a Suicide
Perceptual and Motor Skills, 2020Co-Authors: David LesterAbstract:The incidence of three words indicative of Irrational Thinking (perfect, always, and never) did not increase in the diary of a suicide over the course of the year preceding her suicide.
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Irrational Thinking in suicidal individuals a general or a specific deficit
Suicidologi, 2015Co-Authors: David LesterAbstract:Theories of the Irrational Thinking in suicidal individual are reviewed, and a battery of inventories was given to a nonclinical sample of students to explore whether there is a general tendency to think Irrationally on all measures. Scores on tests of hopelessness, helplessness, defeat, entrapment, self-esteem, burdensomeness, perseverative Thinking, rumination and Thinking that one is an impostor were all strongly intercorreated and associated with depression scores and past suicidal ideation, indicating that Irrational Thinking in suicidal individuals is a general deficit. Teorier om irrasjonell tenkning blir forst gjennomgatt. Artikkelen redegjor for en undersokelse der en gruppe studenter ble bedt om a fylle ut et sett med sporreskjemaer, for a undersoke om det er en generell tendens til a tenke irrasjonelt. Skarer for haploshet, hjelpeloshet, opplevelse av nederlag, a fole seg fanget, selvfolelse, folelse av a vaere til bry, persevererende tenkning, grubling og tanker om at man er en bedrager var alle sterkt interkorrelert og hang sammen med skarer pa depresjon og tidligere selvmordstanker – noe som indikerer at irrasjonell tenkning hos suicidale personer er en generell sarbarhetsfaktor.
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the role of Irrational Thinking in suicidal behavior
Comprehensive Psychology, 2012Co-Authors: David LesterAbstract:Theories of Irrational Thinking in suicidal individuals are reviewed, as well as research and suggestions made for more complex models. A distinction is made between Irrational Thinking accompanyin...
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Two sources of human Irrationality: Cognitive dissonance and brain dysfunction
Journal of Socio-economics, 2009Co-Authors: David Lester, Bijou YangAbstract:Akerof and Dickens explored the relevance of cognitive dissonance theory for economics, and the theory is shown here to predict occasional Irrational Thinking. Secondly, it is proposed that the focus of neuroeconomics on brain dysfunction and the role of neurotranmitters on cognition suggests two ways in which the functioning of the brain can impair rational decision-making.
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EATING DISORDERS, DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL PREOCCUPATION IN A NONCLINICAL SAMPLE '
Psychological Reports, 1996Co-Authors: Rebecca Pook, Tressa Conti, David LesterAbstract:In order to explore whether the presence of eating disorders was associated with depression and suicidality in a sample of college students, 53 men and 87 women (Mage= 19.4 yr., SD=2.4) enrolled in college courses were administered anonymously a questionnaire containing an inventory to assess eating disorders (Lampson, 1992; M=54.0, SD= 10.2), the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961; M=8.6, SD= 8.2), a test of general Irrational thlnking (Lee, Hallberg, & Haase, 1979; M = 48.8, SD=7.1), and questions about a past history of suicidal thoughts, threats, and attempts. The eating hsorder scores were associated with age (Pearson r = 21 , two-tailed p < .05), gender (r = .40, p < .001), depression scores (r = .46, p < .001), Irrational Thinking scores (r = .43, p < .001), and current suicidal ideation, a history of suicidal ideation, and a history of suicidal threats ( rs= 3 3 , 25, and .24, respectively, p < .01), but not a history of attempted suicide (r = .02). The associations with suicidality were not significant after controls for depression using partial correlation coefficients. In a backward multiple regression, eating disorder was pre&cted s~gnlficantly by gender, depression, and Irrational Thinking, giving a multiple R of .62. The associations were stronger for women than for men, and the association of eating disorder scores with Irrational Thinking was found only for the women. Thus, depresI sion scores were the strongest associate of eating disorder scores in this sample, confirming earlier research on chical samples (Devhn & Walsh, 1989).
Robert J Kirkby - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a brief assessment of Irrational Thinking the shortened general attitude and belief scale
Cognitive Therapy and Research, 1999Co-Authors: Helen Lindner, Robert J Kirkby, Eleanor H Wertheim, Penelope BirchAbstract:Three studies were undertaken to develop andvalidate a shortened measure of Irrational Thinkingbased on Bernard's version of the General Attitude andBelief Scale (GABS). In experiment 1 the responses of 356 participants were analyzed to derive 26items from the 55 items of the GABS to form theshortened General Attitude and Belief Scale (SGABS).Experiment 2 established that correlations between the subscales of the GABS and the SGABS (completed3 days apart by 90 participants) ranged from .60 to .77.In experiment 3, moderately significant test-retestcorrelations (.65 to .87) were found between subscale scores obtained from the SGABS, administered 3days apartto 36 participants. Although a moderate butsignificant correlation (r = .41) was found between theSGABS and the Beck Depression Inventory, a significantly higher correlation (r = .77) was found betweenthe SGABS and the Irrational Belief Scale. It wasconcluded that the SGABS provided a brief method ofassessing multidimensional aspects of IrrationalThinking with substantial test-retest reliability andconstruct validity.
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Changes in Premenstrual Symptoms and Irrational Thinking Following Cognitive-Behavioral Coping Skills Training.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1994Co-Authors: Robert J KirkbyAbstract:Women reporting severe premenstrual symptoms were allocated nonrandomly to a cognitive-behavioral coping skills treatment (n = 13), a nonspecific treatment (n = 12), or a waiting-list group (n = 12). Repeated measures analyses of variance showed that, compared with control subjects, the coping skills group reported significant reductions in premenstrual symptomatology and Irrational Thinking at posttreatment and at 9-month follow-up. There were no significant differences between the waiting-list and control intervention groups at any time of testing. It was suggested that the increased Irrationality reported at pretreatment should be viewed not as a "cause" of premenstrual problems but as a product of the stresses experienced in the premenstruum phase. The findings of this study indicated that cognitive-behavioral coping skills treatments can reduce the negative effects of premenstrual symptoms and that those reductions can be maintained over time.
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premenstrual symptoms the role of Irrational Thinking
Psychological Reports, 1992Co-Authors: Helen Lindner, Robert J KirkbyAbstract:104 women, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, were surveyed to investigate the relationship between premenstrual symptomatology, as measured by the Modified Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, and Irrational Thinking, as measured by the General Attitude and Belief Scale. The women who reported greater premenstrual symptomatology also reported significantly higher scores in the “need for comfort” Irrationality subscale. This indicated that these women had particular difficulty dealing with hassles and the resulting feelings of tension and irritability in the premenstruum. It was suggested that the absence of significant effects for other rationality-Irrationality subscales could be associated with testing at different times during the menstrual cycle. Irrationality, like other conditions (such as anxiety and depression) prevalent in the premenstruum, could change in intensity across phases of the menstrual cycle.
Michael E. Bernard - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Marital Adjustment and Irrational Beliefs
Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 2002Co-Authors: Jane Addis, Michael E. BernardAbstract:The present study was designed to determine which aspects of Ellis' Irrational beliefs as well as emotional traits (anxiety, curiosity, anger) differentiate couples attending marriage counseling from couples couple not attending marriage counseling as well as levels of marital satisfaction in couples as measured by the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. Participants were 61 married couples, 18 of whom were attending marriage counseling and 43 who were not attending marriage counseling. Each partner completed a number of self-report questionnaires containing items measuring Irrational /rational beliefs, anger, anxiety and curiosity, and communication skills. Correlational and multiple regression analyses indicate support for Albert Ellis' proposition concerning the importance of individual partner's emotional traits and accompanying Irrational beliefs in marital adjustment and dissatisfaction. Self-downing and need for comfort were the dimensions of Irrational Thinking most strongly related to marital dysfunction. Anger, anxiety but neither curiosity nor communication skills distinguished individuals experiencing or not experiencing marital problems. Implications for relationship counseling are briefly discussed.
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Validation of the General Attitude and Belief Scale
Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 1998Co-Authors: Michael E. BernardAbstract:The purpose of this study was to provide further validational information on the General Attitude and Belief Scale (e.g., DiGiuseppe, Leaf, Exner & Robin, 1988). Particular interest was in determining further the factor structure of the General Attitude and Belief Scale as confirming REBT theory concerning the nature of Irrational Thinking. A sample of 236 males and 490 females drawn from a variety of populations completed the General Attitude and Belief Scale as well as a number of cross-validational measures (Spielberger's Trait Anxiety, Curiosity and Anger Scales, Spielberger's Anger Expression Scale, Beck's Depression Inventory (short-form) and Diener's Life Satisfaction Scale). A second sample of 18 couples receiving on-going marriage counselling and 43 couples not receiving counselling also completed the General Attitude and Belief Scale. A principal factors analysis yielded one factor of rationality and six Irrationality factors (need for achievement, need for approval, demands for fairness, need for comfort, self-downing and other-downing). Significant correlations were obtained between the seven sub-scales of the General Attitude and Belief Scale and cross-validational measures. The clinical group of distressed couples scored lower in rationality and higher on three of the six sub-scales of Irrationality. The findings support the continued use of the General Attitude and Belief Scale as a research instrument and of value to practitioners.
