Library:Denying to the Grave
| Denying to the Grave: Why We Ignore the Facts That Will Save Us | |
|---|---|
| Author | Sara E. Gorman & Jack M. Gorman |
| First published | 2016 |
| ISBN | — |
| Role | Analysis |
| Domains | Health & Medicine Science & Space |
| Tactics | Pseudoscience / Junk Science Conspiracy Theory |
Denying to the Grave: Why We Ignore the Facts That Will Save Us is a 2016 book by Sara E. Gorman & Jack M. Gorman.
Summary
Public health expert Sara Gorman and her father, psychiatrist Jack Gorman, ask why people reject scientific evidence on issues such as vaccines, genetically modified food, nuclear power and guns, even when doing so endangers their health.
They argue that denial is not simply ignorance. It is driven by psychological and social forces that make some beliefs feel safer than the evidence.
Key points
- Charismatic leaders. Movements against scientific consensus often form around compelling individuals who give followers identity and certainty.
- Risk perception. People overestimate unfamiliar risks, such as vaccine side effects, and underestimate familiar ones, such as disease.
- Communicating science. Simply presenting facts can backfire; the authors suggest approaches that address emotions and identity.
Relevance to Bullshitopedia
The book is a practical analysis of health misinformation and why correcting it is difficult, which applies to many Health and Medicine entries.