The Believing Brain

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In this comprehensive and provocative work, bestselling author Michael Shermer explores how beliefs are born, formed, reinforced, challenged, changed, and extinguished. Drawing on thirty years of research, Shermer, a psychologist and historian of science, challenges traditional views on belief formation. He posits that beliefs come first, with explanations following. The brain acts as a belief engine, processing sensory data to identify patterns and infusing them with meaning. These patterns evolve into beliefs, which the brain then seeks to confirm, creating a positive-feedback loop that reinforces them. Shermer details the cognitive tools our brains use to treat these beliefs as truths. Throughout the narrative, he offers numerous real-world examples from various domains, including politics, economics, religion, conspiracy theories, the supernatural, and the paranormal. Ultimately, he argues that science is the most effective means of assessing whether a belief aligns with reality.