Imaginary Realities
The Psychology of Everyday Delusions
Will be published approx. on 29. August 2026
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-0-19-781737-7 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
Imaginary Realities argues that humanity's greatest strength-and weakness-is our tendency to live inside shared fictions. Drawing on psychology, history, and contemporary life, Jeffrey Arnett shows how our narrative "delusions" give meaning and beauty to human existence, while also fueling extremism, conspiracy, and political chaos. At a moment when technology is erasing the line between truth and fiction, this book reveals why our realities are fragmenting-and what might still be done about it. This is a timely and important book. * Jonathan Gottschall, Distinguished Fellow, Washington & Jefferson College *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 168 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
440 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-781737-7 (9780197817377)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jeffrey Jensen Arnett is one of the leading developmental psychologists in the world. He is a Senior Research Scholar in the Department of Psychology at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is the Founding President and former Executive Director of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood. His 2015 TED Talk "Why Does It Take So Long to Grow Up Today?" has been viewed over half a million times on YouTube. In 2023 he was the President of the American Psychological Association, Division 1, General Psychology and Interdisciplinary Inquiry. For more information, see www.jeffreyarnett.com.
Content
1: The Imagination of a Cultural Animal 2: The Elements, Origins, Costs, and Benefits of Imaginary Realities 3: Anxiety-Prone Threat Detectors: Why We Imagine the World as Full of Threats 4: Moral Egoism: Imagining Ourselves on the Side of the Angels 5: Joy: Imagining Bliss 6: Humor: Reinforcing and Puncturing Imaginary Realities 7: Imaginary Realities and the Human Future: Niche Destruction, AI, and Lifespan Extension