Reasoning, Judging, Deciding: The Science of Thinking

Are humans effective thinkers? How do we decide what is right? Can we avoid being duped by fake news?

Thinking and Reasoning is the study of how humans think; exploring rationality, decision making and judgment within all contexts of life. With contemporary case studies and reflective questions to develop your understanding of key dilemmas, this book covers the fundamentals of the science behind thinking, reasoning, and decision-making, making it essential reading for any student of Thinking and Reasoning.

From heuristic biases to the cognitive science of religion, and from artificial intelligence to conspiracy theories, Wastell & Howarth’s text clearly and comprehensibly introduces you to the core theories of thinking, leaving no stone unturned, before showing you how to apply theory to practice.

‘The unique selling point of the book is the inclusion of current topics and recent developments, a very good structure and it approaches the field from a very wide angle.’

Dr Colin Wastell has been teaching and researching in the area of human thinking for the past 15 years. His interests in the field are diverse. He has published on the concept of the modularity of the mind as well as the thinking processes that underly belief in the supernatural.

Dr Stephanie Howarth is a cognitive research psychologist from the UK. Born in Surrey, she grew up in the midlands and then spent most of her adult years in Devon. Intrigued by the application of hypnosis she trained and practiced as a clinical hypnotherapist for several years before focusing on research. She was awarded a scholarship at Plymouth University to complete her PhD in the area of reasoning, with a focus on belief bias. In 2016 she moved to Sydney to continue her research career at Macquarie University, where she is currently involved in various threads of research relevant to thinking, reasoning and decision making.