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Out of character: surprising truths about the liar, cheat, sinner (and saint) lurking in all of us
(Book)

Book Cover
Average Rating
Published:
New York : Crown Archetype, c2011.
Physical Desc:
259 pages ; 25 cm.
Status:
Rancho Cordova
155.23 D476 2011
Description

Have you ever wondered why a trumpeter of family values would suddenly turn around and cheat on his wife? Why jealousy would send an otherwise level-headed person into a violent rage? What could drive a person to blow a family fortune at the blackjack tables?
 
Or have you ever pondered what might make Mr. Right leave his beloved at the altar, why hypocrisy seems to be rampant, or even why, every once in awhile, even you are secretly tempted, to lie, cheat, or steal (or, conversely, help someone you never even met)?
 
This book answers these questions and more, and in doing so, turns the prevailing wisdom about who we are upside down. Our character, argue psychologists DeSteno and Valdesolo, isn’t a stable set of traits, but rather a shifting state that is subject to the constant push and pull of hidden mechanisms in our mind.  And it's the battle between these dueling psychological forces that determine how we act at any given point in time. 
 
Drawing on the surprising results of the clever experiments concocted in their own laboratory, DeSteno and Valdesolo shed new scientific light on so many of the puzzling behaviors that regularly grace the headlines.  For example, you’ll learn:
   • Why Tiger Woods just couldn’t resist the allure of his mistresses even though he had a picture-perfect family at home. And why no one, including those who knew him best, ever saw it coming. 
   • Why even the shrewdest of investors can be tempted to gamble their fortunes away (and why risky financial behavior is driven by the same mechanisms that compel us to root for the underdog in sports). 
   • Why Eliot Spitzer, who made a career of crusading against prostitution, turned out to be one of the most famous johns of all time.  
   • Why Mel Gibson, a noted philanthropist and devout Catholic, has been repeatedly caught spewing racist rants, even though close friends say he doesn’t have a racist bone in his body. 
   • And why any of us is capable of doing the same, whether we believe it or not!

A surprising look at the hidden forces driving the saint and sinner lurking in us all, Out of Character reveals why human behavior is so much more unpredictable than we ever realized.
 

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Rancho Cordova
155.23 D476 2011
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Format:
Book
Edition:
1st ed.
Language:
English
ISBN:
9780307717757, 0307717755

Notes

Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)

DeSteno, D., & Valdesolo, P. (2011). Out of character: surprising truths about the liar, cheat, sinner (and saint) lurking in all of us. New York, Crown Archetype.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)

DeSteno, David and Piercarlo. Valdesolo. 2011. Out of Character: Surprising Truths About the Liar, Cheat, Sinner (and Saint) Lurking in All of Us. New York, Crown Archetype.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)

DeSteno, David and Piercarlo. Valdesolo, Out of Character: Surprising Truths About the Liar, Cheat, Sinner (and Saint) Lurking in All of Us. New York, Crown Archetype, 2011.

MLA Citation (style guide)

DeSteno, David. and Piercarlo Valdesolo. Out of Character: Surprising Truths About the Liar, Cheat, Sinner (and Saint) Lurking in All of Us. New York, Crown Archetype, 2011.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
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Grouped Work ID:
0b07a75f-92b9-a5a2-4d47-10a245817224
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Record Information

Last Sierra Extract TimeApr 20, 2024 07:58:35 AM
Last File Modification TimeApr 20, 2024 07:59:17 AM
Last Grouped Work Modification TimeApr 26, 2024 02:10:38 AM

MARC Record

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5050 |a Saints and sinners: the mental battle that defines our character -- Hypocrisy vs. morality: why no one should throw stones -- Soul mate or playmate?: what makes Mr. or Ms. Right go wrong -- From pride to hubris: the deadliest of the seven sins? -- Compassionate or cruel?: looking into the mirror of the human soul -- Fairness and trust: the surprising elasticity of the golden rule -- Playing it safe vs. taking a gamble: risk, reward, and ruin -- Tolerance vs. bigotry: why sometimes we just can't help hating "them" -- True colors: understanding and managing the spectrum of character.
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