Yavapai College: Viruses of the Mind – How and Why Ideas Spread

How does the information glut work for and against us? Why do some beliefs, political movements, conspiracy theories, religions, and internet memes spread easily while others disappear? The class will use ‘Virus of the Mind’, a book that examines the nature of belief, how social influence shapes our thinking, and how ideas spread. We’ll draw brief references from psychology and neuroscience BUT the course is designed for ample discussion as consumers of information (or is it consuming us?).