Medical Myths and Superstitions: How Our Instincts Can Lead Us Astray - Livestream

What grosses you out? Pretty much everyone is disgusted by open wounds, vomit, and or other things that could transmit germs and make us sick. Our sense of disgust can protect us - but it can also lead us astray. Many medical myths, misconceptions, and irrational health fears relate back to things we find disgusting, and to magical thinking that leads to fears of contamination. For example, it’s very easy to sell expensive treatments that promise to help people “sweat out” toxins, despite a resounding lack of scientific evidence those treatments actually work.

The popular online event series Skeptical Inquirer Presents returns for a live conversation with author Erika Engelhaupt. She’ll discuss her book Gory Details, which uncovers fascinating stories about medical treatments involving all manner of bodily fluids while exploring the concepts of disgust and magical thinking. Engelhaupt will also talk about more extreme examples of delusions of infestation, in which people with no other signs of mental illness become convinced that insects have taken over their bodies.

Register at weblink to attend.