Could drugs offer a new way of seeing the world? In 1953, in the presence of an investigator, Aldous Huxley took four-tenths of a gramme of mescalin, sat down and waited to see what would happen. When he opened his eyes everything, from the flowers in a vase to the creases in his trousers, was transformed. His account of his experience, and his vision for all that psychedelics could offer to mankind, has influenced writers, artists and thinkers around the world.

The unabridged text of The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley

VINTAGE MINIS: GREAT MINDS. BIG IDEAS. LITTLE BOOKS.

A series of short books by the world’s greatest writers on the experiences that make us human

Also in the Vintage Minis series:
Drinking by John Cheever
Swimming by Roger Deakin
Eating by Nigella Lawson
Desire by Haruki Murakami

Când se transforma un obicei nevinovat in dependenta? De ce doar unii dintre noi devenim dependenti? Cum este posibila recuperarea?

Există multe povești despre dependență și majoritatea se contrazic între ele.

• Dependența este o boală sau o slăbiciune morală?

• Este consecința inevitabilă a consumului de droguri sau este o alegere?

• Dacă dependența este despre droguri, cum rămâne cu dependența de jocurile de noroc, sex, cumpărături, sport, jocuri video, mâncare, bani, putere?

• Sunt și acestea adicții în adevăratul sens al cuvântului?

• Legat de droguri, de ce nu devin dependenți toți cei care utilizează droguri?

• Au unii oameni personalități pre­dispuse la adicții?

Indiferent de răspunsuri, nu există nicio în­doială că avem de‑a face cu o problemă gravă.  

Această carte este o încercare de a răspunde unora dintre întrebările și părerile contradictorii din jurul dependenței și al comportamentelor adictive și include câteva teme ce vor fi explo­rate de‑a lungul capitolelor. Adicția nu este o ratare din punct de vedere moral sau o alegere. Modelul de boală (sau medical), care înțelege adicția ca fiind o boală a creierului influențată de o vul­nerabilitate genetică, este bine cunoscut, dar are câteva minusuri semnificative. Fără îndoială, a considera adicția o boală este prea limitativ și vom explora această viziune mai detaliat în carte.

Utilizarea drogurilor nu este sinonimă cu dependența de dro­guri, iar această diferență se aplică și altor comportamente adic­tive. Acest tip de comportamente se află la capătul extrem al unui spectru pe care ne aflăm toți; toate urmează aceleași procese pe care le utilizăm ca să identificăm și să urmărim lucruri pe care le considerăm importante pentru supraviețuirea personală. În cazul adicției, aceste obiceiuri devin adânc înrădăcinate și supraapre­ciate, prin urmare încep să elimine alte obiceiuri, care erau părți importante din viața noastră. Afirmație adevărată indiferent de obiectul adicției, fie el droguri, alcool, jocuri video sau muncă. Creierul nostru este „construit” în așa fel încât să creeze obiceiuri, iar obiceiurile cele mai puternice sunt cele care servesc nevoilor emoționale fundamentale: nevoia de apartenență, de siguranță și securitate, de control și autonomie, de eliberare de o durere ex­trem de puternică.

Adicția îi păcălește pe oameni trimițându‑i după lucruri care, pe termen lung, nu le pot satisface nevoile, asemenea „fantomelor flămânde” din budismul tibetan: ființe cu abdomene uriașe, goale, dar cu guri mici, cât o gămălie de ac, așa că, indiferent ce mănâncă, nu sunt niciodată sătule. Autorul și medicul Gabor Maté a descris această imagine drept „domeniul adicției, în care căutăm constant ceva în afara noastră pentru a răspunde unei dorințe incontrolabile de eliberare sau de împli­nire”.

Toți avem o anumită capacitate de a dezvolta comportamente adictive, iar anumiți factori biologici, psihologici și care aparțin mediului nostru social fac ca acest lucru să fie mai mult sau mai puțin probabil în diferite momente din viața noas­tră. 

 Ce ne poate invata psihologia despre sex? Cum reacţioneaza oamenii – corpuri si minti diferite – atunci cand vine vorba despre sex? Cum putem sa ne opunem stigmatizarii oamenilor pe considerente ce tin de sexualitatea lor?

Bun venit în lumea psihologiei sexului! Fie că îți place, fie că nu, cu toții trăim într‑o lume în care suntem bombardați constant cu informație, imagini și ideologii despre sex. Psihologia nu presupune doar descoperirea unor lucruri prin intermediul cercetării, ci și evaluarea lucrurilor din perspectivă psihologică și aplicarea principiilor psihologice în viața oamenilor. Așadar, dincolo de faptul că oferă o mulțime de informații despre sex din diferite teorii și studii, această carte pune la dispoziție și mijloacele pentru a gândi critic cu privire la mesajele transmise despre sex și la dezbaterile care se poartă pe tematici legate de acest subiect. De asemenea, conține o mulțime de informații despre felul în care cercetarea și ideile din psihologie pot fi aplicate în viață, în general, dar și despre felul în care le poți aplica tu, în propriile relații și experiențe.

Cele cinci capitole prezintă o incursiune în ceea ce știm despre psihologia sexului, urmărind diferite aspecte: sexualitate (orientarea, identitatea și atracția sexuală), „actul” sexual sau contactul sexual, practicile și relațiile sexuale și ceea ce a fost numit de curând sexualizarea culturii. Fiecare capitol se bazează pe cărți și articole științifice, pe care le poți consulta apoi pentru a afla mai multe despre temele care te interesează. Veți găsi, de asemenea, și o listă de resurse, la finalul cărții, de unde puteți afla mai multe informații despre tematicile studiate.

Sperăm că, pe tot parcursul acestei cărți, vei continua să te întrebi „Ce e psihologia?” și „Ce e sexul?” și că răspunsurile se vor schimba pe măsură ce citești. Așa cum se întâmplă cu majoritatea întrebărilor importante, nu există răspunsuri corecte nici pentru acestea; important și util este să continui să ți le pui și să observi cum se schimbă răspunsurile cu cât reflectezi mai mult asupra lor. Iar dacă psihologia sexului se dovedește utilă într‑o oarecare măsură, ea trebuie să răspundă și la întrebările practice, presante, pe care le avem cu privire la sex:

• Cum putem împiedica stigmatizarea, marginalizarea sau chiar torturarea și uciderea oamenilor din cauza sexualității lor?

• Cum putem ajuta oamenii care se confruntă cu probleme legate de sexualitate?

• Cum putem reduce ratele îngrijorător de mari ale sexului abuziv și coercitiv?

• Cum ar trebui să tratăm agresorii sexuali pentru a‑i împiedica să mai comită abuzuri sexuale și cum putem ajuta victimele acestor abuzuri?

• Cum arată o viziune sănătoasă asupra sexului și cum am putea încuraja promovarea acesteia în media convențională, socială și sexuală?

• Cum ar trebui să educăm copiii cu privire la sex?

Ce anume ne convinge sa avem incredere in oameni? Cum se dezvolta increderea si cum poate fi aceasta mentinuta? Se confrunta, oare, societatea occidentala cu o criza de incredere?

Psihologia increderii trateaza chestiuni legate de incredere si experientele din viata de zi cu zi. Cartea identifica factorii care ii determina pe oameni sa fie încrezatori in ceilalti si consecintele acestei decizii asupra problemelor reale de sanatate, politica, terorism, la locul de munca sau in credinta religioasa, din intreaga lume. Cartea exploreaza si impactul lipsei de incredere, precum si cauzele manifestarii acesteia la persoane, grupuri sau organizatii.

Intr-o lume in care siguranta influenteaza viata noastra cotidiana, Psihologia increderii arata rolul pe care aceasta il are in relatiile noastre si ne ofera indrumari practice in legătura cu increderea pe care o acordam celor din jurul nostru.

Ken J. Rotenberg este Profesor de Psihologie la Universitatea Keele din Marea Britanie. Este cercetator activ de peste 40 de ani, interesat in special de increderea din timpul copilariei si al adolescentei.

Cum ne afecteaza muzica starea de spirit? Care este cel mai bun mod de a‑ti dezvolta abilitatile muzicale? Cum variaza defi­nitia muzicii de la o cultura la alta?

Music. Psihologia muzicii exploreaza impactul fundamental pe care muzica il are asupra vietii noastre de zi cu zi si influenta acesteia asupra societatii, grupurilor si indivizilor. Lucrarea de­monstreaza beneficiile muzicii in ceea ce priveste functionarea intelectului nostru, sanatatea si starea generala de bine si anali­zeaza talentul muzical dintr‑o dubla perspectiva: ca dar innascut si ca abilitate ce poate fi cultivata si dezvoltata prin practica si exercitiu.

Muzica ne prilejuieste o mai buna intelegere a umanitatii si a vietii moderne, iar volumul de fata ne arata semnificatia ei si pu­terea pe care o rasfrange asupra comportamentului nostru.

Susan Hallam este profesor emerit de Educatie si Psihologie a Muzicii in cadrul Institutului de Educatie de la UCL (Colegiul Universitar din Londra). In 2015 a fost distinsa cu un ordin ono­rific – MBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire); ina­inte de a deveni profesor universitar, Susan Hallam s‑a bucurat de o cariera de succes atat ca muzician profesionist, cat si ca profesor de muzica.

Ce spun despre noi hainele pe care le purtam? In ce mod ne afecteaza imbracamintea dispozitia si emotiile? Cum reuseste industria modei sa ne induca dorinta de a arata intr‑un anumit fel?

 Fashion. Psihologia modei ne ofera o introducere lucida in universul captivant si dinamic al modei, vazut in raport cu comportamentul uman, de la felul in care hainele ne pot afecta procesele cognitive pana la cel in care comerciantii manipuleaza reactiile consumatorilor. Cartea exploreaza capacitatea creatiei vestimentare de a influenta obiectivitatea percepţiei pe care o avem asupra propriei persoane, modul în care psihologia poate oferi o perspectivă mai practică asupra procesului de producţie și de reciclare a hainelor, precum și motivele pentru care dezvoltăm anumite obiceiuri consumeriste.

Intr‑un moment in care strazile, revistele si canalele audiovizuale abunda de imagini promovand moda, volumul de fata ne arata cum hainele si psihologia pot aduce o schimbare pozitiva in vietile noastre.
Prof. Carolyn Mair este consultant independent, specializat in psihologia modei. Colaboreaza cu institutii de invaţamant, companii producatoare de imbracaminte si canale mass‑media. A creat programele de licenta si de masterat in psihologia modei de la College of Fashion din Londra.

The staggering toll of gun violence � which claims 31,000 U.S. lives each year � is an urgent public health issue that demands an effective evidence-based policy response. The Johns Hopkins University convened more than 20 of the world's leading experts on gun violence and policy to summarize relevant research and recommend policies that are both constitutional and have broad public support. Collected for the first time in one volume, this reliable, empirical research and legal analysis will help lawmakers, opinion leaders, and concerned citizens identify policy changes to address mass shootings, along with the less-publicized gun violence that takes an average of 80 lives every day. Selected recommendations include: - Background checks: Establish a universal background check system for all persons purchasing a firearm from any seller. - High-risk individuals: Expand the set of conditions that disqualify an individual from legally purchasing a firearm. - Mental health: Focus federal restrictions on gun purchases by persons with serious mental illness on the dangerousness of the individual. - Trafficking and dealer licensing: Appoint a permanent director to ATF and provide the agency with the authority to develop a range of sanctions for gun dealers who violate gun sales or other laws. - Personalized guns: Provide financial incentives to states to mandate childproof or personalized guns. - Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines: Ban the future sale of assault weapons and the future sale and possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines. - Research funds: Provide adequate federal funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and National Institute of Justice for research into the causes and solutions of gun violence. The book includes an analysis of the constitutionality of many recommended policies and data from a national public opinion poll that reflects support among the majority of Americans � including gun owners � for stronger gun policies.

Ferdinand de Saussure’s Course in General Linguistics is one of the most influential texts of the 20th-century – an astonishing feat for what is, at heart, a series of deeply technical lectures about the structure of human languages. What the Course’s vast influence shows, fundamentally, is the power of good interpretative skills. The interpretative tasks of laying down and clarifying definitions are often vital to providing the logical framework for all kinds of critical thinking – whether it be solving problems in business, or esoteric academic research. At the time sat which Saussure gave his lectures, linguistics was a scattered and inconsistent field, without a unified method or rigorous approach. He aimed to change that by setting down and clarifying definitions and distinctions that would provide a coherent methodological framework for the study of language. The terms laid down in the Course did exactly that – and they still make up the core of linguistic terminology a full century later. More than this, however, Saussure also highlighted the centrality of linguistic interpretation to understanding how we relate to the world, founding “semiotics”, or the study of signs – a field whose influence on academics across the humanities and social sciences is unparalleled.

Welcome to the Post-Truth era― a time in which the art of the lie is shaking the very foundations of democracy and the world as we know it. The Brexit vote; Donald Trump’s victory; the rejection of climate change science; the vilification of immigrants; all have been based on the power to evoke feelings and not facts. So what does it all mean and how can we champion truth in in a time of lies and ‘alternative facts’?

In this eye-opening and timely book, Post-Truth is distinguished from a long tradition of political lies, exaggeration and spin. What is new is not the mendacity of politicians but the public’s response to it and the ability of new technologies and social media to manipulate, polarise and entrench opinion. Where trust has evaporated, conspiracy theories thrive, the authority of the media wilt and emotions matter more than facts .

Now, one of the UK’s most respected political journalists, Matthew d’Ancona investigates how we got here, why quiet resignation is not an option and how we can and must fight back.

First published in 1516, Saint Thomas More's "Utopia" is one of the most important works of European humanism and serves as a key text in survey courses on Western intellectual history, the Renaissance, political theory, and many other subjects. Preeminent More scholar Clarence H. Miller does justice to the full range of More's rhetoric in this masterful translation. In a new afterword to this edition, Jerry Harp contextualizes More's life and "Utopia" within the wider frames of European humanism and the Renaissance.

Presents what you need to know about modern physics, the universe and our place in the world in seven lessons. In this introduction to modern physics, the author explains Einstein's theory of general relativity, quantum mechanics, black holes, the complex architecture of the universe, elementary particles, gravity, and the nature of the mind.

Emile Durkheim’s 1897 On Suicide is widely recognized as one of the foundational classic texts of sociology. It is also one that shows the degree to which strong interpretative skills can often provide the bedrock for high-level analysis. Durkheim's aim was to analyse the nature of suicide in the context of society itself – examining it not just as an individual decision, but one in which different social factors played important roles. In order to do this, it was vital that he both define and classify suicide into subtypes – kinds of suicide with different causal factors at play. From his research, Durkheim identifed four broad types of suicide: egoistic (from a sense of not-belonging), altruistic (from a sense that group goals far outweigh individual well-being), anomic (from lack of moral or social direction), and fatalistic (in response to excessive discipline or oppression). These definitions opened the way for Durkheim to pursue a close social analysis examining how each type related to different social contexts. While his study is in certain ways dated, it remains classic precisely because it helped define the methodology of sociology itself – in which interpretative skills remain central.

Michel Foucault is famous as one of the 20th-century’s most innovative and wide-ranging thinkers. The qualities that made him one of the most-read and influential theorists of the modern age find full expression in History of Sexuality, the last project Foucault was able to complete before his death in 1984. Central to Foucault’s appeal is the creativity of his thought. Creative thinking takes many forms – from redefining an issue in a novel way to making unexpected and illuminating connections. Foucault’s particular talent could perhaps best be described as turning questions inside out. In the case of sexuality, for instance, his interpretation of the historical evidence led him to argue that the sexual categories that we are used to (homosexual, lesbian, straight, and so on) are not “natural,” but constructs that are products of the ways in which power and knowledge interact in society. Such categories, Foucault continues, actually serve to produce the desires they seek to name. And their creation, in turn, is closely linked to the power that society exerts on those who belong to different sexual groups. Foucault’s ideas – familiar now – were so novel in their time that they proved highly challenging. But to see the world through Foucault’s thought is to see it in a profoundly different and illuminating way – an example of creative thinking at its best.

Claude Lévi-Strauss is probably the most complex anthropological theorist of all time. His work continues to influence present-day thinkers in his field, but he is perhaps even more influential beyond it. As one of the key figures in the development of what is known today as ‘French theory,’ Lévi-Strauss was one of the most important thinkers of the 20th-century. His theories of interpretation, meaning and culture have helped shape the ideas and methodologies of a range of disciplines, above all literature and philosophy. At the heart of Lévi-Strauss’s work are the questions of meaning and where meaning comes from. As an anthropologist, he was primarily interested in what completely different and separate cultures might have in common. Crucially, he saw how common ground resides not on the surface of cultures (i.e., in similar customs), but deep inside invisible background structures of thought. His quest was to peel away the surface of different cultures through careful interpretation, advancing from one layer to another until he discovered the structures that lay behind all of the exterior practices and meanings. Infamously challenging, his work shows interpretative skills working at the highest, most abstract level possible.

“Gato’s head snapped back… We could make out the shots of several 9mms, a couple of 38s and one or two 45s. I hurled myself through the doorway and into the room. I didn’t look back.”

Caught in an Ecuador hotel room with 8kg of cocaine, Pieter Tritton was no mule or dupe. He had planned and organised everything. The consequence: a 12-year sentence inside one of the world’s deadliest prison systems, where gun fights, executions and riots are a part of everyday life. As a Brit banged up abroad, Pieter had to learn how to survive – and fast – because one wrong move would mean death.

This is the insider account of what it’s like to live in a place worse than hell and come out a changed man on the other side.

Do you touch wood for luck, or avoid the number 13? Despite the dominance of science in today's world, superstitious beliefs - both traditional and new - remain surprisingly popular. From black cats to lucky pennies, Stuart Vyse explores the history of our deepest superstitions, and the psychological reasons behind why they persist today. Introduction; 1 The meanings of superstition; 2 Religious superstition; 3 Secular superstition; 4 Superstition today; 5 Why do people believe?; 6 The future of superstition; Further reading; Index

On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Over the course of minutes, they would kill twelve students and a teacher and wound twenty-four others before taking their own lives.

For the last sixteen years, Sue Klebold, Dylan’s mother, has lived with the indescribable grief and shame of that day. How could her child, the promising young man she had loved and raised, be responsible for such horror? And how, as his mother, had she not known something was wrong? Were there subtle signs she had missed? What, if anything, could she have done differently?

These are questions that Klebold has grappled with every day since the Columbine tragedy. In A Mother’s Reckoning, she chronicles with unflinching honesty her journey as a mother trying to come to terms with the incomprehensible. In the hope that the insights and understanding she has gained may help other families recognize when a child is in distress, she tells her story in full, drawing upon her personal journals, the videos and writings that Dylan left behind, and on countless interviews with mental health experts.

Filled with hard-won wisdom and compassion, A Mother’s Reckoning is a powerful and haunting book that sheds light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. And with fresh wounds from the recent Newtown and Charleston shootings, never has the need for understanding been more urgent.

All author profits from the book will be donated to research and to charitable organizations focusing on mental health issues.

Seven steps to lasting happiness.

In The Ultimate Happiness Prescription, bestselling author and the world’s leading figure in alternative medicine Dr Deepak Chopra show us how to be happy in spite of living in difficult or trying times.

By looking through the lens of our contemporary understanding of consciousness, combined with Eastern philosophy, he has created a set of principles for living with ease. The result is an inspiring and instructive journey that leads to a prescription for living life mindfully, with a light heart and effortless spontaneity - a prescription only Dr Deepak Chopra could write.

With the world in turmoil and more people than ever suffering from depressive episodes, Dr Chopra underlines the importance of keeping an eye on the positive aspects of life and finding ways to experience joy no matter what is happening to you. This remarkably clear and helpful book explains how to maintain an optimistic outlook and experience the benefits of having a happy heart and soul, no matter what the circumstances.

Why do we make things? Why do we choose the emotionally and physically demanding work of bringing new objects into the world with creativity and skill? Why does it matter that we make things well? What is the nature of work? And what is the nature of a good life?

Part memoir, part polemic, part philosophical reflection, this is a book about the process of creation and what it means to be a craftsman in a mass-produced world. For woodworker Peter Korn, the challenging work of bringing something new and meaningful into the world through one’s own efforts is exactly what generates authenticity, meaning, and fulfilment, for which many of us yearn. This is not a ‘how-to’ book in any sense, Korn wants to get at the ‘why’ of craft in particular, and the satisfaction of creative work in general, to understand its essential nature.

How does the making of objects shape our identities? How do the products of creative work inform society? In short, what does the process of making things reveal to us about ourselves? Korn draws on four decades of hands-on experience to answer these questions eloquently in this heartfelt, personal and revealing book.

'Quiet is a startling, important and readable page-turner. It will make quiet people see through themselves in a whole new light.' Naomi Wolf, author of The Beauty Myth

'Once in a blue moon, a book comes along that gives us startling new insights. Quiet is that book: part page-turner, part cutting edge science, it will change the way you see yourself, other people, and the world.' Adam Grant, The Wharton School of Business

'Quiet legitimizes and even celebrates the 'niche' that represents half the people in the world. Think Malcolm Gladwell for people who don't take themselves too seriously. Mark my words, this book will be a bestseller.' Guy Kawasaki, author of Enchantment

'Happiness is . . . Quiet, an extraordinary book that will change for ever the way society views introverts. Superbly researched and deeply insightful, Quiet is an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to understand the gifts of the introverted half of the population.' Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

'An intriguing and potentially life-altering examination of the human psyche that is sure to benefit both introverts and extroverts alike.' Kirkus Reviews

We Are All Weird is Seth Godin's cult classic on celebrating (and marketing to) the individual, now repackaged and relaunched World of Warcrafters, LARPers, Settlers of Catan? Weird. Beliebers, Swifties, Directioners? Weirder. Paleos, vegans, carb loaders, ovolacto vegetarians? Definitely weird.

Face it. We're all weird. So why are companies still trying to build products for the masses? Why are we still acting like the masses even exist? Weird is the new normal.

And only companies that figure that out have any chance of survival. In this book, Seth Godin shows you how. "Read this book slowly and read it again, for the lessons are rich and wise." (Jacqueline Novogratz, founder, Acumen).

Our happiness and success depend on clear thinking. But too many of us are compromised by confusion, trying to do too much at once, and not knowing what to do next. In Teach Yourself to Think, Edward de Bono shows that good thinking depends on a simple five-stage process that anyone can learn.

It will enable you to assess your goals, sort available information, identify the available choices, make a decision and, finally, turn thought into action.

This book offers brilliant advice for anyone who needs to be able to respond to and deal with a vast range of situations at work and in life quickly, efficiently and intelligently.

Meetings are a crucial part of all our lives, but too often they go nowhere and waste valuable time. In Six Thinking Hats, Edward de Bono shows how meetings can be transformed to produce quick, decisive results every time.

The Six Hats method is a devastatingly simple technique based on the brain's different modes of thinking. The intelligence, experience and information of everyone is harnessed to reach the right conclusions quickly.

These principles fundamentally change the way you work and interact. They have been adopted by businesses and governments around the world to end conflict and confusion in favour of harmony and productivity.

UNLOCK THE KEY TO SUCCESS

In this must-read for anyone seeking to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth takes us on an eye-opening journey to discover the true qualities that lead to outstanding achievement. Winningly personal, insightful and powerful, Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that – not talent or luck – makes all the difference.


‘Impressively fresh and original’ Susan Cain

Sapiens showed us where we came from. Homo Deus shows us where we're going.

War is obsolete. You are more likely to commit suicide than be killed in conflict.

Famine is disappearing. You are at more risk of obesity than starvation.

Death is just a technical problem. Equality is out – but immortality is in.

What does our future hold?

Yuval Noah Harari, author of the bestselling phenomenon Sapiens envisions a not-too-distant world in which we face a new set of challenges. Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century – from overcoming death to creating artificial life. It asks the fundamental questions: Where do we go from here? And how will we protect this fragile world from our own destructive powers?

'Homo Deus will shock you. It will entertain you. Above all, it will make you think in ways you had not thought before' Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking Fast, and Slow

This best-selling dictionary is written by one of the most famous philosophers of our time, and widely recognised as the best dictionary of its kind. Wide-ranging and authoritative, it covers every aspect of philosophy from Aristotle to Zen. Clear, concis

What is happening emotionally when we grieve for a loved one? Is there a ‘right’ way to grieve? What effect does grief have on how we see ourselves?

The Psychology of Grief is a humane and intelligent account that highlights the wide range of responses we have to losing a loved one and explores how psychologists have sought to explain this experience. From Freud’s pioneering psychoanalysis to discredited ideas that we must pass through ‘stages’ of grief, the book examines the social and cultural norms that frame or limit our understanding of the grieving process, as well as looking at the language we use to describe it.

Everyone, at some point in their lives, experiences bereavement and The Psychology of Grief will help readers understand both their own and others’ feelings of grief that accompany it.

Table of Contents:

Ch 1 Loss, Bereavement and Grief: What do they mean?

Ch 2 The experience and nature of grief: What is it like?

Ch 3 Trying to explain grief: What is it for?

Ch 4 Grief as a socio-cultural phenomenon: How should we grieve?

Ch 5 Grief and our relationship to the deceased: Who has died?

Ch 6 When does grief become abnormal?

Ch 7 The positive side of grief: Can it have beneficial outcomes?

The Psychology of Fashion offers an insightful introduction to the exciting and dynamic world of fashion in relation to human behaviour, from how clothing can affect our cognitive processes to the way retail environments manipulate consumer behaviour. The book explores how fashion design can impact healthy body image, how psychology can inform a more sustainable perspective on the production and disposal of clothing, and why we develop certain shopping behaviours.

With fashion imagery ever present in the streets, press and media, The Psychology of Fashion shows how fashion and psychology can make a positive difference to our lives.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction 

2. Mental health and fashion 

3. The influence of fashion on body image and ‘beauty’ 

4. Fashion, self and identity 

5. Fashion consumption 

6. Fashion and behaviour 

7. Conclusions

Thinking Fast and Slow offers a whole new look at the way our minds work, and how we make decisions. Why is there more chance we'll believe something if it's in a bold type face? Why are judges more likely to deny parole before lunch? Why do we assume a good-looking person will be more competent? The answer lies in the two ways we make choices: fast, intuitive thinking, and slow, rational thinking. This book reveals how our minds are tripped up by error and prejudice (even when we think we are being logical), and gives you practical techniques for slower, smarter thinking. It will enable to you make better decisions at work, at home, and in everything you do.

When does a harmless habit become an addition? Why do only some of us get addicted? What can make recovery possible?

The Psychology of Addiction is a fascinating introduction to the psychological issues surrounding addiction and the impact they have on social policy, recovery and an addict’s everyday life. The book focuses on drug and alcohol addiction and tackles topics such as whether drug use always leads to addiction and the importance of social networks to recovery. It also looks at how people can become addicted to activities like gambling, gaming and sex.

In a society that still stigmatises addiction The Psychology of Addiction emphasises the importance of compassion, and provides a sensitive insight to anyone with experience of addiction.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Chapter 1. Addiction: from prejudice to compassion

Chapter 2. Is addiction a choice?

Chapter 3. If it’s the drugs that are addictive, why doesn’t everyone get addicted?

Chapter 4. You can teach an old dog new tricks: addiction and recovery

Chapter 5. Safety in numbers: nourishing the hungry ghosts

Chapter 6. Make love not war: if drug policy understood the science of compassion

How can you make the most of retirement? How should you plan for retirement? What are the challenges of retirement and how can they be dealt with?

The Psychology of Retirement looks at this life stage as a journey that involves challenges, opportunities, setbacks, periods of disenchantment and, often, exciting new beginnings. Taking a positive approach, the book explores how retirement provides opportunities to cultivate new friendships, interests and hobbies, consolidate and renegotiate long-held ones, and even re-invent oneself in a post-work environment. It also emphasizes the value of pre-retirement planning, and the importance of establishing new goals and purposes.　

Retirement can be a period of significant psychological growth and development and The Psychology of Retirement shows how it can herald the beginning of a vibrant and active stage of life.

Table of Contents:

1. THE NEW RETIREMENT

2. THE JOURNEY: TRANSITIONING FROM WORKER TO RETIREE

3. FINANCIAL SECURITY OR FINANCIAL STRESS?

4. RETIREMENT, HEALTH AND WELLBEING

5. RENEGOTIATING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

6. RE-SHAPING IDENTITY IN RETIREMENT

7. MAKING THE MOST OF RETIREMENT

How does music affect our moods?

What is the best way to develop musical skills?

How does the definition of music vary between cultures?

The Psychology of Music explores the important impact music has on our everyday lives, and its influence on society, groups and individual people. It demonstrates how music can benefit our intellectual functioning, and health and well-being, and examines musical ability as both a gift and something that can be developed through learning and practice.

Music can enhance our understanding of humanity and modern life and The Psychology of Music shows us the significance of music, and the power it can have over our behaviour.

Table of Contents:

1. Music, its significance and functions 

2. The processing of music 

3. The development of general musical skills 

4. Music in everyday life 

5. The benefits of music to health and well-being 

6. Issues relating to musical ability 

7. The development of specialist musical skills 

8. The benefits of music to intellectual functioning

Do you feel happier on a sunny day? Are you afraid of thunderstorms? Are you dreaming of a White Christmas?

The Psychology of Weather explores our relationship with the weather, and how it can affect our mood, behaviour, and lifestyle. The book sheds light on our preoccupation with this natural phenomenon, providing insights into how the weather on the day we were born can directly affect our intelligence and personality, and explore such surprising findings that suicide rates peak in the spring and summer.

When the weather affects everything from our buying behaviour, to the jobs we do, The Psychology of Weather shows us that understanding and appreciating the weather can improve our well-being and contribute to human survival.

Table of Contents:

Preface

Chapter 1: Weather and Mood

Chapter 2: Weather and Health

Chapter 3: Weather and Behaviour

Chapter 4: Weather and Belief

Chapter 5: Weather and Society

Do we become better or worse drivers as we age? Why do we indulge in risky behaviour when driving? Will technology remove the human role in driving forever?　

The Psychology of Driving is a fascinating introduction into the psychological factors at play when people get behind the wheel. Exploring the role of personality traits and cognitive functions such as attention in driving, the book considers why human error is most often to blame in road accidents, and how we can improve driver safety. The book debunks the myth that men are better drivers than women and considers why some people indulge in knowingly risky behaviour on the road, including using mobile phones and drink/drug-driving.

In a time when driverless cars are becoming a reality, The Psychology of Driving shows us how human behaviour and decisions can still affect our lives on the road.

Table of Contents:

Preface

Chapter 1: perception and attention in driving

Chapter 2: distracted driving

Chapter 3: driving, risk and youth

Chapter 4: the effects of age on driving

Chapter 5: personality and driving

Chapter 6: driving while impaired

Chapter 7: the future of driving

Who believes in conspiracy theories, and why are some people more susceptible to them than others?

What are the consequences of such beliefs?

Has a conspiracy theory ever turned out to be true?

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories debunks the myth that conspiracy theories are a modern phenomenon, exploring their broad social contexts, from politics to the workplace. The book explains why some people are more susceptible to these beliefs than others and how they are produced by recognizable and predictable psychological processes.

Featuring examples such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and climate change, The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories shows us that while such beliefs are not always irrational and are not a pathological trait, they can be harmful to individuals and society.

Table of Contents:

Preface

Chapter 1 –Psychology of Conspiracy Theories

Chapter 2 – When do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?

Chapter 3 – The Architecture of Belief

Chapter 4 – The Social Roots of Conspiracy Theories

Chapter 5 – Conspiracy Theories and Ideology

Chapter 6 – Explaining and Reducing Conspiracy Theories

Why are we fascinated by celebrities we’ve never met? What is the difference between fame and celebrity? How has social media enabled a new wave of celebrities?

The Psychology of Celebrity explores the origins of celebrity culture, the relationships celebrities have with their fans, how fame can affect celebrities, and what shapes our thinking about celebrities we admire. The book also addresses the way in which the media has been and continues to be an outlet for celebrities, culminating in the role of social media, reality television, and technology in our modern society.

Drawing on research featuring real life celebrities from the Kardashians to Michael Jackson, The Psychology of Celebrity shows us that celebrity influence can have both positive and negative outcomes and the impact these can have on our lives.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction 

2. Controversy over celebrity  

3. Historical perspectives  

4. Celebrity/audience relationships  

5. Celebrity and the Media  

6. Conclusions

Why is performing under pressure often so difficult? What strategies can help us deliver our best performance? How can we boost our self-confidence?

The Psychology of Performance explores the key psychological factors that affect our ability to cope under pressure, whether it’s competing in a sport, appearing in front of an audience, or meeting a tight deadline. It looks at how we develop skills through learning and practice, and how self-confidence and decision-making can be sharpened to boost our expertise. The book explains how to develop the best mindset for performance, and shows how factors such as sleep, nutrition, and rest and recovery can influence our moods and how we function.

When we need to perform a task with little room for error, The Psychology of Performance helps us to understand how to do this to the best of our ability.

Table of Contents:

Chapter One

Introduction

Chapter Two

Learning the ropes: becoming an expert

Chapter Three

The impact of confidence on performance

Chapter Four

Making the right decision when it counts

Chapter Five

Factors determining psychological performance

Chapter Six

Practicing for performance

Why do so many people love gardening? What does your garden say about you? What is guerrilla gardening?

The Psychology of Gardening delves into the huge benefits that gardening can have on our health and emotional well-being, and how this could impact on the entire public health of a country. It also explores what our gardens can tell us about our personalities, how we can link gardening to mindfulness and restoration, and what motivates someone to become a professional gardener.

With gardening being an ever popular pastime, The Psychology of Gardening provides a fascinating insight into our relationships with our gardens.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction:

Why garden? Gardening facts and figures

Researching gardening and common themes

2. It’s my little bit of paradise

Identity and relationships

Home and place

3. Time stands still

‘Attention Restoration Theory’

‘Flow’ theory’

4. In touch with Nature

Evolutionary theories and Biophilia

Nature in control – the challenges

5. It keeps me sane

Gardening as therapy?

Nature and health?

6. Conclusions:

Review and reflection - summary

Greenfingers and expertise: ‘being’ or ‘becoming’ a gardener

What is the difference between sex and gender? What is the impact of gender-role stereotypes on our lives, our relationships and the world? What does gender mean to you?

The Psychology of Gender looks at our biology, history and culture to consider the impact of gender roles and stereotypes, and addresses the 'dilemmas' we have regarding gender in a post-modern world. It offers a unique perspective on gender through storytelling and explores ideas around transgender and cisgender identities and androgyny, tackling hidden assumptions and helping us make sense of the world of gender.

By examining the future of gender, The Psychology of Gender offers a platform for further exploration, and arrives at a new psychology of gender that emphasises relationships and helps us to understand our own gender identity and that of those around us.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1. Introduction  

Chapter 2. Sex and Gender 

Chapter 3. Gender Stereotypes and Sex Differences 

Chapter 4. The Impact of Gender Role Stereotypes 

Chapter 5. Gender Stories, Backwards, Forwards and Sideways 

Chapter 6. Conclusions: Moving Forward - Meaningful Gender  

The Psychology of Dieting takes a broad and balanced view of the causes of weight gain and the challenges involved in dieting. Exploring the cognitive, emotional and social triggers which lead us to make poor decisions around food, the book considers what it means to diet well. By understanding our psychological selves, the book shows how we can change our unhealthy behaviours and potentially lose weight.

In an era of weight problems, obesity, and dangerous dieting, The Psychology of Dieting shows us that there is no such thing as a miracle diet, and that we must understand how our minds shape the food choices we make.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1: A brief history of dieting

Chapter 2: Being overweight or obese

Chapter 3: Why do we overeat?

Chapter 4: Why are we not active enough?

Chapter 5: Dieting and its consequences

Chapter 6: Why do diets fail?

Chapter 7: Successful dieting

Chapter 8: Some strategies to change behavior

Chapter 9: Dieting well: making successful dieting happen

Chapter 10: Helping others to lose weight – for health professionals

Chapter 11: Helping others: top tips for children

Chapter 12: Concluding thoughts

What motivates us to do a good job? When does the pressure of work impact upon our health and well-being? How can employers choose the right candidates?

The Psychology of Working Life shows how, whether we like it or not, the way we work, and our feelings about it, play a fundamental role in overall well-being. From the use of psychometrics in recruiting the right candidate, to making working life more efficient, the book illustrates how work in industrialized societies continues to be founded upon core psychological ideas.

Motivation and job satisfaction have become recognized as key to job design and The Psychology of Working Life suggests that changing the way we work can impact on our stress levels, overall health, and productivity.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: What we talk about when we talk about work

2. Harder, better, faster, stronger: The rationalization of working life

3. It’s life Jim, life as we know it: Why working should be fun

4. Right person, right position: Optimizing worker-environment fit

5. Chance takers, accident makers: Error management at work

6. The seventh day: Recovery from work

7. The shape of things to come: Trends and challenges

What makes us trust people? How is trust developed and maintained? Is Western society facing a crisis of trust?

The Psychology of Trust addresses trust issues that are directly relevant to peoples’ experiences in their daily lives. It identifies the factors that cause people to trust, and the consequences of trust for real world issues in health, politics, terrorism, the workplace, and religious faith. It also explores the impact of a lack of trust, and what causes distrust of individuals, groups and organisations.

In a world where trust impacts our daily lives, The Psychology of Trust shows the role trust plays in our relationships, and provides practical guidance regarding our own trust in others.

Table of Contents:

1. Understanding Trust: A Crisis or Everything?

2. Lying and Trust: Sex, Lies and Videotape

3. Trust is a Delicate Balance

4. Developing Trust: Parents Can Get It Right!

5. Trust in Romantic Relationships: How Many Shades is Your Romantic Trust?

6. Trust and Health: The Road to Wellness?

7. Trust and the Police: Do You Trust the Police?

8. Trust in the Work Place: The Unseen and Seen Facets of Trust

What can psychology teach us about sex?

How do different bodies and brains respond sexually?

How can we prevent people being stigmatised for their sexuality?

The Psychology of Sex takes you on a tour through the different ways that psychologists have created and sustained certain understandings of sex and sexuality. Bearing in mind the subjective nature of sex, the book explores cultural concerns around sexualisation, pornography, and sex addiction, as well as drawing on research from sexual communities and the applied area of sex therapy.

When so much of our relationship to sex happens in the mind, The Psychology of Sex shows us how important it is to understand where our ideas about sex come from.

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Conventional wisdom about sex.  Sexuality.  Sex.  Categorising Sex.  Sex Today.  Conclusions: Thinking differently about sex.

'A fascinating, informative, revelatory book' William Boyd, Guardian

Parks are such a familiar part of everyday life, you might be forgiven for thinking they have always been there. In fact, public parks are an invention. From their medieval inception as private hunting grounds through to their modern incarnation as public spaces of rest and relaxation, parks have been fought over by land-grabbing monarchs, reforming Victorian industrialists, hippies, punks, and somewhere along the way, the common folk trying to savour their single day of rest.

In A Walk in the Park, Travis Elborough excavates the history of parks in all their colour and complexity. Loving, funny and impassioned, this is a timely celebration of a small wonder that – in an age of swingeing cuts – we should not take for granted.

Widely acknowledged to be one of Freud's greatest cultural works, when Totem and Taboo was first published in 1913, it caused outrage. Thorough and thought-provoking, Totem and Taboo remains the fullest exploration of Freud's most famous themes. Family, s

When Carl Jung and Carl Kerenyi got together to collaborate on this book, their aim was to elevate the study of mythology to a science. Kerenyi wrote on two of the most ubiquitous myths, the Divine Child and The Maiden, supporting the core 'stories' with both an introduction and a conclusion. Jung then provided a psychological analysis of both myths. He defined myth as a story about heroes interacting with the gods. Having long studied dreams and the subconscious, Jung identified certain dream patterns common to everyone. These 'archetypes' have developed through the centuries, and enable modern people to react to situations in much the same way as our ancestors. From nuclear annihilation to AIDS and Ebola, we continue to engage the gods in battle. Science of Mythology provides an account of the meaning and the purpose of mythic themes that is linked to modern life: the heroic battles between good and evil of yore are still played out, reflected in contemporary fears.

Writers, artists, and filmmakers investigate the proposition that we are what we throw away - Trash: the emptied out, the used up, the broken, the outgrown, the obsolete; the dispossessed, the lost, the left behind. In "Trash", writers, artists, and filmmakers look at how we are defined by what we waste and discover that we are what we throw away. "Trash" surveys a terrain that ranges from micro (a typology of dust bunnies) to macro (studies of landfill design and the trashed space of urban brownfield sites). It investigates the logic of trash as it is applied to humans and looks at lives intimately dependent on trash, taking us from the abducted girls of Juarez to the recycling communities of China. These excavations of trash include philosopher Barry Allen's tracing of the borderline where thought turns to trash, Susan Coolen's collection of paper airplanes found in the streets of Montreal, and the strange and obsessive project of artist Kristan Horton to recreate tableaux from the film Dr. Strangelove with bits of trash. Poet, Priscilla Uppal writes about her Uncle Fernando, known to his neighbors in Brasilia as "Dr. Garbage" ("When they go to the movies/he goes through their garbage"), and Karilee Fuglem's photographs reveal the intricacy of household fluff. Rebecca Duclos and David Ross create an advertisement for a fictional museum that houses artifacts discarded by other museums, and Priya Sarukkai Chabria's cantos of "Refuse/Refused" give voice to an old woman in India discarded, like trash, by her family, a shard of a broken mirror ("My time will come when/yours is done"), and a worm in a "cathedral of rot." "Trash" explores the ethics and psychology of trash and what these reveal about contemporary industrial society. The investigations range from the whimsical to the disturbing, and offers a variety of approaches to rehabilitating and rediscovering what is too commonly tossed aside.

Adrian Stokes was one of the twentieth century's finest and most discriminating writers on art. Of over twenty works of art criticism, Michelangelo was considered by Lawrence Gowing to be the most complete he ever wrote, presenting an understanding of the great artist that no one subsequently could afford to ignore. Stokes brings to bear in this work not only twenty-five years' study and appreciation of Italian Renaissance art and of aesthetics, but also a unique psychological perspective, as he explains in his introduction, which enables him to uncover the depths of the artist's personality. The subtlety of feeling and profound knowledge of sculpture which Sir Herbert Read admired in Stokes's work is also combined with a literary style perfected through his own poetry and criticism. Presenting a unique survey of his subject's literary as well as his artistic legacy, Stokes succeeds, as no other has before or since, in his aim of bringing Michelangelo's greatness into nearer view.

What is the condition of the suspect in a post-9/11 world? Do perpetual detention, ubiquitous surveillance cameras, and the legal apparatus of the USA Patriot Act target suspects accurately or generate suspicion indiscriminately? Suspect, the latest in a series from Alphabet City and the first in its new format of topical book-length magazines, gathers hard evidence about the fate of the suspect in a culture of suspicion with contributions from writers, artists, and filmmakers.Their testimony takes a multiplicity of forms and formats. Among them: A 24-page color comic by graphic novelist Joey Dubuc asks the reader to make narrative choices in a web of surveillance, suspicion, and fear. Harper's contributor Mark Kingwell observes that while suspicion tries to isolate the suspect, in fact we are all the suspect. Slavoj Zizek reflects on the new cultural status of the suspect after Abu Ghraib. Philosopher George Bragues argues that even as the United Nations looks for ways to discipline "suspect nations," it simply cannot succeed under current international conditions. Alphabet City editor John Knechtel interviews Naomi Klein, author of No Logo, about the legal and political strategies of the Bush administration. Sylwia Chrostowska describes what happens, in the the 1970 Italian film Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, when a corrupt official investigates himself. Screenwriter Timothy Stock and illustrator Warren Heise create a documentary in comic form about Critical Ensemble artist Steve Kurtz, charged under the bioterrorism provisions of the Patriot Act. Novelist Camilla Gibb portrays, in "Things Collapse," the terrifying effects of a "separating sickness" of unknown origin, which perhaps exists only in the fears of the population it strikes. And novelist Diana Fitzgerald Bryden follows her character Rafa Ahmed, a PFLP hijacker from the 1970s, as, many years later, she is to appear at a peace conference. Filmmaker Patricia Rozema, director of Mansfield Park and other films, contributes a 16-page film-in-a-book, "Suspect." Suspect is a non-partisan handbook on the mechanisms and machinations of suspicion for the twenty-first century national security state.

Originally published more than fifty years ago, "The Courage to Be" has become a classic of twentieth-century religious and philosophical thought. The great Christian existentialist thinker Paul Tillich describes the dilemma of modern man and points a way to the conquest of the problem of anxiety. This edition includes a new foreword by Harvey Cox that situates the book within the theological conversation from which it first emerged and conveys its continued relevance in the current century. It is selected as one of the Books of the Century by the New York Public Library.

Can mediums communicate with the dead? Do people really believe they’ve been abducted by aliens? Why do some people make life decisions based on their horoscope?

The Psychology of the Paranormal explores some commonly held beliefs regarding experiences so strange they can defy an obvious scientific explanation. The book explains how psychologists have conducted experiments to provide insight into phenomena such as clairvoyance, astrology, and alien abduction, as well as teaching us fundamental truths about human belief systems.

From debunking myths about Extra Sensory Perception, to considering whether our lives can truly be fated by the stars, The Psychology of the Paranormal shows us that however unlikely, belief in the paranormal will continue to be widespread.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Astrology

Chapter 3 Extra-sensory perception

Chapter 4 Spirits and mediums

Chapter 5 Alien encounters and abductions

Chapter 6 Religious beliefs

Chapter 7 Explaining paranormal beliefs

Jung's discovery of the 'collective unconscious', a psychic inheritance common to all humankind, transformed the understanding of the self and the way we interpret the world. In On the Nature of the Psyche Jung describes this remarkable theory in his own

Blake was a visionary like no other. To some, like William Wordsworth, the only explanation for the remarkable spiritual world Blake witnessed and brought to life in his books was 'insane genius'. Although such a view persisted well into the twentieth cen

Theodor Adorno was no stranger to controversy. In The Jargon of Authenticity he gives full expression to his hostility to the language employed by certain existentialist thinkers such as Martin Heidegger. With his customary alertness to the uses and abuse

The Spirit in Man, Art and Literature offers unique and penetrating insights into the lives and opinions of some of the most significant players in the cultural life of the twentieth century. Carl Gustav Jung was at the heart of that cultural life, pionee

Rosa Luxemburg was a revolutionary socialist who fought and died for her beliefs. In January 1919, after being arrested for her involvement in a workers' uprising in Berlin, she was brutally murdered by a group of right-wing soldiers. Her body was recover

What explains our attitudes towards the environment? Why do so many climate change initiatives fail? How can we do more to prevent humans damaging the environment?

The Psychology of Climate Change explores the evidence for our changing environment, and suggests that there are significant cognitive biases in how we think about, and act on climate change. The authors examine how organisations have attempted to mobilise the public in the fight against climate change, but these initiatives have often failed due to the public’s unwillingness to adapt their behaviour. The book also explores why some people deny climate change altogether, and the influence that these climate change deniers can have on global action to mitigate further damage.

By analysing our attitudes to the environment, The Psychology of Climate Change argues that we must think differently about climate change to protect our planet, as a matter of great urgency.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: The science and politics of climate change 

2. The great climate change ‘debate’, and why this has been so damaging   

3. Cognitive biases in our thinking about climate change.  

4. Climate change initiatives, and why they failed.   

5. Assessing our real attitudes to climate change.   

6. How might we change underlying implicit attitudes?   7. Future challenges

Why have vampires become such a feature of modern culture? Can vampire-like conditions be explained by medical research? Is there a connection between vampirism and Freud?

The Psychology of Vampires presents a captivating look at the origins of vampires in myth and history, and the psychological theories which try to explain why they fascinate us. It traces the development of vampires from the first ever vampire tale, written by John Polidori in 1819, to their modern cultural legacy. Together with historical detail about Polidori’s eventful life, the book also examines the characteristics of vampires, and explores how and why people might identify as vampires today.

From sanguinarians who drink blood, to psychic vampires who suck the energy from those around them, The Psychology of Vampires explores the absorbing connections between vampirism and psychology, theology, medicine and culture.

Table of Contents:

Aperitif - The Vampires’ Favourite Ice Cream

Chapter 1- Poor Polidori and the Human Jam

Chapter 2 The Early History of Vampires.

Chapter 3 Dracula on the couch

Chapter 4 – The doctor who wanted to be something different

Chapter 5 – The Vampire develops and the poet flees from the bailiffs

Chapter 6 – Dip the Pen in Blood

Chapter 7 – Theology, Child Abuse – and the vampire ‘syndrome’

Chapter 8 – The First Proper Story

Chapter 9 - Sucking out energy - the passive aggressive personality

Chapter 10 – In Print

Chapter 11 – Vampires on the ward

Chapter 12 – A modern Oedipus, Bloodletting and three more deaths

Chapter 13 – Polidori’s cultural legacy

Why do children get involved with bullying? Does cyberbullying differ from traditional bullying? How can bullying at school be prevented?

The Psychology of School Bullying explores what bullying is and what factors lead to children playing roles as bullies, victims, defenders, bystanders or even some combination of these The book examines proactive strategies to reduce the likelihood of bullying happening in school, but also looks at what action the school could take if bullying incidents do occur.

As bullying can have such far-reaching consequences and sometimes tragic outcomes, it is vital to grasp how and why it happens, and The Psychology of School Bullying shows how improved knowledge and understanding can lead to effective interventions.

Table of Contents:

Chapter One: What is bullying in school and how has it been studied?

Chapter Two: Finding out about bullying and why statistics can be misleading.

Chapter Three: Who bullies? Who gets bullied?

Chapter Four: Does it matter if bullying happens in school, and what are the effects and consequences of bullying?

Chapter Five: What others can do to help.

Chapter Six. What if bullying happens …?

Chapter Seven: The wider context

Are we really being ourselves on social media? Can we benefit from connecting with people we barely know online? Why do some people overshare on social networking sites?

The Psychology of Social Media explores how so much of our everyday lives is played out online, and how this can impact our identity, wellbeing and relationships. It looks at how our online profiles, connections, status updates and sharing of photographs can be a way to express ourselves and form connections, but also highlights the pitfalls of social media including privacy issues.

From FOMO to fraping, and from subtweeting to selfies, The Psychology of Social Media shows how social media has developed a whole new world of communication, and for better or worse is likely to continue to be an essential part of how we understand our selves.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction 

2. Profiles 

3. Connections  

4. Updates  

5. Media 

6. Messaging 

7. Values

How do some political leaders capture popular support? What is the appeal of belonging to a nation? Can democracy thrive?

The Psychology of Politics explores how the emotions which underpin everyday life are also vital in what happens on the political stage. It draws on psychoanalytic ideas to show how fear and passion shape the political sphere in our changing societies and cultures, and examines topical social issues and events including Brexit, the changing nature of democracy, activism, and Trump in America.

In a changing global political climate, The Psychology of Politics shows us how we can make sense of what drives human conduct in relation to political ideas and action.

Table of Contents:

1. The heart of politics 

2. Leaders 

3. Nations 

4. Ideologies 

5. Prospect 

Is happiness all down to luck? Do events in our life influence how happy we feel? Can too much of a good thing make us less happy?

The Psychology of Happiness introduces readers to the variety of factors that can affect how happy we are. From our personality and feelings of self-worth, to our physical health and employment status, happiness is a subjective experience which will change throughout our lives. Although feeling happy is linked with positive thinking and our sociability in daily life, the book also includes surprising facts about the limitations of our personal happiness.

We all want to feel happy in our lives, and The Psychology of Happiness shows us that achieving it can be both an accident of fortune and as a direct result of our own actions and influence.

Table of Contents:

An initial look

Hedonic wellbeing: Feeling bad to feeling good

Flourishing wellbeing: Self-worth and a good life

Influences from the world around you: Nine principal features

Influences from within yourself

Some consequences of happiness-

What to do now?

What are the benefits of owning a dog on health and well-being? Why does a ‘problem dog’ behave as it does and how can owners deal with unwanted behaviour? How do dogs communicate with humans and each other?

The Psychology of Dog Ownership explores the nature of our unique relationship with dogs and its effect on our mental and physical welfare. The book uses psychological learning theory to examine dog behaviour and highlights the importance of determining between typical dog behaviour and behaviour disorders that need treatment.

Focusing on how dog owners can communicate effectively with their pets, and always with the dog’s best interests in mind, The Psychology of Dog Ownership enhances our understanding of the modern human-canine bond and shows how important and enjoyable this relationship can be.

Table of Contents:

1. The New Normal of Dog Behaviour 

2. The Lifespan of a Dog Owner 

3. The Dogs Neuticles! 

4. The Dog Whispering Fallacy 

5. Is My Dog Abnormal? 

6. Treating And Preventing Abnormal Dog Behaviour 

7. What To Do If I Need More Help

How can we improve our sense of wellbeing? What explains the current wellbeing boom? What does wellbeing mean to you?

The Psychology of Wellbeing offers readers tools to navigate their own wellbeing and understand what makes a ‘good life’. Using self-reflection and storytelling, it explores how trust affects psychological and emotional wellbeing, considers how stress and inequality impact our psychological wellbeing, and how trends such as positive psychology influence our understanding of happiness.

In a world where the ‘wellness economy’ is big business, The Psychology of Wellbeing shows how we can question and make sense of information sources, and sheds light on the wellness, self-care and self-help industry.

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Defining Wellbeing, Psychology, and the Self

Questions of Trust: The Truth About Wellbeing

Storytelling and Sense-Making: 50 Shades of Wellbeing

Stress & Coping: On Being Well in Your Self

Self-Help and Wellbeing: Ifs, Nots, Myths & Knots

Happiness, Meaning & the Good Life: The Structure of Wellbeing

Some Concluding Thoughts: Stories, Questions and Reflections on Being Well and Getting Better

What impact can video games have on us as players? How does psychology influence video game creation? Why do some games become cultural phenomena?

The Psychology of Video Games introduces the curious reader to the relationship between psychology and video games from the perspective of both game makers and players. Assuming no specialist knowledge, this concise, approachable guide is a starter book for anyone intrigued by what makes video games engaging and what is their psychological impact on gamers. It digests the research exploring the benefits gaming can have on players in relation to education and healthcare, considers the concerns over potential negative impacts such as pathological gaming, and concludes with some ethics considerations.

With gaming being one of the most popular forms of entertainment today, The Psychology of Video Games shows the importance of understanding the human brain and its mental processes to foster ethical and inclusive video games.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1: Our brains on video games

Chapter 2: Game User Experience

Chapter 3: Can playing video games be beneficial?

Chapter 4: Can playing video games be detrimental?

Chapter 5: Ethics in the video game industry

What is terrorism? Can anyone be radicalized? How can we respond to terrorist acts?

The Psychology of Terrorism seeks to explain why some acts of violence are considered terrorism and others are not, and why some individuals may be more susceptible to engaging in radical terrorist behavior. Debunking myths and lazy stereotypes, the book delves into some of the most shocking atrocities of our times to discuss the complex and varied psychological characteristics of individual terrorists, organized groups, and their acts.

Whilw there is no simple solution, The Psychology of Terrorism shows us that a growing reverse radicalization movement and modern interventionist techniques can give us hope for the future.

Table of Contents:

1. What is terrorism?

2. Who is a terrorist?

3. Why do people become terrorists?

4. Can people stop being terrorists?

5. Can we stop terrorism?

6. Conclusion

Does religion positively affect well-being? What leads to fundamentalism? Do religious beliefs make us more moral?

The Psychology of Religion explores the often contradictory ideas people have about religion and religious faiths, spirituality, fundamentalism, and atheism. The book examines whether we choose to be religious, or whether it is down to factors such as genes, environment, personality, cognition, and emotion. It analyses religion’s effects on morality, health, and social behavior and asks whether religion will survive in our modern society.

Offering a balanced view, The Psychology of Religion shows that both religiosity and atheism have their own psychological costs and benefits, with some of them becoming more salient in certain environments.

Table of Contents:

1. Can we study religion in the lab?

2. Believers and atheists: what makes the difference?

3. Theist children, apostate adolescents, bigot late adults?

4. Does religion make us more moral?

5. Is religion good for you?

6. Will religion survive?

Why do we develop extreme attitudes to others? Can our personality contribute to our prejudices? How do we reduce prejudice and discrimination?

The Psychology of Prejudice explores different forms of prejudice and discrimination, from racial jokes to genocide. It looks at what might cause our prejudiced attitudes, including our personalities, social influences, group identity, and evolutionary factors, and how prejudice can be reduced through education, campaigning, and consciousness raising.

Offering insights into a topic of great public concern and debate, The Psychology of Prejudice shows us how we can confront our prejudiced attitudes and contribute to greater tolerance and understanding.

Table of Contents:

1. What do we mean by ‘Prejudice’?

2. Prejudice within Biology, Psychology and Psychiatry

3. Prejudice and Personality

4. The Impact of Environmental Factors on Prejudice and Discrimination

5. The Influence of Group Membership 6. Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination

What fascinates us about intelligence? How does intelligence impact our daily lives? Why do we sometimes fear intelligence?

Human intelligence is a vital resource, yet the study of it is pervaded by neglect and misconceptions. The Psychology of Intelligence helps make sense of the contradictory social attitudes and practices in relation to intelligence that we have seen over the decades, from the idea that it drove eugenicist policies and actions in the past, to our current backlash against "experts" and critical thinking. Showing how our approach to intelligence impacts our everyday lives in educational, occupational, medical, and legal settings, the book asks if it is possible to lift the taboo and move beyond the prejudices surrounding intelligence.

Challenging popular assumptions, The Psychology of Intelligence encourages us to face intelligence in ourselves and others as an important fact of life that we can all benefit from embracing more openly.

Table of Contents:

Explaining the book: a new way of viewing human intelligence

1. Intelligence in our daily lives

2. Idealisation of intelligence

3. Devaluation of intelligence

4. Integration of neurodiversity

5. Applied (human) intelligence

In conclusion: which approach do you choose?

Why should we exercise? When should we exercise? Why don’t we exercise?

The Psychology of Exercise separates fact from fiction, delving into key theories, ideas, and the impact of life stages on when, why, and how we exercise. It explores the barriers and motivators to exercise for children, teenagers, adults, and retirees as well as for those living with a chronic health condition. It shows how when we personalise activity programmes, exercise becomes a life-affirming, life-lengthening habit.

Using real-life case studies from those who work with exercisers at all levels, The Psychology of Exercise shows us the huge value that comes from exercising in every stage of our lives.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

The Theories of Exercise

The Psychology of Exercise for Children

The Psychology of Exercise for Teenagers

The Psychology of Exercise for Adults

The Psychology of Exercise for Retirees

The Psychology of Exercise with a Health Condition

The Psychology of Exercise Addiction

Why do we dream? What is the connection between our dreams and our mental health? Can we teach ourselves to have lucid dreams?

The Psychology of Dreaming delves into the last 100 years of dream research to provide a thought-provoking introduction to what happens in our minds when we sleep. It looks at the role that dreaming plays in memory, problem-solving, and processing emotions, examines how trauma affects dreaming, and explores how we can use our dreams to understand ourselves better. Exploring extraordinary experiences like lucid dreaming, precognitive dreams, and sleep paralysis nightmares, alongside cutting-edge questions like whether it will ever be possible for androids to dream, The Psychology of Dreaming reveals some of the most fascinating aspects of our dreaming world.

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Dream Life

1. What are dreams, and how do we study them?

2. A Brief History of Dream Research

3. Why do we dream?

4. Dreaming and Mental Health

5. Dream-Sharing: Dreamwork and Dreams in Therapy

6. Extraordinary Dreams

7. Sci-fi Dreaming

Can a sense of belonging increase life satisfaction? Why do we sometimes feel lonely? How can we sustain lasting human connections?

The Psychology of Belonging explores why feeling like we belong is so important throughout our lives, from childhood to old age, irrespective of culture, race or geography. With its virtues and shortcomings, belonging to groups such as families, social groups, schools, workplaces and communities is fundamental to our identity and wellbeing, even in a time when technology has changed the way we connect with each other.

In a world where loneliness and social isolation is on the rise, The Psychology of Belonging shows how meaningful connections can build a sense of belonging for all of us.

Table of Contents:

1. The beginnings of belonging  

2. Belonging begins at birth 

3. Belonging in adulthood  

4. Rejection 

5. Belonging in an age of technology 

6. Belonging bad

7. Building belonging References

Why do we enjoy art? What inspires us to create artistic works? How can brain science help us understand our taste in art?

The Psychology of Art provides an eclectic introduction to the myriad ways in which psychology can help us understand and appreciate creative activities. Exploring how we perceive everything from colour to motion, the book examines art-making as a form of human behaviour that stretches back throughout history as a constant source of inspiration, conflict and conversation. It also considers how factors such as fakery, reproduction technology and sexism influence our judgements about art.

By asking what psychological science has to do with artistic appreciation, The Psychology of Art introduces the reader to new ways of thinking about how we create and consume art.

Table of Contents:

1. Art and psychology

2. The neuroscience of art

3. Why do we engage in art?

4. Depicting space, contour and form in art

5. Depicting colour and motion in art

6. What makes great art?

7. Creativity in art and science

Further reading

Written in the late 1950s at the height of popular fascination with UFO's, Flying Saucers is the great psychologist's brilliantly prescient meditation on the phenomenon that gripped the world. A self-confessed sceptic in such matters, Jung was nevertheless intrigued, not so much by their reality or unreality, but by their psychic aspect. He saw flying saucers as a modern myth in the making, to be passed down the generations just as we have received such myths from our ancestors. In this wonderful and enlightening book Jung sees UFO's as 'visionary rumours', the centre of a quasi-religious cult and carriers of our technological and salvationist fantasies. 40 years later, with entire religions based on the writings of science fiction authors, it is remarkable to see just how right he has proved to be.

Of all the books of the Bible few have had more resonance for modern readers than the Book of Job. For a world that has witnessed great horrors, Job's cries of despair and incomprehension are all too recognizable. The visionary psychotherapist Carl Gustav Jung understood this and responded with this remarkable book, in which he set himself face-to-face with 'the unvarnished spectacle of divine savagery and ruthlessness'. Jung perceived in the hidden recesses of the human psyche the cause of a crisis that plagues modern humanity and leaves the individual, like Job, isolated and bewildered in the face of impenetrable fortune. By correlating the transcendental with the unconscious, Jung, writing not as a biblical scholar but 'as a layman and physician who has been privileged to see deeply into the psychic life of many people', offers a way for every reader to come to terms with the divine darkness which confronts each individual.

In this wonderful book, the famous scientist and best-selling author, Konrad Lorenz, 'the man who talked with animals', enlightens and entertains us with his illustrated account of the unique relationship between humans and their pets. Displaying Lorenz's customary humanity and expert knowledge of animals, Man Meets Dog is also a deeply personal and entertaining account of his relationships with his own four-legged friends. With charming sketches on almost every page, Man Meets Dog offers a delightful insight into animal and human thinking and feeling. An essential companion for all lovers of dogs (and cats!).

Iris Murdoch once observed: 'philosophy is often a matter of finding occasions on which to say the obvious'. What was obvious to Murdoch, and to all those who read her work, is that Good transcends everything - even God. Throughout her distinguished and prolific writing career, she explored questions of Good and Bad, myth and morality. The framework for Murdoch's questions - and her own conclusions - can be found here.

This remarkable book takes as its subject one of the most outstanding men that ever lived. The ultimate prodigy, Leonardo da Vinci was an artist of great originality and power, a scientist, and a powerful thinker. According to Sigmund Freud, he was also a flawed, repressed homosexual. The first psychosexual history to be published, Leonardo da Vinci was the only biography the great psychoanalyst wrote. When Jung first saw it, he told Freud it was 'wonderful', and it remained Freud's favourite composition. The text includes the first full emergence of the concept of narcissism and develops Freud's theories of homosexuality. While based upon controversial research, the book offers a fascinating insight into two men - the subject and the author. If you've ever wondered just what lies behind the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile, read Freud on Leonardo. It's genius on genius.

Think of developmental psychology, and the name of Jean Piaget immediately springs to mind. His theory of learning lies at the very heart of the modern understanding of the human learning process, and he is celebrated as the founding father of child psychology. A prolific writer, is the author of more than fifty books and several hundred articles. The Psychology of Intelligence is one of his most important works. Containing a complete synthesis of his thoughts on the mechanisms of intellectual development, it is an extraordinary volume by an extraordinary writer. Given his significance, it is hardly surprising that Psychology Today pronounced Piaget the Best Psychologist of the twentieth century.

Along with Why I Am Not a Christian, this essay must rank as the most articulate example of Russell's famed atheism. It is also one of the most notorious. Used as evidence in a 1940 court case in which Russell was declared unfit to teach college-level philosophy, What I Believe was to become one of his most defining works. The ideas contained within were and are controversial, contentious and - to the religious - downright blasphemous. A remarkable work, it remains the best concise introduction to Russell's thought.

'In this thought-provoking book, Massimo Pigliucci shares his journey of discovering the power of Stoic practices in a philosophical dialogue with one of Stoicism's greatest teachers.' RYAN HOLIDAY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY AND THE DAILY STOIC

Who am I?

What am I doing?

How ought I to live my life?

Stoicism teaches us to acknowledge our emotions, reflect on what causes them and redirect them for our own good. Whenever we worry about how to be happy, we are worrying about how to lead a good life. No goal seems more elusive.

Massimo Pigliucci explores this remarkable philosophy and how its wisdom can be applied to our everyday lives in the quest for meaning. He shows how stoicism teaches us the importance of a person’s character, integrity and compassion.

Whoever we are, we can take something away from stoicism and, in How to be a Stoic, with its practical tips and exercises, meditations and mindfulness, he also explains how relevant it is to every part of our modern lives.

Including more than 11,000 definitions, this authoritative and up-to-date dictionary covers all branches of psychology. Clear, concise descriptions for each entry offer extensive coverage of key areas including cognition, sensation and perception, emotion and motivation, learning and skills, language, mental disorder, and research methods. The range of entries extends to related disciplines including psychoanalysis, psychiatry, the neurosciences, and statistics. Entries are extensively cross-referenced for ease of use, and cover word origins and derivations as well as definitions. More than 100 illustrations complement the text. This fourth edition has incorporated a large number of significant revisions and additions, many in response to the 2013 publication of the American Psychiatric Association's latest edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, bringing the Dictionary fully up to date with the most recent literature of the subject. In addition to the alphabetical entries, the dictionary also includes appendices covering over 800 commonly used abbreviations and symbols, as well as a list of phobias and phobic stimuli, with definitions. Comprehensive and clearly written, this dictionary is an invaluable work of reference for students, lecturers, and the general reader with an interest in psychology.

There is a myth in our culture that to find meaning you have to travel to a distant monastery or wade through dusty volumes to figure out life’s great secret. The truth is, there are untapped sources of meaning all around us: right here, right now. Drawing on the latest research in positive psychology; on insights from George Eliot, Viktor Frankl, Aristotle, the Buddha and other great minds, Emily Esfahani Smith identifies four pillars upon which meaning rests: Belonging, Purpose, Storytelling and Transcendence.

She also explores how we can begin to build a culture of meaning into our families, our workplaces and our communities.

Inspiring and full of contemporary examples, The Power of Meaning will strike a profound chord in anyone seeking a richer, more satisfying life.

Modern life is hectic and relentless: trains delayed, endless emails filling the inbox, kids squabbling before bedtime. There has never been a more important time to rediscover your pause button. Calm is the book that will show you how to take back a little bit of peace, space, and all-important calm. This book contains the simple tools, tricks and habits that will change the rest your life. It is a practical and pleasurable guide to 21st century mindfulness. Regular meditation is medically proven to be good for you - it increases focus and creativity, productivity and job satisfaction, and mental, and even physical, health. But in reality most of us don't have time to sit on a cushion with our eyes closed for half an hour every day. And many people associate meditation with hard work and huge lifestyle shifts: you might be imagining Buddhist monks locked in a mountain retreat and living off gruel. This is where Calm comes in. Calm is about simple, achievable habits that work with the demands of your busy life instead of pretending those demands don't exist. Calm does not require specialist training: it uses abilities that every single one of us is born with, like creativity, spontaneity, and simply noticing the world around you. Calm is not a set of rules that you need to worry about following or breaking. It is inspirational, practical, and non-prescriptive. Onerous, time-consuming meditation might seem out of reach, but everyone can achieve calm—including you. Calm combines extracts from fascinating neurological research with wisdom from history's great thinkers and the real-life experiences of individuals across the globe. It demystifies mindfulness and shows you the many simple ways to be mindful while carrying on with your life. It is also a beautifully crafted object, filled with artwork and artistry, that will change your perspective by showing you the pleasures of the world anew. Take a walk with nowhere to go, savor a chocolate on the tip of your tongue, plant a seed, doodle aimlessly, turn off your mobile phone for five short minutes. Smile, breathe, and go slowly. Calm is divided into eight sections that everyone should have in their life: nature, work, creativity,·children, travel, relationships, food,·and sleep. Each section contains a mixture of fascinating research, creative prompts, activities and instructions, sensory stimuli, and inspiration. Pick up Calm whenever you need it, dip in and out, read it, and choose which bits work best for you.

In a culture obsessed with youth, financial success, and achieving happiness, is it possible to live an authentic, meaningful life? Nassir Ghaemi, a psychiatrist with a wide grasp of philosophy, reflects on our society's current quest for happiness and rejection of anything resembling sadness. "On Depression" asks readers to consider the benefits of despair and the foibles of an unexamined life. Too often depression as disease is mistreated or not treated at all. Ghaemi warns against the "pretenders" who confuse our understanding of depression – those who deny disease excessively for instance or those who use psychiatric diagnosis (the DSM system) "pragmatically" and unscientifically. But sadness, even depression, can also have benefits. Ghaemi asserts that we can create a "narrative of ourselves such that we know and accept who we are", leading to a deeper, lasting level of contentment and a more satisfying personal and public life. Depression is complex, and we need guides to help us understand it, guides who comprehend it existentially as part of normal human experience and clinically as sometimes needing the right kind of treatment, including medications. Ghaemi discusses these guides in detail, thinkers like Viktor Frankl, Rollo May, Karl Jaspers, and Leston Havens, among others. "On Depression" combines examples from philosophy and the history of medicine with psychiatric principles informed by the author's clinical experience with people who struggle with mental illness. He has seen great achievements arise from great suffering and feels that understanding depression can provide important insights into happiness.

This authoritative and up-to-date A-Z covers all aspects of interpersonal, mass, and networked communication in over 3,500 entries, including digital and mobile media, advertising, journalism, social media, and nonverbal communication. A-Z Text; Biographical Notes