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This volume is the first long-term study of how gay men adjustto and cope with HIV disease. It examines the adjustment and lifeissues which arise over the stages of the illness. The longitudinalcharacter of the clinical data presented make it possible to examinelong-term HIV adaptation and the inner psychological experiences andprocesses. The first half of the volume focuses on HIV-relatedpsychological, social, and sexual issues and their impact onpsychological functioning and quality of life. The second half of thevolume focuses on the psychological landscapes within the existential,adaptational and self contexts. This volume will be of interest tohealth care professionals working with HIV-positive populations,particularly psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, and socialworkers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Profound and deeply meaningful
One of the most profound and deeply meaningful books on the subject of the self I have ever read.

Reprint this Excellent Book!
"The Search for Authenticity" is one of the better books written on the exploration of the human spirit and the search for meaning. I read it twenty years ago and have not forgotten it. I hope the publisher willnote the market is, in my view,perfect for reprinting the book now.

Excellent overview of existential psychoanalysis
Excellent resource for those interested in exploring existentialpsychoalysis. Bugental organizes the issues of existential anxiety and howit appears in the analytic process. This brings us forward from theexploration of childhood trauma into the comtemporary moment of one'sfinding oneself in the world and the immediate problems of life, which ifnot faced authentically, can lead to neurotic condtions. This seems tobuild on Sartre's thoughts of authenticity and other existentialistthinkers. Well organized and cleary presented, adding to our tools of howpsychoanlaysis can help the evolution of human consciosness. ... Read more

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Presenting case studies of schizophrenic patients, Laing aims to make madness and the process of going mad comprehensible. He also offers an existential analysis of personal alienation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Remarkable insight into the pathogenetic dynamics of the modern family
Little is written about R. D. Laing nowadays, but in the 1960s he came to be identified along with theorists like Herbert Marcuse as one of the leading intellectuals of the New Left. Reading this book can help us understand why, although it is an identification that does him little credit, and not one endorsed by Laing himself. Laing shows how the dynamics of life in the nuclear family may generate psychopathology in children that grow up in them, in particular its role in the development of the schizoid personality type. Laing brings genuine compassion to his understanding of his patients, and his ability to see through the smokescreen of symptoms to the person underneath clearly brought him great success in restoring peace to very troubled minds. It is a tragedy that Laing's insights into the pathogenic workings of the modern nuclear family should be abused by those who seek further to erode the family's role in today's society, whether this be in the pursuit of their own self-emancipation or in the service of a state that wishes to loose individuals from the traditional ties of extended family and local community so that they might be created in its own image. The problem of pathogenesis in families cannot be solved by further dismantling the family, but by reinforcing its traditional extended structure.

ontological roots of schizophrenia
This is an interesting book on how schizophrenia is more of an 'existential' problem than an illness. I think it has some real practical applications for those who work with this population. I wouldn't, however, throw out the more clinical way of viewing psychosis.

R. D. Laing is good
In particular, I endorse the back cover of another of his books, where it says that schizophrenics constantly try to escape because they perceive it is impossible to fulfill their needs. He stated it in a better way, of course; this is just how I remember it.

respect
i just think that this book should be one that everyone reads at some point in their lives (sooner rather than later!). it really gives you something special, something i have very rarely experienced in a book. open the book and open your mind!

The engine of the Sixties! Or, one of 'em.
This book felt to me strangely intimate, and understanding when I first read it.Laing, who was a clinical psychiatrist, presents case studies of people who feel overly self-conscious and self-critical, fearful to be on the street alone, hiding from social contact -- common enough feelings which he treats with supreme empathy, not judgement or haste to reform. He explains in the preface his analysis is based on existenstial thought, yet, he avoids the amoralistic tendencies of this genre of philosophy. His emphasis is more on the process of alienation of self from self, and inner self from outer self, into a "split." He gives analysis of the so-described schizoid and schizophrenic personality, attempts to analyze why a person slips into so-called "psychosis" -- in his analysis a schizophrenic person is forming a logical reaction to an untenable situation.Here he leans on other writers, such as Gregory Bateson's double-bind theory.

Laing's writing is poetic in some places, and is literate in a way psychology books seldom are.i recommend this book highly to anyone who wants to know more about their own behavior, and others'. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Encyclopedia of Philosophy, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 609 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Explores major marketing and advertising campaigns from 1999-2006. Entries profile recent print, radio, television, billboard and Internet campaigns. Each essay discusses the historical context of the campaign, the target market, the competition, marketing strategy, and the outcome. ... Read more

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"An excellent 'primer.' This is the type of text that I would have liked to have read when I was first introduced to the existential-phenomenological approach within psychology. It is clearly written and jargon-free. . . . I highly recommend this book as a very good introduction." --Mufid James Hannush in Journal of Phenomenological Psychology Are psychological problems brought on by social pressure, biology, culture, or personal pathology? Or are they the by-product of the essential paradoxes of human existence? This volume offers the practicing therapist a concrete framework for understanding both the role of the counselor and the concept of anxiety in contemporary society. But more importantly, the author demonstrates practical methods for applying an existential approach to counseling. Counseling is not presented as a problem-solving or skill-building exercise; rather, it is seen as a process enabling the client to come to terms with living life as it is, with all its inherent contradictions. Through an abundant use of case illustrations, the author clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of existential counseling in many different areas of therapy, from crisis intervention to work with chronic unhappiness. Written in a simple, elegant style by a leading authority on therapy techniques, this volume will prove an indispensable guide to the existential approach for all counselors and students of counseling. "Offers a very readable account of counselling from an existential perspective.Numerous case histories are used to illustrate common dilemmas in people's lives. . . . The book flows in a sensitive narrative on the problems of living and neurotic ways of denying and dealing with conflict. . . . It reads more like a commentary on people's lives, rather than a structured and informative introduction to Existential Counselling. . . .I enjoyed the book immensely and it is well recommended as a balance to the technically loaded manuals of today." --British Journal of Medical Psychology "This is a book worthy of wide acclaim as it fills a missing philosophical gap in therapy in Western civilization. The author writes clearly and simply in plain English. She presents existential thought as an easily accessible coherent body of work. The book is full of case histories where seemingly meaningless psychotic episodes are later explained. Also there are cases of despair, depression and meaninglessness quoted which is what makes this book so necessary for our times of mass production, mass media and mass alienation." --Suggestions: The Newsletter of the Association of Professional Therapists "A process of continuous questioning and clarification helps clients to examine their natural, public, private, and ideal worlds; to discover and explore their basic assumptions and view of the world; and thereby to learn what it means to be true to themselves.The book is intended for counselors and psychotherapists but can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in existentialism, providing a coherent, readable, and easily understood description of existentialism and its use as a treatment form.It makes a strong case for the value of fostering independence and authenticity in clients through the use of the Socratic method rather than empathy.. . . This author emphasizes the role of the counselor as an educator.She cites many case histories, some of whose outcomes seem almost miraculous.the book is worth reading." --Readings: A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health "A lucid, highly readable, and solid introduction to this school of thought in the helping professions. . . . An existential approach is appealing, particularly to helping professionals who concern themselves with their clients' spiritual needs." --Review and Expositor "This book provides an excellent source from which to examine the extent to which cognitive therapy is informed by existentialism.The reader is promised a logical application of the ideas of existential philosophy that translate into practical counselling methods.This promise is fulfilled.The book is full of succinct case examples which illustrate the principles clearly." --British Journal of Guidance and Counselling ... Read more

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This second edition of the “Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior” reflects changes in the attitudes about, use, and knowledge of drugs and alcohol since the first edition published in 1995. These changes include the decrease of crack cocaine use and resurgence of heroin use; changes in laws dealing with drug use (on both the state and national levels), and new discoveries leading to a better understanding of how drugs work and what makes them addictive. More than 700 articles, written for both the student and layperson, cover the social, medical and political issues related to drugs and alcohol, as well exploring and explaining types of addiction.

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This digital document is an article from Adolescence, published by Thomson Gale on December 22, 2005. The length of the article is 2848 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: Yalom (italics added)

Citation Details
Title: An existential view of adolescent development.
Author: Bill Fitzgerald
Publication: Adolescence (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 22, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 40Issue: 160Page: 793(7)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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What does morality have to do with psychology in a value-neutral, postmodern world? According to a provocative new book, everything.

Taking exception with current ideas in the mainstream (including cultural, evolutionary, and neuropsychology) as straying from the discipline’s ethical foundations, Psychology as a Moral Science argues that psychological phenomena are inherently moral, and that psychology, as prescriptive and interventive practice, reflects specific moral principles.

The book cites normative moral standards, as far back as Aristotle, that give human thoughts, feelings, and actions meaning, and posits psychology as one of the critical methods of organizing normative values in society; at the same time it carefully notes the discipline’s history of being sidetracked by overemphasis on theoretical constructs and physical causes—what the author terms “the psychologizing of morality.” This synthesis of ideas brings an essential unity to what can sometimes appear as a fragmented area of inquiry at odds with itself. The book’s “interpretive-pragmatic approach”:

• Revisits core psychological concepts as supporting normative value systems.

• Traces how psychology has shaped society’s view of morality.

• Confronts the “naturalistic fallacy” in contemporary psychology.

• Explains why moral science need not be separated from social science.

• Addresses challenges and critiques to the author’s work from both formalist and relativist theories of morality.

With its bold call to reason, Psychology as a Moral Science contains enough controversial ideas to spark great interest among researchers and scholars in psychology and the philosophy of science.

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful adventure
This book takes you on a wonderful adventure through the process of psychotherapy, both from the side of the client and the therapist.Although it has brief moments of academic flavor, it is mostly engaging and interesting no matter from where you approach it.Bugental shares his own experience as a therapist and discusses a view on human potential that is beautiful, moving, and inspiring.I highly recommend this book for an enjoyable read (nonfiction) and for insight on what psychotherapy can be. ... Read more

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Existentialism
A friend told me he had been enlightened by reading this book on metapsychiatry, so I asked him if he'd loan it to me for a while. Before I began reading this book I thought it was some type of pyschiatrists' manual for helping patients. I assumed it would be scientific and technical, but it turned out to be neither. It's more of a spiritual guide for people [DON'T stop reading here]. It explains how God is the source of love and health in our lives, and shows and explains this throughout the book. Don't be turned off by this either. It probably isn't the God you're thinking of (he even explains why people are so turned off by the word 'God'); it wasn't my conception of God at all. He also refers to it as Love-Intelligence, and theres ways to manifest it in your life. Through the whole book he tries to give understanding of this source of love, and shows how it's everywhere and evident. And for doctors who are interested in this, I highly recomend it also. It offers case presentations and how this view of life can help patients. Instead of looking for what is wrong with a person, you have find a way to explain to the person that he or she is already a perfect creation and to seek existentially valid values (values that promote health, also all given in the book). He shows how to do this throughout the book, its hard for me to explain, but he doesn't very well and in a simple manner.

For those of you who are religious, I recomend this book to you also. All it offers is understanding of how God is in your life and how to seek him. It explains the importance or prayer and other aspects of being in touch with god. It kind of degrades religion (not in a blasphemous way), but by saying religion settles for just believing, when you should be seeking to understand God always. He uses many verses from the bible to exemplify his points, as well as other religions (and I got the impression that just about all reiglions are seeking the same source). My concept of God now is that he is the good in the world, and anyone can seek this and be conscious of it, bringing them closer to him (and note: I'm not religious at all).

For more information on Dr. Hora or this book, see www.pagl.org. ... Read more

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Very good. Minimal shelfwear. Curl to front cover. No markings. Pages are clean and bright. Binding is tight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

a fascinating perspective
The poetic imagery and spiritual insights of the Kabbalah, the mystical offshoot of Judaism, have excited the imagination for centuries. One of the distinguishing features of Jewish mysticism is its emphasis on the day-to-day relevance of the visionary experience. Dr. Hoffman elucidates how Kabbalistic ideas as well as Kabbalistic thinkers themselves have exerted a profound influence on the establishment and growth of Western psychological thought.

Beginning with a historical evolution and presentation of Kabbalistic metaphysics and cosmology, the main thrust here is on the applicability of its teachings. Such topics as the Kabbalah's views on dreams, meditation, sexuality, community life, diet and health, and the role of human emotions in daily life are explored in detail.

A Good Place to Start
It has been many years since I read - "Way of Splendor" by Dr. Hoffman. As far as I am concerned it still holds up as one of the clearest explanations of Jewish Mysticism among the many other books on the subject.
However, what I thinkdistinguishes this book from others is that it is a comparative approach to Kabbalah vis-à-vis eastern philosophy and yoga. Interestingly it does not do this in an overt manner- but in such way that it helps the readers, who are familiar and comfortable with yoga and eastern thought, easily relate to the subject. Dr. Hoffman provides some history on the subject along with clear explanation of its theory and includes techniques of meditation. I think that the title may be a bit misleading to those who may be considering the purchase of The Way of Splendor, as the book really does not focus on psychology as it relates to Kabbalah, although it does refer to it. But in the end, The Way of Splendor is a wonderful introduction to the Kabbalah and therefore, a very good place to start ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Delightful Read!
Tom Greening's Words Against the Void: Poems by an Existential Psychologist is a delightful book of poetry that repeatedly made me laugh out loud!With an ear for the absurd and the profound, Tom accurately and often hilariously skewers the pretensions of academic psychology and conveys refreshing insights about the practice of psychotherapy and the human condition. He gives Ogden Nash a run for his money any day! A thoroughly enjoyable read! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Jeff
It was very good, but every human being should read Ernest Becker's: The Denial of Death, and then Norman O. Brown's book Life Against Death: The Psychoanalytical Meaning of History.These books are master pieces!

Must read
Every young psychotherapist should have to read Rollo May or some of the other existential humanistic therpapists.Homework assignments may change behavior but presence changes both the client and therapist! ... Read more