Meaning, mortality, and choice : the social psychology of existential concerns / edited by Phillip R. Shaver and Mario Mikulincer.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Shaver, Phillip R.

Mikulincer, Mario.

Series:

Herzliya series on personality and social psychology

The Herzliya series on personality and social psychology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Existential psychology.

Physical Description:

xvii, 438 pages ; 27 cm.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : American Psychological Association, [2012]

Summary:

How does our awareness of our own mortality affect our behavior? How do we achieve a sense of freedom knowing that our thoughts and behaviors are predetermined (or at least constrained) by our bodies and our cultures? This book uses the lenses of personality and social psychology to examine how people deal with such existential questions. The book's 22 chapters, written by contributors in psychology who delivered lectures at the 2011 Herzliya Symposium on Personality and Social Psychology, are organized around four existential concerns: mortality, meaning, freedom, and social isolation. There is also a section on overcoming existential threats. Some specific subjects discussed are terror management theory and research, religion as a source of meaning, and the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior. Shaver is affiliated with the University of California-Davis. Mikulincer is affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Center, Israel. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contents:

Introduction / Phillip R. Shavor and Mario Mikulincer

Terror management theory : from genesis to revelations / Jeff Greenberg

Helplessness : a hidden liability associated with failed defenses against awareness of death / Mario Mikulincer and Phillip R. Shavor

A significant contributor to a meaningful cultural drama : terror management research on the functions and implications of self-esteem / Jamie Arndt

Culture, ideology, morality, and religion : death changes everything / Tom Pyszczynski and Pelin Kesebir

A body of terror : denial of death and the creaturely body / Jamie L. Goldenberg

The impermanence of all things : an existentialist stance on personal and social changes / Gilad Hirschberger and Dan Shaham

Meaning : ubiquitous and effortless / Laura A. King

Religion as a source of meaning / Crystal L. Park and Donald Edmondson

Becoming and developing : personal growth in the wake of parenthood and grandparenthood / Orit Taubman-Ben-Ari

Deriving solace from a nemesis : having scapegoats and enemies buffers the threat of meaninglessness / Mark J. Landau ... [et al.]

Terrorism as means to an end : how political violence bestows significance / Arie W. Kruglanski, Michele Gelfand, and Rohan Gunaratna

Beyond illusions and defense : exploring the possibilities and limits of human autonomy and responsibility through self-determination theory / Richard M. Ryan ... [et al.]

Conditional regard in close relationships / Yaniv Kanat-Maymon ... [et al.]

Removing the constraints on our choices : a psychological approach to the effects of mindfulness-based techniques / Nava Levit Binnun, Rachel Kaplan Milgram, and Jacob Raz

Choice, freedom, and autonomy / Barry Schwartz

An attachment perspective on coping with existential concerns / Phillip R. Shaver and Mario Mikulincer

Ostracism : the impact of being rendered meaningless / Kipling D. Williams

Why people die by suicide : further development and tests of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior / Thomas E. Joiner Jr. and Caroline Silva

The case of Allison : an existential-integrative inquiry into death anxiety, groundlessness, and the quest for meaning and awe / Kirk J. Schneider

Separation theory and voice therapy methodology / Robert W. Firestone and Lisa Firestone

Acceptance and commitment to chosen values in cognitive behavior therapy / Iftah Yovel and Noa Bigman

The social psychology of meaning, mortality, and choice : an integrative perspective on existential concerns / Sheldon Solomon.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781433811555

1433811553

OCLC:

772774154