Psychology for Living : Adjustment, Growth, and Behavior Today

by Duffy, Karen Grover; Atwater, Eastwood

• ISBN13: 9780131181175
• ISBN10: 0131181173
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

For courses on Adjustment, Coping, Personal Growth, Mental Health, and Applied Psychology. This careful and balanced blend of personalization, advice, and science is intended for those who are interested in applying psychological insights and principles to their own lives as a way of achieving a better understanding of themselves and of living more effectively. By underscoring several important societal (not just personal) themes, the reader is compelled to focus on other people as much as the self. Content is drawn from the psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic viewpoints and includes contributions from clinical, personality, social, and developmental psychology, as well as from cognitive, biological, and health psychology.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
How to Study	xxi
About the Author	xxvii
PART 1---INTRODUCTION
Self-Direction in a Changing World	1	(24)
Social Change	3	(7)
Living in a Technological World	3	(2)
Living With Other Social Changes	5	(1)
How Certain Is Our Future?	6	(4)
The Challenge of Self-Direction	10	(6)
Self-Direction and Society	10	(1)
The Ambiguity of Personal Freedom	10	(1)
Taking Charge of Our Lives	11	(3)
Living in Today's Individualistic Society	14	(2)
Themes of Personal Growth	16	(9)
Living With Contradictions and Uncertainty	16	(1)
Continuity and Change	16	(2)
The Experience of Personal Growth	18	(1)
Beyond Individualism	19	(2)
Summary	21	(1)
Self-Test	22	(1)
Exercises	23	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	23	(1)
For Further Information	24	(1)
PART 2---BECOMING YOU
The Journey Begins---Childhood	25	(36)
Perspectives on Child Development	27	(2)
The Biological Perspective on Child Development	29	(4)
Nature Versus Nurture---An Old Debate	29	(2)
A Newer Approach	31	(1)
Evaluation	31	(1)
Applying It to Yourself	32	(1)
The Psychodynamic Perspective on Child Development	33	(9)
Development of Personality	33	(3)
The Structure of Personality	36	(1)
Personality Dynamics	37	(1)
Modifications	38	(3)
Evaluation	41	(1)
Applying It to Yourself	41	(1)
The Social-Cognitive Perspective on Child Development	42	(5)
Social Learning Theories	43	(1)
Recent Additions: Cognition and Behavior	44	(1)
Evaluation	45	(1)
Applying It to Yourself	45	(2)
The Humanistic Perspective on Development	47	(14)
The Phenomenal Self	47	(2)
Human Freedom	49	(1)
Self-Actualization	49	(5)
Evaluation	54	(1)
Applying It to Yourself	54	(1)
Conclusion	55	(1)
Summary	55	(2)
Self-Test	57	(1)
Exercises	58	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	58	(1)
For Further Information	59	(2)
Affirmative Aging---Adulthood	61	(29)
Adult Development	62	(3)
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions---Early Adulthood	65	(6)
Leaving Home	65	(1)
Choosing a Career	66	(1)
Establishing Close Relationships	67	(1)
Starting a Family	67	(4)
Same Old, Same Old?---Middle Adulthood	71	(6)
Midlife Transition or Midlife Crisis?	71	(2)
Physical and Cognitive Changes	73	(1)
Possible Career Changes	74	(1)
Sexual Changes	75	(2)
Aging Gracefully---Late Adulthood	77	(13)
Physical and Cognitive Changes	78	(2)
Personal and Social Adjustment	80	(2)
Retirement	82	(2)
Successful Aging	84	(1)
Summary	85	(1)
Answers to Aging Quiz	86	(1)
Self-Test	87	(1)
Exercises	88	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	88	(1)
For Further Information	89	(1)
PART 3---BEING YOU
Seeking Selfhood	90	(23)
What Is the Self-Concept?	91	(5)
Self-Image	93	(1)
Ideal Self	93	(1)
Multiple Selves	94	(2)
Core Characteristics of the Self-Concept	96	(5)
Self-Consistency	96	(2)
Self-Esteem	98	(2)
Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification	100	(1)
The Self-Concept and Personal Growth	101	(12)
The Self You'd Like to Be	102	(1)
Our Social Selves	103	(1)
Learning From Criticism	104	(1)
Greater Self-Direction	105	(3)
Summary	108	(1)
Scoring Key for the Self-Image and Ideal Self Exercise	109	(1)
Self-Test	109	(1)
Exercises	110	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	111	(1)
For Further Information	111	(2)
A Healthier You	113	(37)
Body Image	115	(4)
How We Feel About Our Bodies	115	(2)
Our Ideal Body	117	(1)
Body Image, Age, and Psychological Well-Being	118	(1)
Psychological Factors and Physical Illness	119	(13)
The Immune System	119	(1)
Personality	120	(2)
Lifestyle Choices	122	(9)
Environmental Issues	131	(1)
Coping With Illness	132	(4)
Noticing and Interpreting Symptoms	132	(2)
Seeking Help	134	(1)
Adhering to Treatment	135	(1)
Promoting Wellness	136	(14)
Taking Charge of Your Own Health	136	(3)
Eating Sensibly	139	(2)
Getting Enough Sleep	141	(2)
Keeping Physically Fit	143	(2)
Finding Social Support	145	(1)
Summary	145	(1)
Self-Test	146	(1)
Exercises	147	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	148	(1)
For Further Information	149	(1)
Taking Charge of Your Life	150	(23)
Mastery and Personal Control	151	(10)
Perceived Control	152	(2)
Consequences of Perceived Control	154	(3)
Misperception and Maladjustment	157	(1)
Learned Optimism	158	(3)
Resolve and Decision Making	161	(4)
The Process of Decision Making	161	(2)
Making Better Decisions	163	(2)
Decisions and Personal Growth	165	(8)
Identifying the Basic Decisions in Your Life	166	(1)
Making New Decisions	166	(1)
Some Practical Applications	167	(2)
Summary	169	(1)
Self-Test	169	(1)
Exercises	170	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	171	(1)
For Further Information	171	(2)
Managing Your Inner Life	173	(26)
Understanding Motivation	174	(9)
Understanding Your Needs	175	(1)
Differences Between You and Others	176	(1)
Everyone's Basic Needs	177	(1)
Psychosocial Motives	178	(4)
Personal Motivation	182	(1)
Understanding Emotions	183	(16)
What Are Emotions?	183	(1)
Experiencing Emotions	184	(1)
Expressing Emotions	185	(1)
Managing Emotions	186	(1)
Special Emotions	187	(6)
Summary	193	(1)
Scoring Key	194	(1)
Self-Test	195	(1)
Exercises	196	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	197	(1)
For Further Information	197	(2)
PART 4---THE SOCIABLE YOU
Your Friends and You	199	(27)
Meeting People	201	(13)
Are First Impressions Most Important?	202	(6)
Mistaken Impressions	208	(2)
Shyness	210	(4)
Interpersonal Attraction	214	(12)
Friendships Are Precious	214	(1)
When Friends Get Together	214	(1)
Self-Disclosure---Those Little Secrets	215	(2)
Same-Sex, Opposite-Sex Friends	217	(1)
Staying Friends or Breaking Up	218	(1)
Loneliness	219	(3)
Summary	222	(1)
Self-Test	223	(1)
Exercises	224	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	224	(1)
For Further Information	225	(1)
Leader or Follower?	226	(30)
Kinds of Groups	228	(2)
My Favorite Groups---Primary Groups	228	(1)
Bigger Than Both of Us---Secondary Groups	228	(1)
What Goes Wrong at Rock Concerts?---Collectives	228	(1)
``Us'' Versus ``Them''---In-Groups and Out-Groups	229	(1)
How Do Groups Form?	230	(2)
Why Join a Group?	232	(1)
What Goes On in Groups?	233	(7)
What Did You Say?---Communication Patterns	233	(2)
You Want Me to Do What?---Social Influence	235	(3)
Let the Other Guy Do It---Social Loafing	238	(1)
All in Favor Say ``Aye''---Group Polarization	239	(1)
Are Leaders Made or Born?	240	(5)
The Great Man Theory	240	(1)
Situational Explanations of Leadership	240	(1)
Contingency Theory	241	(1)
Contemporary Theories	241	(2)
Gender and Leadership	243	(2)
Culture and Leadership	245	(1)
When Groups Go Wrong	245	(11)
The Fiasco of Groupthink	245	(2)
A Little Shove Goes a Long Way---Group Conflict	247	(4)
Summary	251	(1)
Self-Test	252	(1)
Exercises	253	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	253	(1)
For Further Information	254	(2)
At Work and Play	256	(30)
Choosing Your Career	258	(10)
Taking Stock of Yourself	258	(5)
Identifying Compatible Careers	263	(1)
Arriving at Your Career Decision	264	(1)
Preparing for Your Career	265	(3)
Your Career Outlook	268	(4)
Forecasting Your Career's Growth	268	(1)
Changing Jobs or Careers	268	(4)
Contemporary Issues in the World of Work	272	(5)
Job Satisfaction	272	(1)
Technology and Work	273	(1)
Diversity in the Workplace	274	(3)
Leisure Time	277	(9)
What Is Leisure?	278	(1)
Work and Leisure	279	(1)
Using Leisure Positively	280	(1)
Summary	281	(1)
Self-Test	282	(1)
Exercises	283	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	284	(1)
For Further Information	284	(2)
PART 5---THE INTIMATE YOU
Sexuality	286	(31)
Men and Women	287	(6)
Changing Views of Sexuality	287	(3)
Sexual Communication	290	(2)
Initiating and Refusing Sex	292	(1)
Sexual Responsiveness	293	(9)
The Sexual Response Cycle	293	(3)
Individual Differences	296	(5)
Love and Sex	301	(1)
Practical Issues	302	(15)
Sexual Dysfunctions	302	(2)
Contraception	304	(2)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases	306	(5)
Sexual Victimization	311	(2)
Summary	313	(1)
Self-Test	314	(1)
Exercises	315	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	315	(1)
For Further Information	316	(1)
Love and Commitment	317	(28)
Love and Intimacy	319	(8)
The Ingredients of Love	319	(4)
Love and Close Relationships	323	(4)
Commitment	327	(4)
Cohabitation	327	(1)
Marriage and Other Committed Relationships	327	(4)
Adjusting to Intimate Relationships	331	(5)
Sharing Responsibilities	331	(1)
Communication and Conflict	332	(1)
Making the Relationship Better	333	(1)
Sexuality	334	(1)
Changes Over Time	335	(1)
Divorce and Its Consequences	336	(9)
The Divorce Experience	336	(1)
Single-Parent Families	337	(1)
Remarriage	338	(1)
Summary	339	(1)
Scoring Key for the Marital Myths Quiz	340	(1)
Self-Test	341	(1)
Exercises	342	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	343	(1)
For Further Information	344	(1)
PART 6---FACING CHALLENGES
Stress and You	345	(28)
Oh No!---Understanding Stress	346	(8)
Conceptualizing Stress	347	(3)
Stress and You	350	(4)
Yikes!---Reactions to Stress	354	(7)
Physiological Stress Reactions	354	(1)
Psychological Reactions	355	(3)
How Do You React to Stress?	358	(3)
Phew!---Managing Stress	361	(12)
Modifying Your Environment	362	(3)
Altering Your Lifestyle	365	(3)
Using Stress for Personal Growth	368	(1)
Summary	369	(1)
Self-Test	369	(1)
Exercises	370	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	371	(1)
For Further Information	371	(2)
Your Mental Health	373	(36)
Understanding Psychological Disorders	375	(7)
What Are Psychological Disorders?	375	(2)
How Common Are Psychological Disorders?	377	(5)
How Are Disorders Classified?	382	(1)
Anxiety Disorders: The Most Common Disorder	382	(10)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder	383	(2)
Phobias: Are You Afraid of Something That Won't Really Hurt You?	385	(1)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Doubting Disease	386	(1)
Trauma and Disaster	387	(5)
Mood Disorders	392	(5)
What Is Depression?	392	(2)
Suicide: Who and Why?	394	(2)
What Is Bipolar Disorder?	396	(1)
Other Common Disorders	397	(12)
Do You Have an Eating Disorder?	397	(2)
What Are Personality Disorders?	399	(1)
Schizophrenia---The Enigmatic Disorder	400	(4)
Summary	404	(1)
Self-Test	405	(1)
Exercises	406	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	406	(1)
For Further Information	407	(2)
If You Go for Help	409	(29)
Insight Therapies---The Talking Cure	413	(5)
Psychoanalysis	413	(1)
The Person-Centered Approach	414	(1)
A Variety of Approaches	415	(3)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies	418	(4)
Behavioral Therapies	418	(2)
Cognitive Therapies	420	(1)
Status of Psychotherapy Today	420	(2)
Other Approaches to Treatment	422	(6)
Family, Couples, and Relationship Therapy	423	(1)
Biomedical Therapies	424	(2)
Community-Based Services	426	(2)
How Well Does Therapy Work?	428	(2)
Getting Help	430	(8)
Summary	433	(1)
Self-Test	434	(1)
Exercises	435	(1)
Questions for Self-Reflection	436	(1)
For Further Information	437	(1)
Good Grief and Death	438	(23)
Death and Dying	439	(7)
Risks of Dying	440	(3)
Awareness of Death	443	(1)
Near-Death Experiences	444	(1)
The Experience of Dying	445	(1)
Bereavement and Grief	446	(4)
Grief Work	447	(1)
Unresolved Grief	448	(1)
Good Grief	449	(1)
Life and Death in Perspective	450	(11)
The Right to Die	451	(1)
A Natural Death	452	(4)
Funerals and Other Services	456	(1)
Death and Growth	456	(1)
Summary	457	(1)
Self-Test	458	(1)
Exercises	458	(2)
Questions for Self-Reflection	460	(1)
For Further Information	460	(1)
Answers to the Self-Tests	461	(2)
Glossary	463	(8)
References	471	(17)
Photo Acknowledgments	488	(1)
Name Index	489	(6)
Subject Index	495

Excerpts

This book is intended for those who are interested in applying psychological insights and principles to their own lives as a way of achieving a better understanding of themselves and of living more effectively To this end, I have included material from the major perspectives of psychology, including the psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic viewpoints. Since a well-rounded text cuts across several branches of psychology, I have included contributions from clinical, personality, social, and developmental psychology, as well as from the important fields of cognitive, biological, and health psychology. Throughout the book, I've presented differing views on the same issue, along with questions that are designed to stimulate readers' critical thinking. My aim is to increase readers' understanding as well as their knowledge about personal adjustment, in order that they may continue learning on their own. Major features of this eighth edition are explained in the following sections. NEW ORGANIZATION This edition of the book has been reorganized, with some chapters retitled to reflect an increasingly personalized tone. Please note if you are a former reader of this book: The chapters still stand alone; that is, you can read them out of order and still understand all of the material even though you have not read a preceding chapter. The introductory chapter on self-direction and social change remains at the beginning, of course. The second large unit, however, is about development or the state of "becoming." The chapters on childhood and adulthood can be found here, rather than finding the chapter on adulthood way at the end of the text. The third large unit pertains to the individual in the present or in a state of "being:" Here you will find the chapters on self-concept, health, personal control, and decision making, as well as emotion and motivation. The next large unit is about the social side of adjustment and growth. Here are located the chapters on friends, groups (leaders and followers), and work and leisure. This unit is followed by an apt unit about closer intimate relationships. This short unit contains chapters on sexuality and on committed or intimate relationships. Finally, any book about personal growth and adjustment would be incomplete without including material on the challenges each of us faces. The last unit, then, contains chapters on stress, mental health and disorder, therapy, and death and dying. Please let me know how you feel about this organization, and remember that the chapters are self-contained so can easily be read in any order you wish. I can be reached at [e-mail]. NEW CONTENT I have made some changes to the content of the book to reflect changes in the field of psychology in addition to world events. First, there are many new and updated references as well as new glossary terms. You will also find new or additional information on the following topics: Technology and how it affects our lives. The threat of terrorism and how it has changed the way we live and cope. Environmental psychology and how the environment is changing and affecting each of us. Positive psychology and the way it is refocusing the whole field of psychology. Population changes related to many topics as evidenced by the latest census. The status of America's children and what the future holds for them. Changes in the American family and how they affect the individual members. Historic changes in social attitudes and community problems. Gender similarities and differences, especially as related to education, career choice, leadership, and so on. Charismatic and transformational leadership and group behavior. What it means to age successfully and healthily as well as ways to accomplish healthy aging. Methods we can utilize to feel better about ourselves or impro