For courses on Adjustment, Coping, Personal Growth, Mental Health, and Applied Psychology. This text is designed for students interested in applying psychological insights and principles to their own lives as a way of achieving a better understanding of themselves and living more effectively. The scope of Psychology for Living goes far beyond the classroom. Rooted in a deep sense of personal enrichment, this text is designed for students interested in applying psychological insights and principles to their own lives as a way of achieving a better understanding of themselves and living more effectively. Drawing material from the major perspectives of psychology, including the psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic viewpoints, the goal of the text is based firmly on increasing readers' understanding as well as their knowledge about personal adjustment, in order that they may continue learning on their own.

Table of Contents

Brief Contents 1. Self-Direction in a Changing World 2. The Journey Begins -- Childhood 3. Affirmative Aging -- Adulthood 4. Seeking Selfhood 5. Toward Better Health 6. Taking Charge 7. Managing Motives and Emotions 8. Making and Keeping Friends 9. Leader or Follower? 10. At Work and Play 11. Sexuality 12. Love and Commitment 13. Stress 14. Understanding Mental Disorders 15. If You Go for Help 16. Good Grief and Death Full Table of Contents Part 1 - Introduction 1. Self-Direction in a Changing World Social Change Living in a Technological World Living with Other Social Changes How Certain Is Our Future The Challenge of Self-Direction Self-Direction and Society The Ambiguity of Personal Freedom Taking Charge of Our Lives Living in Today's Individualized Society Themes of Personal Growth Living With Contradictions and Uncertainty Continuity and Change The Experience of Personal Growth Beyond Individualism Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information Part 2 - Becoming 2. The Journey Begins -- Childhood Perspectives on Child Development The Biological Perspective on Child Development Nature versus Nurture - An Old Debate A Newer Approach Applying It to Yourself The Psychodynamic Perspective on Child Development Development of Personality The Structure of Personality Personality Dynamics Modifications Applying It to Yourself The Social-Cognitive Perspective on Child Development Social Learning Theories Recent Additions: Cognition and Behavior Applying It to Yourself The Humanistic Perspective on Development The Phenomenal Self Self-Actualization Applying It to Yourself Conclusion Developmental Challenges in Childhood Temperament Self-Recognition and Self-Concept Attachment Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 3. Affirmative Aging -- Adulthood Adult Development Decisions, Decisions, Decisions - Early Adulthood Leaving Home Choosing a Career Establishing Close Relationships Starting a Family Same Old, Same Old? - Middle Adulthood Midlife Transition or Midlife Crisis? Physical and Cognitive Changes Possible Career Changes Sexual Changes Aging Gracefully - Late Adulthood Physical and Cognitive Changes Personal and Social Adjustment Retirement Successful Aging Summary Answers to Aging Quiz Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information Part 3 - Better Than Ever 4. Seeking Selfhood What is the Self-Concept Self-Image Ideal self Multiple Selves Core Characteristics of Self-Concept Self-Consistency Self-Esteem Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification The Self-Concept and Personal Growth The Self You'd Like to Be Our Social Selves Learning from Criticism Greater Self-Direction Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 5. Toward Better Health Body Image How We Feel About Our Bodies Our Ideal Body Psychological Factors and Physical Illness The Immune System Personality Lifestyle Choices Environmental Issues Coping with Illness Noticing and Interpreting Symptoms Seeking Help Adhering to Treatment Promoting Wellness Taking Charge of Your Own Health Eating Sensibly Getting Enough Sleep Keeping Physically Fit Finding Social Support Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 6. Taking Charge Mastery and Personal Control Perceived Control Consequences of Perceived Control Misperception and Maladjustment Learned Optimism Personal Resolve and Decision Making The Process of Decision Making Making Better Decisions Decisions and Personal Growth Identifying the Basic Decisions in Your Life Making New Decisions Some Practical Applications Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 7. Managing Motives and Emotions Understanding Motivation Understanding Your Needs Differences between You and Others Everyone's Basic Needs Psychosocial Motives Personal Motivation Understanding Emotions What are Emotions? Experiencing Emotions Expressing Emotions Managing Emotions Special Emotions Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information Part 4 - Being Social 8. Making and Keeping Friends Meeting People Are First Impressions Most Important? Mistaken Impressions Shyness Keeping Friends Friendships are Precious When Friends Get Together Self-Disclosure - Those Little Secrets Same-Sex, Opposite-Sex Friends Staying Friends Loneliness Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 9. Leader or Follower? Kinds of Groups Favored Groups - Primary Groups Bigger than Both of Us - Secondary Groups What Goes Wrong at Rock Concerts? - Collectives "Us" Versus "Them" - In-Groups and Out-Groups How Do Groups Form? Why Join a Group? What Goes on in Groups? What Did You Say? - Communication Patterns You Want Me to Do What? - Social Influence Let the Other Guy Do It - Social Loafing All in Favor Say "Aye" - Group Polarization Are Leaders Made or Born? The Great Man Theory Situational Explanations of Leadership Contingency Theory Contemporary Theories Gender and Leadership Culture and Leadership When Groups Go Wrong The Fiasco of Groupthink A Little Shove Goes a Long Way - Group Conflict Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 10. At Work and Play Choosing Your Career Taking Stock of Yourself Identifying Compatible Careers Arriving at Your Career Decision Preparing for Your Career Your Career Outlook Forecasting Your Career's Growth Changing Jobs or Careers Contemporary Issues in the World of Work Job Satisfaction Technology and Work Diversity in the Workplace Leisure Time What is Leisure? Work and Leisure Using Leisure Positively Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information Part 5 - Being Intimate 11. Sexuality Men and Women Changing Views of Sexuality Sexual Communication Initiating and Refusing Sex Sexual Responsiveness The Sexual Response Cycle Individual Differences Love and Sex Practical Issues Sexual Dysfunctions Contraception Sexual Transmitted Diseases Sexual Victimization Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 12. Love and Commitment Love and Intimacy The Ingredients of Love Love and Close Relationships Commitment Cohabitation Marriage and Other Committed Relationships Adjusting to Intimate Relationships Sharing Responsibilities Communication and Conflict Making the Relationship Better Sexuality Changes over Time Divorce and Its Consequences The Divorce Experience Single-Parent Families Remarriage Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information Part 6 - Facing Challenges 13. Stress Oh No! - Understanding Stress Conceptualizing Stress Stress and You Yikes! - Reactions to Stress Physiological Stress Reactions Psychological Stress Reactions How Do You React to Stress? Phew! - Managing Stress Modifying Your Environment Altering Your Lifestyle Using Stress for Personal Growth Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 14. Understanding Mental Disorders Psychological Disorders What Are Psychological Disorders? How common are Psychological Disorders? How are Disorders Classified? Anxiety Disorders: The Most Common Disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder Phobias: Fear of Something That Won't Really Hurt Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: The Doubting Disease Trauma and Disaster Mood Disorders What is Depression? Suicide: Who and Why? What is Bipolar Disorder? Other Common Disorders Do You Have an Eating Disorder? What are Personality Disorders? Schizophrenia - The Enigmatic Disorder Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 15. If You Go for Help Insight Therapies - The Talking Cure Psychoanalysis The Person-Centered Approach A Variety of Approaches Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies Behavioral Therapies Cognitive Therapies Status of Psychotherapy Today Other Approaches to Treatment Family, Couples, and Relationship Therapy Biomedical Therapies Community-Based Services How Well Does Therapy Work Finding Help Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information 16. Good Grief and Death. Death and Dying Risks of Dying Awareness of Death Near-Death Experiences The Experience of Dying Bereavement and Grief Grief Work Unresolved Grief Good Grief Life and Death in Perspective The Right to Die A Natural Death Funerals and Other Services Death and Growth Summary Self-Test Exercises Questions for Self-Reflection For Further Information Answers to Self-Tests Glossary References