Psychology Books

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Book Synopsis What motivates altruism? How essential is the phenomenon of altruism to the human experience? Is altruism readily accessible to the ordinary person? In The Altruistic Species, Andrew Michael Flescher and Daniel L. Worthen explore these questions through the lenses of four disciplinary perspectives—biology, psychology, philosophy, and religion. In their investigation, they make an extended argument for the existence of altruism against competing theories that construe all ostensible cases of benevolence as self-interest in disguise. The authors consider theories of egoism; the role of genetics and evolutionary biology; the psychological that induce altruistic behavior; philosophical theories of altruism in normative ethics such as Kantian, utilitarian, and Aristotelian models of moral action; and accounts of love of the neighbor in Christianity and Buddhism. Additionally, they offer a new, comprehensive definition of altruism that includes the insights of each of these perspectives. The Altruistic Species reinvigorates the debate over the prevalence of selfless motivation in human behavior—whether it is a rare or ubiquitous phenomenon—something considered exceptional or a capacity that members of any community could potentially develop. This noteworthy interdisciplinary examination of altruism balances science, virtue theory, and theology. It is ideal for ethics, human behavior, and evolutionary biology courses as an educational resource for other multidisciplinary studies and interested lay readers. Trade ReviewThe Altruistic Species is an ambitious attempt to explain altruism through the lenses of psychology, religion, and evolutionary biology . . . The Altruistic Species includes some interesting stories about people who have expressed remarkable acts of caring for others, which the authors explore in a thorough and sometimes pr0vocative manner. . . . Flescher and Worthen do not shy away from explicating difficult discussions, and they diligently follow the implications of difficult human decisions. —Shift: the Frontier of Consciousness—No. 17 Though the book delves into biological kinship systems and Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, the writing is clear and accessible. In its calm way of demolishing objections to the author's contention that most all of us have the capacity—and moral obligation—to become more altruistic in our character (as part of what Aristotle called human flourishing), the book is also revolutionary. . . . It’s a matter, the authors say, of "practicing . . . moral skills" which become part of the "stable character" of altruism. It is a measure of a genuinely happy life. —Dan Barnett, Butte College Flescher and Worthenpresent a superbly organized book that aims to assign altruism a more central role in both descriptive and normative accounts of human nature. This work is interdisciplinary in approach and rich in examples from philosophy, history, literature, and everyday experience. According to the authors, the title refers to "a central part of our identity as a species, a part that can become even more central than it currently is." To make the case for this, Flescher and Worthen note that standard definitions of altruism are too restrictive. Next, they integrate biology, psychology, philosophy, and religious insights to reveal how these often conflicting disciplines "can be synthesized to contribute to a coherent, comprehensive, and truly interdisciplinary account" of altruism. The authors end by providing a new definition of altruism. This volume is a great addition to the growing literature on altruism and a good companion to Stephen Post’s Unlimited Love: Altruism, Compassion, and Service (CH, Jan’04, 41-2761) and Altruism and Altruistic Love (CH, Jan’03, 40-2711), ed. by Post et al. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers. —H. Storl, CHOICE, Vol. 45, No. 9 This book results from an interdisciplinary and team-taught course by a psychologist and an ethicist. Psychology is interested in the practical implications of altruism. Ethics is interested in the existence and nature of altruism. . . . Templeton Foundation Press promotes studies on the relation of science to spiritual realities. This book is a remarkable contribution to such a project. —Lucian J. Richard, OMI, Catholic Library World—Vol. 78, No. 3 Table of Contents Preface / vii Introduction: Selfishness and Selflessness / 3 Part I: What Is Altruism? 1: Altruism Defined / 23 Part II: What Motivates Altruism? 2: The Perspective of Psychological Egoism: A Sheep in Wolf ’s Clothing / 57 3: The Perspective of Evolutionary Biology: The Genetic Dynamics of Caring and Cooperation / 91 4: Psychological Perspectives: Nurturing Our Nature / 125 5: Philosophical Perspectives: Altruism and the Role of Reason / 165 6: Religious Perspectives: Altruism, Saints, and Believers / 201 Part III: How Does Altruism Work? 7: Cultivating Our Altruistic Identity / 233

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Book Synopsis Integrating the Islamic faith with modern psychotherapy is at the forefront of the spiritually integrated psychotherapy movement. To bring this work to wider attention and to promote its continuation, Dr. Carrie York Al-Karam has brought together the present volume of nine essays, each of which is written by a Muslim clinician who practices Islamically integrated psychotherapy (IIP)—a modern approach that unites the teachings, principles, and interventions of the faith with Western therapeutic approaches. As delineated in the Introduction, IIP has emerged from a variety of domains including the psychology of religion and spirituality, multicultural psychology and counseling, transpersonal psychology, Muslim Mental Health, and Islamic Psychology. The individual chapters then describe a variety of ways IIP is practiced by Muslim clinicians in their service provision with Muslim clients. The contributors discuss a wide range of topics, such as how Islam can be viewed as a system for psychological wellbeing, or a “science of the soul”; what marital counseling can look like from an Islamically-integrated perspective; Prophet Mohammed as a psycho-spiritual exemplar in a new approach called The HEART Method; the use of Quranic stories in family therapy; as well as using Islamic teachings when working with Muslim children and adolescents. A description of the various approaches is supplemented with discussions of their theoretical underpinnings as well as research-based recommendations for advancing clinical application. What emerges is a vital resource for Muslim and non-Muslim clinicians alike as well as the lay Muslim reader wanting to know more about how the Islamic faith and psychotherapy are engaging with each other in a modern clinical context. Table of Contents Acknowledgments / ix Preface / xiii Introduction / 3 Carrie York Al-Karam, PhD Chapter 1: An Islamic Theoretical Orientation to Psychotherapy / 25 Abdallah Rothman, LPC Chapter 2: Utilization of Islamic Principles in Marital Counseling / 57 Layla Asamarai, PsyD Chapter 3: The HEART Method: Healthy Emotions Anchored in RasoolAllah’s Teachings: Cognitive Therapy Using Prophet Mohammed as a Psycho-Spiritual Exemplar / 76 Farah Lodi, MA, CCC Chapter 4: Conducting Spiritually Integrated Family Therapy with Muslim Clients Utilizing a Culturally Responsive Paradigm / 103 Afshana Haque, PhD, LMFT-S Chapter 5: Integrating Islamic Spirituality into Psychodynamic Therapy with Muslim Patients / 127 Ibrahim Rüschoff, MD, and Paul M. Kaplick, BSc Chapter 6: Family Therapy and the Use of Quranic Stories / 152 Rabia Malik, PhD Chapter 7: Outlining a Case Illustration of Traditional Islamically Integrated Psychotherapy / 175 Hooman Keshavarzi, LPC, and Fahad Khan, PsyD Chapter 8 Marrying Islamic Principles with Western Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents: Successes and Challenges / 208 Fyeqa Sheikh, PsyD Chapter 9: Integrating Duaa Arafa and Other Shiite Teachings into Psychotherapy / 229 Sayyed Mohsen Fatemi, PhD About the Contributors / 243 Index / 251

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Book SynopsisThis book introduces an approach to mental health that dates back 3,000 years to an ancient body of Jewish spiritual wisdom. Known as the Connections Paradigm, the millennia-old method has been empirically shown to alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. After being passed down from generation to generation and tested in clinical settings with private clients, it is presented to a broad audience for the first time. The idea behind the paradigm is that at any given moment, human beings are either “connected” or “disconnected” across three key relationships. To be “connected” means to be in a loving, harmonious, and fulfilling relationship; to be “disconnected” means, of course, the opposite. The three relationships are those between our souls and our bodies, ourselves and others, and ourselves and God. These relationships are hierarchal; each depends on the one that precedes it. This means that we can only connect with God to the extent that we associate with others, and we cannot connect with others if we don’t connect with ourselves. The author, Dr. David H. Rosmarin, devotes a section to each relationship and describes techniques and practices to become a more connected individual. He also brings in compelling stories from his clinical practice to show the process in action. Whether you’re a clinician working with clients, or a person seeking the healing balm of wisdom; whether you’re a member of the Jewish faith, or a person open to new spiritual perspectives, you will find this book sensible, practical, and timely because, for all of us, connection leads to mental health.Trade Review “A leading voice in the psychology of religion and its application to mental health problems, Dr. Rosmarin has given faith-based providers an entirely new language for intertwining spiritual, interpersonal, and mental health domains in the interests of clinical care. This innovative volume shows how ancient Jewish teachings on the relation of body and soul can be combined with a broad array of modern evidence-based approaches to psychological care, from exposure to experiential acceptance, from nutrition to interpersonal compassion. There is a significant body of science showing that embedding evidence-based intervention into a spiritual journey is a powerful combination for people of faith. Still, providers need a more general approach that stands one step above the details of particular religious commitments. Filled with clinical examples, this book radiates kindness and empathic concern, and its use of ‘body and soul’ could be effective with a wide range of people of faith.” —Steven C. Hayes, PhD, Originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, author of A Liberated Mind, and Foundation Professor of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno “Dr. Rosmarin has done a great mental health service for the general public. With so many today beset by anxiety and depression and tiring of modern answers that feel superficial, The Connections Paradigm offers a profound, centuries-old method to relieve mental distress, enhance life’s most important relationships, and achieve genuine peace of mind.” —Harold G. Koenig, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Duke University Health Systems, and director of the Duke Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health “The Connections Paradigm is not only timely but Dr. David Rosmarin’s careful attention to its rich traditionands practical relevance for each of us is a gift. I am truly grateful for how well he unpacks these three critical forms of connection—Inner Connection, Interpersonal Connection, and Spiritual Connection—with such clarity alongside the relatable stories he weaves throughout this book!” —Holly K. Oxhandler, PhD, LMSW, associate professor of social work and associate dean for research faculty development, Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work “Infused with the warmth and wisdom of Judaism, this book offers a deeply thoughtful psychological and spiritual guide for those seeking greater connectedness within themselves, with others, and with God. Using poignant stories from his clinical practice, Rosmarin illustrates how a ‘connections paradigm’ can foster transformations among people facing the full range of psychological problems. This book will deepen the practice of many providers and the lives of many clients.” —Kenneth I. Pargament, PhD, professor emeritus, department of psychology, Bowling Green State University, author of Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy “David Rosmarin has compiled a thoughtful and relatable guide to help us reconnect with our body and soul. He shares practical instructions supported by theory, case studies,s, and ancient Jewish spiritual teachings to show that we can live more fully when we are truly connected to all our parts. The Connections Paradigm is good for the body, mind, and soul.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Change “Jung famously claimed that every patient he treated over age thirty-five needed in the end to find a spiritual outlook on life. In The Connections Paradigm, mental and spiritual health are beautifully intertwined, and Jewish wisdom becomes a stabilizing and uplifting force in an often dark and confusing world.” —Rabbi David Wolpe, Max Webb Senior Rabbi, Sinai Temple “Written in a lucid and graceful style and full of applicable case studies, this book is an authoritative statement on the importance of spirituality in mental health. I highly recommend The Connection Paradigm either as a self-help guide or as a blueprint for interventions by mental health professionals. The cure for human suffering lies in healing the brokenness in a divided self, conflict in relationships, and separation from God.” —Paul T. P. Wong, PhD., C.Psych, president of the International Network on Personal Meaning Table of Contents Introduction / 1 CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Inner Connection: Body and Soul / 13 CHAPTER 2 Inner Connection Part I: Accepting the Soul’s Guidance / 35 CHAPTER 3 Inner Connection Part II: Loving the Body and Providing for Its Needs / 51 CHAPTER 4 Inner Connection Part III: Expressing Needs and Raising Issues to the Soul / 64 CHAPTER 5 Inner Connection Part IV: Tolerating the Body’s Idiosyncrasies with Love and Patience / 78 CHAPTER 6 Introduction to Interpersonal Connection / 92 CHAPTER 7 Interpersonal Connection Part I: Three Levels of Noticing the Needs of Others / 108 CHAPTER 8 Interpersonal Connection Part II: Providing for the Needs of Others / 121 CHAPTER 9 Interpersonal Connection Part III: Noticing Our Disconnection from Others / 135 CHAPTER 10 Interpersonal Connection Part IV: Remaining Connected to Others / 147 CHAPTER 11 Introduction to Spiritual Connection / 159 CHAPTER 12 Spiritual Connection Part I: Recognizing Our Limited Scope of Control / 171 CHAPTER 13 Spiritual Connection Part II: Recognizing God’s Order and Design in the World / 188 CHAPTER 14 Spiritual Connection Part III: Developing a Godly Vision / 202 CHAPTER 15 Spiritual Connection Part IV: Exerting Heroic Efforts for God / 219 Conclusion / 235 Acknowledgments / 251

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Book SynopsisViewing our past through the eyes of maturity can reveal insights that our younger selves could not see. Lessons that eluded us become apparent. Encounters that once felt like misfortunes now become understood as valued parts of who we are. We realize what we’ve learned and what we have to teach. And we’re encouraged to chart a future that is rich with purpose. In A Round of Golf with My Father, William Damon introduces us to the “life review.” This is a process of looking with clarity and curiosity at the paths we’ve traveled, examining our pasts in a frank yet positive manner, and using what we’ve learned to write purposeful next chapters for our lives. For Damon, that process began by uncovering the mysterious life of his father, whom he never met and never gave much thought to. What he discovered surprised him so greatly that he was moved to reassess the events of his own life, including the choices he made, the relationships he forged, and the career he pursued. Early in his life, Damon was led to believe that his father had been killed in World War II. But the man survived and went on to live a second life abroad. He married a French ballerina, started a new family, and forged a significant Foreign Service career. He also was an excellent golfer, a bittersweet revelation for Damon, who wishes that his father had been around to teach him the game. We follow Damon as he struggles to make sense of his father’s contradictions and how his father, even though living a world apart, influenced Damon’s own development in crucial ways. In his life review, Damon uses what he learned about his father to enhance his own newly emerging self-knowledge. Readers of this book may come away inspired to conduct informal life reviews for themselves. By uncovering and assembling the often overlooked puzzle pieces of their pasts, readers can seek present-day contentment and look with growing optimism to the years ahead. Trade Review"[O]riginal, candid, and poignant, full of irony and humor. This splendid, rich volume tells the story of coming to terms with one’s past to face the present, and demonstrates the redemptive, reinvigorating power of looking back on one’s life.” —Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York (1997–2021) “Part detective-story, part thriller, and part psychological masterclass, Bill Damon's A Round of Golf with My Father is a must-read….This inspiring and remarkable book could not arrive at a better time.” —Henry Timms, coauthor of the bestseller New Power, cofounder of #GivingTuesday, and president of Lincoln Center “[A] gripping detective story, a deeply touching personal memoir, a critique of developmental psychology, a compendium of life-giving maxims, and a celebration of disciplined life review. Once I started reading it, I had a hard time putting it down.” —Michael Murphy, cofounder of the Esalen Institute and author of Golf in the Kingdom and The Future of the Body “A blueprint for a more fulfilling, grateful, and joyous life, A Round of Golf with My Father is both a page-turner and life-changer.” —Marc Freedman, CEO, Encore.org, and author of How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations “In this beautiful book, Bill Damon simultaneously reviews his life and that of the father he never met. Two lives in review, two stories, two journeys that hold lessons for all of us about how to forgive ourselves and others, how to appreciate ourselves and others, and by making peace with the past find our way forward.” —Angela Duckworth, PhD, founder and CEO of Character Lab and author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance “This extraordinary memoir depicts the powerful insights that can emerge from reflecting on one's personal history and life work.” —Howard Gardner, PhD, Hobbs Research Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and author of A Synthesizing Mind “If, as Aristotle wrote, living life well is like playing a musical instrument with skill and beauty, William Damon proves to be a virtuoso.” —Dan P. McAdams, the Henry Wade Rogers Professor of Psychology, Northwestern University “Damon’s work is a unique guide for all readers to review and embrace their own life journey.” —Richard M. Lerner, Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science, and director, Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, Tufts UniversityTable of ContentsPrologue: A Call of Consequence Chapter 1: Life Stories Chapter 2: Uncovering the Past Chapter 3: Revisiting Identity and Purpose Chapter 4: Examining Early Character Chapter 5: National Service and Moral Maturity Chapter 6: Three Separate Paths to Purpose Chapter 7: A Round of Golf with my Father Chapter 8: Reframing Regrets, Finding Gratitude, and Renewing Identity

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Book SynopsisThis compendium of introductory essays invites scholars and clinicians to better understand people of various faiths from around the world. It is intended to correct the tendency among scientists to study religious behavior without accounting for its human dimension. For example: a psychologist describes a religious ceremony in a certain community as a "sociological phenomenon." Such a technical description is likely to strike members of that community as an attempt by science to explain away their beliefs. This is counterproductive. In order to work effectively and empathetically with people of faith, psychologists should seek an intimate knowledge of how religion operates in the hearts and minds of living, breathing human beings. With this goal in mind, editors Timothy Sisemore and Joshua Knabb have made one of the world’s major religions the subject of a separate chapter. In addition, they have arranged for each chapter to be written by a psychologist who practices—or is culturally connected with—that religion. This marks the book’s unique contribution to the field: it is the product of people who have lived the world’s religions, not merely studied them. By taking such a respectful approach, the book promotes an appreciation for the ways that religious belief animates, inspires, and instructs its adherents. Moreover, the indigenous point-of-view of these essays will help scholars identify their own biases when researching religious groups, allowing them to produce more accurate and holistic analyses. Psychologists understand that religion and spirituality provide meaning and purpose to billions of people around the globe. But the actual experience of these beliefs eludes the grasp of the reductionistic methods of science. With this resource at their side, psychologists in academic and clinical settings will be equipped to understand religious experience from the bottom-up, and honor the beliefs and practices of the people they are trying to help.Trade Review“If you want to understand major world religions, you have to read this indispensable volume. It takes a humble and indigenous approach to explaining the worldview of religions, embodying humble and culturally insider views. In this way it complements and, in many ways, surpasses an important but often limited scientific approach to understanding religions. Anyone interested in any religion should read and digest this germinal work.” —Adam Cohen, PhD, professor of psychology, Arizona State University “A book well-worth having. Psychology of religion researchers have long recognized that scientific yields are limited unless more indigenous approaches are adopted. With this book, those words are now put into practice. Need to learn more psychology through Chinese or African traditional religions, or Hinduism, or North American indigenous spirituality? How about Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, or Christianity? Get taught here by the insights of psychological researchers and scholars who themselves are religious insiders within the tradition presented. This one stays on my bookshelf within arm’s reach.” —Peter C. Hill, PhD, Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University “After reading these descriptions by believers and sympathetic insiders of diverse indigenous religious traditions, any open-minded psychologist will recognize that a paradigm shift is imminent. Students and researchers alike will find that a genuine conversation with, and sharing of, other worldviews does not threaten but rather enriches us all.” —Ralph W. Hood Jr., PhD, professor of psychology and LeRoy A. Martin Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga “This is a tremendously important book. The editors have done an excellent job of addressing the most significant unresolved issue in the field of modern psychology—that of its antagonistic relationship with religion and spirituality. They provide a thoughtful analysis, make recommendations for conceptual and applied ways forward, and present what a variety of religious and spiritual psychologies look like in today’s world. This should be mandatory reading in every single psychology class everywhere. An absolute must-have text for anyone interested in any subfield of psychology or the intersection of psychology and religion.” —Carrie York Al-Karam, PhD, president, Alkaram Institute “Increasingly, mental health workers are treating clients whose backgrounds span the world’s faith traditions. To successfully address such diversity, practitioners must have a comprehensive and respectful understanding of the belief systems that animate religious observers from all walks of life. This indispensable text is the resource they need. Wise, thorough, and compassionate, it is a major contribution to the psychological study of religion.” —Harold G. Koenig, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Duke University Health Systems, and director of Duke’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health “This book is fascinating. By covering a range of assumptive frameworks, it gives insider perspectives on mental health and healing from different faith traditions. It also encourages us to examine some of our own Western assumptions and understand the prominence of spirituality in nearly all indigenous psychologies.” —Kate Loewenthal, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, and visiting professor at Glyndwr University, Wales, New York University in London “An amazing and timely work providing an emic perspective on religious and spiritual psychology. The authors have challenged the limitations of methodology and provided a psychological perspective on each religion from the ‘inside,’ while acknowledging that it is but one of many perspectives within the religion. The authors must be lauded for their expertise and the humility with which they have presented their material. A true masterpiece which will help advance dialog not just in the psychology of religion and spirituality but the field of psychology and its applications.” —Sonia Suchday, PhD, Professor and Chair, Psychology Department, Pace University “Such a timely resource that incorporates world religion into understanding human psychology. The various chapters provide profound insights and understanding of the psychology of different faiths from insiders’ perspectives, which makes The Psychology of World Religions and Spiritualities an excellent resource for researchers, clinicians, and students! A wonderful book for readers to understand, digest, and contrast the rich diversity of world religions.” —Kenneth T. Wang, PhD, professor and PhD Program Chair, Clinical Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary

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Book SynopsisYou've spent most of your adult life focused on the care and raising of your children, and now they're leaving. For you and for them, this major transition is often challenging in many ways. You may feel surprised at the power of your grief—a confusing mixture of sadness, hope, emptiness, fear, excitement, and other emotions all at once. This book by one of the world's most beloved grief counselors helps parents understand their normal and necessary empty nester grief. The 100 practical tips and activities are designed to help you acknowledge and express your feelings of loss, foster love and respect, and, over time, find ways to re-instill your life with meaning. Advice is also offered for nurturing a marriage or partnership through this challenging time.

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