Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2014 -

This brief but information-packed book looks at religious extremism in relation to Freuds psychoanalytic theory.  Kenny (Univ. of Sydney, Australia) draws on a wealth of disciplinese.g., neuroscience, philosophy, and sociology as well as cognitive and social psychologyto examine the psychological processes evident in fundamentalist thinking.  Early in the text, she addresses contemporary atheism (the work of Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett) and then goes on to examine a number of philosophers (including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, and Heidegger), all the while using Freuds theories as a framework.  Kennys observations are balanced and based on solid research.  Bringing Freuds theories to contemporary events, the author explores in detail the psychological phenomenon of projection.  Drawing on Eric Fromm and the Dalai Lama, she concludes by showing psychoanalysis as a key factor in protecting against religious fanaticism, with the needed changes coming from within individual psyches.  This is an excellent addition to the literature on the psychology of religion.Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals.

Speaking against the notion that humans are innately selfish, Pfaff (neuroscience, Rockefeller Univ.) introduces his "altruistic brain theory," which posits that humans are, in general, wired to behave in an ethical manner.  Drawing on neuroscience and psychology research on motor processing, face recognition, neuronal excitation, emotions and hormones, and decision making, the author lays out five steps that humans subconsciously take when acting altruistically.  These include merging another person's image with the image of one's self while planning and executing an action toward that person.  Of course, people do not always act altruistically toward others, so Pfaff goes further to explain how bad behaviorssuch as corruption, gang activity, war, and genocidecan emerge when altruistic brain mechanisms go awry or fail.  Finally, he proposes that by recognizing and accepting that humans are intrinsically good, society can take steps toward institutionalizing altruism.  Accessible to a lay audience, this is the only title to treat this topic.  It will interest students in neuroscience and psychology in addition to educators and policy makers.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.

Curiosity is critical for intellectual achievement, but the US education system appears to value compliance and the acquisition of facts and skills far more.  Many have observed that the curiosity found to be inherent in most toddlers is nearly eradicated by the time they complete elementary school.  Engel (Williams College) addresses this dilemma by providing a fascinating account of the diverse expressions of curiosity found in childhood.  The author begins each chapter with a personal story illustrating a specific aspect of curiosity.  She then weaves in information derived from empirical studies of cognitive development across the childhood years, providing an insightful analysis.  Engel starts with her own bug-eating explorations and then examines the importance of having safe havens from which risky expeditions can be launched, "what and why" questioning, the importance of having invitations to explore freely, gossip as an indication of interest in others and their cultures, and the importance of solitude to pursue interests.  She offers techniques to foster and encourage the continued development of each of these expressions of curiosity.  Taking her cue from a famous Einstein quotation, Engel writes, It turns out that like many delicate plants, in order to flourish, curiosity needs to be cultivated.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.

Emotion scientists are an affable lot, that is until the subject of how to define emotion comes up then the claws come out.  Although some may find it remarkable that students of emotion still cannot agree on the definition of emotion, what is even more remarkable is how the editors/authors of this volume have managed to present what many will consider a controversial definition of emotion in a manner that should assuage most of their colleagues territorial instincts.  Barrett and Russell are prominent psychological researchers and well known in the community of emotion scientists.  They have been involved for some time in developing the so-called psychological construction of emotion paradigm, in which emotions are seen as assembled from a variety of physiological, cognitive/perceptual, and social elements, none of which is essential to the emotion.  This is what others describe as the polythetic nature of emotions.  Using evidence ranging from self-reports to brain scans, the editors/contributors argue for a family of psychological construction theories.  Though not all of the contributors to the volume are convinced that the editors are on the right track, their arguments are plausible and compelling.  The publication of this volume is sure to be regarded as a watershed event in the (post)modern study of emotions.Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals.

What factors, whether personal, situational, or experiential, lead some to take action by aiding or rescuing others from harm?  A Holocaust survivor, Staub (emer., Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst; founder of the doctoral program in the psychology of peace and violence) spent his scholarly career exploring why some people act with humility and humanity and others stand by and do nothing in the face of suffering or, worse, perpetrate it.  Staub conducted extensive theoretical and empirical work on the nature of good and evil, and his findings have advanced social, clinical, and developmental psychology and the psychology of peace and social justice.  This fine book, made up of 28 chapters (2 are coauthored and 2 others are authored by others), is a victory lap of sorts for a distinguished career, but the book is also forward looking because it includes not only the authors major and recent articles but also newly written material dealing with ways to prevent violence and promote peace.  Those interested in learning a programmatic approach to addressing matters of moral courage and compassion will be drawn to this book, as will those who want to apply psychological insights to advancing reconciliation and creating caring societies.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.