The Positive Psychology of Personal Transformation: Leveraging Resilience for Life Change / Edition 1

by James Garbarino

Overview

Given the current climate of economic and environmental uncertainty, it is all too easy for individuals to feel hopeless about their lives and indifferent to the problems of others. But according to leading psychologist, James Garbarino, this is the peak time for people to enhance their optimism, empathy, and emotional responsiveness. In his important new book, The Positive Psychology of Personal Transformation, Dr. Garbarino reveals the social basis for moral development in adversity, and the mental and physical benefits of psychological and spiritual growth. Drawing widely on his years as a healing professional and own experience of personal crisis as well as on decades of resilience and happiness literature, the author traces the evolution of the moral sense that affects all human relationships, including the one with the Earth itself. In these compelling pages, Dr. Garbarino: Examines how humans' deep bonds with dogs can model positive human relationships. Compares the risks and benefits of the "oblivious" versus the self-aware life. Analyzes the role of trauma in heightening our sense of the meaning of life and defines the experience of transformational grace in adversity. Explains current manifestations of narcissism and the need for "the positive death of the self." Asserts that every person is capable of "living an 'extraordinary' life." A book with vast significance across the healing disciplines, The Positive Psychology of Personal Transformation should be read, savored, and practiced by researchers, practitioners, and scientists in clinical child, school, and developmental psychology; social work; educational and community psychology; sociology; and public health. Content Level Research

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441977434
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	01/11/2011
Edition description:	2011
Pages:	121
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.24(d)

About the Author

James Garbarino is the founding Director of the Center for the Human Rights of Children at Loyola University Chicago; the current Maude C. Clarke Chair in Humanistic Psychology. Before arriving at Loyola, he was Cornell University's Elizabeth Lee Vincent Professor of Human Development and co-director of the Family Life Development Center. He received his bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence University and a doctorate in human development and family studies from Cornell University. From 1985 - 1994 he was President of the Erikson Institute for Advanced Study in Child Development. Dr. Garbarino has served as a consultant to a wide range of organizations, including the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, the National Institute for Mental Health, the American Medical Association, the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also serves as an expert witness in criminal and civil cases involving issues of violence and children. Books he has authored or edited include: Children and the Dark Side of Human Experience: A Spiritual Memoir, See Jane Hit: Why Girls Are Growing More Violent and What We Can Do About It, and Words Can Hurt Forever: How to Protect Adolescents from Bullying, Harassment, and Emotional Violence. His work has also been featured in television, magazines, and newspapers, including appearances on "The Today Show," "Dateline," and "Larry King Live." Dr. Garbarino has received numerous awards, including the first C. Henry Kempe Award from the National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Spencer Fellow by the National Academy of Education, National Fellow by the Kellogg Foundation, and the President’s Celebrating Success Award from the National Association of School Psychologists. He is a former president of the American Psychological Association's Division on Child, Youth and Family Services.

Table of Contents

Preface.- Acknowledgments.- Walking With Hope and Dharma: Are Dogs Enlightened? Are Humans?.- The Costs and Benefits of Obliviousness: Growing Up in the 1950s.- Ten Bad Things That Almost Happened, And Many More That Did: Getting to the Other Side of Trauma.- What is the Opposite of Trauma? The Power of Transformational Grace.- Can There Ever Be Enough Me? Narcissism And the Positive Death of Self.- What Does It Mean to Live an “Extraordinary Life?”.- References.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Gary B Kaniuk, Psy.D.(Cermak Health Services)
Description: This book focuses on the importance of positive psychology in light of the trials and tribulations of life. Dr. Garbarino reveals how his own personal and clinical experiences have provided a new appreciation of life and a spiritual transformation.
Purpose: According to the author, "I use my own life experiences as a context for demonstrating the power of positive and humanistic psychology to join with spiritual exploration and practices to help make sense of the human condition." His experiences include "professional activities understanding risk and resilience in war zones, on death row, in child abuse cases, in refugee camps, and as a consultant to a wide range of human service, child welfare, and educational institutions."
Audience: The book is aimed at researchers, practitioners, and scientists in clinical child, school, and developmental psychology; social work; educational and community psychology; sociology; and public health. The author is the Maude C. Clarke Chair in Humanistic Psychology at Loyola University Chicago.
Features: The author begins his book with his experiences and spiritual transformation, especially his relationships with his dogs, which helped shed light on all relationships in life. He continues with his developmental years in the 1950s, during which he was unaware of many of the social ills of society. However, he sees his childhood as optimism at the expense of obliviousness. He then draws on his own experience of personal crisis in his discussion of how resourceful people can suffer trauma yet learn from it and find new meaning in life. The author takes time to contrast negative psychology with positive psychology and understand "transformational grace." He then describes the need for secure attachment with others and offers a criticism of narcissism. Finally, he discusses how to live an extraordinary life by taking time to appreciate the little things in life as opposed to striving for big accomplishments. This is an autobiographical look at an accomplished man who has learned how to apply positive psychological principles in both his life and his clinical experiences.
Assessment: This is a good look at positive psychology through the experiences of an accomplished psychologist. It is easy to read and contains powerful, inspirational stories. This is no ordinary book; it is philosophical yet practical.

Doody's Review Service