Synopses & Reviews
This book explores the nature and consequences of social change, the limitations of an individual psychology, and the perils of adopting an ahistorical stance. From reflections on the current Freudian backlash to an in-depth look at the effects of the industrial revolution on the breakdown of community, examines the recurring destructive consequences that arise when a sense of rootedness and belonging disappears.
In this collection of personal essays, eminent psychologist Seymour B. Sarason explores the nature and consequences of social change, the limitations of an individual psychology, and the perils of adopting an ahistorical stance.
From reflections on the current Freudian backlash to an in-depth look at the effects of the industrial revolution on the breakdown of community, Sarason examines the recurring destructive consequences that arise when a sense of rootedness and belonging disappears. Particularly interesting is Sarason's examination of the American worldview--how our can-do optimism and democratic nature shape who we are and how we understand ourselves.
The essays are as varied and interesting as the writer, and cover a wide range of topicsfrom literary biography and linguistics to mental health. In each chapter, Sarason is careful to examine human problems in light of their social context, always stressing the importance of creating and maintaining a network of relationships characterized by obligations, mutuality, and dependability.
Review
"Sarason eloquently guides his readers on a spirited journey through seemingly familiar ground that shifts continually as his critical insights reveal new truths and alternative perspectives on topics as diverse as American psychology and society, psychoanalysis and Freud, and politicsa and social movements. I enjoyed every one of these eleven essays. —Philip Zimbardo, professor of psychology, Stanford University
Synopsis
Sarason explores the nature and consequences of social change, the limitations of an individual psychology, and the perils of adopting an ahistorical stance.
About the Author
SEYMOUR B. SARASON is professor of psychology emeritus in the Department of Psychology and at the Institute for Social and Policy Studies at Yale University. He is the author of numerous books, including You Are Thinking of Teaching?, The Case for Change, The Predictable Failure of Educational Reform, and The Making of an American Psychologist.
Table of Contents
1. Psychoanalysis, General Custer, and the Verdicts of History
2. Posterity, the Cruelest of Critics
3. Thoughts About Robinson's Love Story Told: A Life of Henry A. Murray
4. American Psychology and the Needs for TranscAndence and Community
5. The American Worldview: Optimism, Superiority, Pluralism, Ahistoricalism, and Disconnectedness
6. The Mystery of Alexander Bryan Johnson
7. Explaining the Sixties
8. Leadership and Machiavelli
9. The Failure of Presidential Leadership in Educational Reform
10. The Failure of the Deinstitutionalization Policy Makers
11. The Blind Spot in the Health Care Nonsystem