Consciousness is one of the major unsolved problems in science. How do the feelings and sensations making up conscious experience arise from the concerted actions of nerve cells and their associated synaptic and molecular processes? Can such feelings be explained by modern science, or is there an entirely different kind of explanation needed? And how can this seemingly intractable problem be approached experimentally? How do the operations of the conscious mind emerge out of the specific interactions involving billions of neurons? This multi-authored book seeks answers to these questions within a range of physically based frameworks, i.e, the underlying assumption is that consciousness can be understood using the intellectual potential of modern physics and other sciences. There are a number of theories of consciousness in existence, some of which are based on classical physics while some others require the use of quantum concepts. The latter ones have drawn a lot of criticism from the present-day scientific establishment while simultaneously claiming that classical approaches are doomed to failure. This book presents the reader with a spectrum of opinions from both sides of this on-going scientific debate, letting him/her decide which of these approaches are most likely to succeed.

The construct quality of life (QoL), since the 1980s, when it was introduced, is being used mainly in the context of health problems. Areas of one s life that contribute to QoL are good physical and mental health, efficient cognitive functioning, social support, being able to meet the requirements of professional life, positive emotions, etc (Power, 2003). Work on subjective well-being (SWB), on the other hand, was developed in the context of healthy everyday life; it also has a history of more than 30 years. During this 30-year period factors that have an impact on SWB, such as SES, gender, health, age, and religiosity have been identified (Diener, 2000). A third independent line of research pertains to what has been called Positive Psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000), that is, an emphasis on human strengths, such as optimism, hope, wisdom, positive emotions, resilience, etc., which contribute to positive functioning in life.

Recently, SWB has been associated to human strengths and to the movement of positive psychology but this did not happen for QoL, possibly because of its emphasis on people with health problems. However, QoL can be conceived of as a generic term that pertains to all people, healthy or not. In this sense, it is closely related to SWB defined as happiness (Diener, 2000). Also, QoL encompasses positive emotions that go beyond happiness and has the advantage that it can be applied to many different domains of life such as interpersonal relations, health-related situations, and professional and educational strivings. Moreover, the mechanism(s) that underpin QoL and SWB can be studied in relation to people s goals and strengths of character, that is, from a positive psychological perspective. Such a perspective can reveal the specificities of quality in the various domains of life and, specifically, the positive emotions and strengths that contribute to a happier, healthier, and more successful life, even in face of adversity.

Therefore, despite the differences among the three theoretical traditions, namely QoL, SWB, and positive psychology, it is possible to find the common ground they share and each of them can benefit from notions developed in the others. The aim of the present book is to bring together these three traditions, show the interactions of variables emphasized by them, and give an integrative perspective from the positive psychology point of view. It also aims to extend the range of life situations in which one can look for quality and which go beyond the traditional emphasis of QoL on health problems. Thus, the content of the proposed book covers different age populations (from children to older adults), healthy and people facing health problems as well as people facing problems in their interpersonal lives or in their pursuits. It also discusses factors that contribute to marital satisfaction, well being in the school context, and things that people value and cherish. The chapters refer to notions such as happiness, interest, resilience, wisdom, hope, altruism, optimism, and spirituality/religiosity that represent unique human strengths. Finally, it emphasizes the role of goals and motivation that connect SWB with self-regulation and managing of one s life priorities.

To conclude, the chapters included in the proposed edited book aim at bringing to the fore new theoretical developments and research on QoL, SWB, and positive psychology that bridges previously distinct theoretical traditions. The proposed book covers a broad range of topics, addresses different theoretical interests and paves the way for a more integrative approach. Finally, it brings together an international set of authors, from USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia. "

This book takes a novel approach to the study of male eating disorders - an area that is often dominated by clinical discourses. The study of eating disorders in men has purportedly suffered from a lack of dedicated attention to personal and socio-cultural aspects. Delderfield tackles this deficiency by spotlighting a set of personal accounts written by a group of men who have experiences of disordered eating. The text presents critical interpretations that aim to situate these experiences in the social and cultural context in which these disorders occur. This discursive work is underpinned by an eclectic scholarly engagement with social psychology and sociology literature around masculinities, embodiment and fatness, belonging, punishment, stigma, and control; leading to understandings about relationships with food, body and self. This is undertaken with a reflexive element, as the personal intersects with the professional. This text will appeal to students, scholars and clinicians in social sciences, humanities, and healthcare studies, including public health.

• Interweaves a trauma-informed perspective throughout the text. • Equips clinicians with practical skills and helps them build their confidence with facilitating individual, dyadic sessions, and parent sessions. • Includes summary tables, worksheets, helpful tips, and eye-catching illustrations for both practical and academic use. • This book will be the first to apply Dr. Leslie Greenberg’s internationally-renowned clinical theory, research, and teaching of EFT to a new population: youth and their caregivers • Includes an impressive array of acclaimed contributors, including Dr Leslie S. Greenberg (a developer of EFT). • Moves from theory to practice, demonstrating how the approach can be used with specific client populations, such as anxiety, depression, and borderline personality disorder. • EFT institutes around the world and the Family Psychology Centre would be able to utilize this book as a training resource. In addition, the International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy (isEFT) would be able to list this book as a resource for further reading. • Contributing authors include psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists, offering an interdisciplinary perspective with useful applications for primary care as well as more complex mental health difficulties.

This comprehensive workbook addresses the use of illegal online sexual images. Focusing specifically on child sexual exploitation materials (CSEM), it offers a clear and professional manual for use with men who use CSEM. Working with clients who access illegal online images is challenging work. CSEM clients have unique characteristics and treatment needs. Designed around practitioner and client needs, each chapter provides a guide for clinicians and a subsequent set of materials for the client.. The workbook covers a range of topics such as motivation for change, relationships, thinking patterns, emotions management, sexuality, computer use, Internet safety and future strategies to ensure both client and community safety. Addressing these issues as well as community accountability helps users of CSEM achieve a satisfying life while avoiding future criminal justice involvement. Through this clearly written and structured workbook, clients are given the resources to help manage problematic thoughts and/or illegal sexual behaviour. Offering evidence-based strategies rooted in the authors' clinical experiences, the workbook enables the practitioner and client to work productively together to address the issues that have led to their involvement with illegal sexual images. This book will be helpful to a range of practitioners including forensic and clinical psychologists, as well as those working in correctional settings, such as probation and prison staff, psychiatrists, social workers, counsellors and providers of mental health treatment. It is also designed for anyone who has viewed, or is worried about viewing, sexual images of children.

This book discusses what Jacques Lacan's oeuvre contributes to our understanding of psychosis. Presenting a close reading of original texts, Stijn Vanheule proposes that Lacan's work on psychosis can best be framed in terms of four broad periods.

This handbook presents the most comprehensive account of eudaimonic well-being to date. It brings together theoretical insights and empirical updates presented by leading scholars and young researchers. The handbook examines philosophical and historical approaches to the study of happy lives and good societies, and it critically looks at conceptual controversies related to eudaimonia and well-being. It identifies the elements of happiness in a variety of areas such as emotions, health, wisdom, self-determination, internal motivation, personal growth, genetics, work, leisure, heroism, and many more. It then places eudaimonic well-being in the larger context of society, addressing social elements. The most remarkable outcome of the book is arguably its large-scale relevance, reminding us that the more we know about the good way of living, the more we are in a position to build a society that can be supportive and offer opportunities for such a way of living for all of its citizens.

This volume examines the developmental aspects of the general psychological construct of self-determination. The term refers to self- (vs. other-) caused action-to people acting volitionally-as based on their own will. Research conducted in the fields of psychology and education shows the importance of self-determination to adolescent development and positive adult outcomes. The first part of this volume presents an overview of theories and historical antecedents of the construct. It looks at the role of self-determination in major theories of human agentic behavior and of adolescent development and individuation. The second part of the volume examines the developmental origins and the trajectory of self-determination in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, and looks as aging aspects. The next part presents studies on the evolutionary aspects, individual differences and healthy psychological development. The last part of the book covers the development of causal and agentic capability.

* The attention on the 'ill person' as an actor of their own development. * The comprehensive attention on all aspects of the person's journey, including not only issues that impact on everyday functioning, such as pain and fatigue but also the focus on relationships with significant others. * The integration of lived experience with psychological theories.

Psychology on the Web: A Student Guide is directed at those who want to be able to access psychology Internet resources quickly and efficiently without needing to become IT experts. The emphasis throughout is on the location of high quality psychology related Internet resources likely to be useful for learning, teaching and research, from among the billions of publicly accessible Web pages.Whilst the author has drawn on a large volume of technical literature, it is written on the basis of practical experience acquired over many years of using Internet resources in the context of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the social sciences covering a wide range of topic specialisms, and in informing academic staff. In addition to extensive coverage of topics relating to the efficient location of files and Web sites, Part III provides a substantial and annotated list of high quality resources likely to be of use to students of psychology. The work is structured so that it will be found useful by both beginners and intermediate level users, and be of continuing use over the course of higher education studies.

This book presents an integrated review and critical analysis of the recent research in the positive psychology of religion, with focus on the positive psychology of religion across different cultures and religions. The book provides a review of the literature on different contributions of religion and spirituality to positive functioning and well-being and reviews religions across the world, including the five major religions of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism. In addition, the book reviews commonalities and differences in the ways in which different religions contribute to positive functioning, as well as differences in which different religions manifest their positive contributions in minority groups across the world.

It fills a unique place in the market s increasing interest and demand in the psychology of religion, as well as positive psychology. While the target audience is researchers, scholars and students in psychology, cross-cultural studies, religious studies and social sciences, it will be useful for anyone interested in better understanding the contributions of religion and culture in subjective well-being. "

organizing committee: Paul Werbos, Chairman, National Science Foundation Harold Szu, Naval Surface Warfare Center Bernard Widrow, Stanford University Centered around 20 major topic areas of both theoretical and practical importance, the World Congress on Neural Networks provides its registrants -- from a diverse background encompassing industry, academia, and government -- with the latest research and applications in the neural network field.