Human Interaction with the Divine, the Sacred, and the Deceased brings together cutting-edge empirical and theoretical contributions from scholars in fields including psychology, theology, ethics, neuroscience, medicine, and philosophy, to examine how and why humans engage in, or even seek spiritual experiences and connection with the immaterial world. In this richly interdisciplinary volume, Plante and Schwartz recognize human interaction with the divine and departed as a cross-cultural and historical universal that continues to concern diverse disciplines. Accounting for variances in belief and human perception and use, the book is divided into four major sections: personal experience; theological consideration; medical, technological, and scientific considerations; and psychological considerations with chapters addressing phenomena including prayer, reincarnation, sensed presence, and divine revelations. Featuring scholars specializing in theology, psychology, medicine, neuroscience, and ethics, this book provides a thoughtful, compelling, evidence-based, and contemporary approach to gain a grounded perspective on current understandings of human interaction with the divine, the sacred, and the deceased. Of interest to believers, questioners, and unbelievers alike, this volume will be key reading for researchers, scholars, and academics engaged in the fields of religion and psychology, social psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and health psychology. Readers with a broader interest in spiritualism, religious and non-religious movements will also find the text of interest.

HIV continues to be a profound challenge facing communities nationally and internationally. Until a vaccine or a cure is found, prevention remains a most crucial line of defense. However, the successes made to reduce exposure and transmission have not benefited all communities equally. HIV continues to affect vulnerable communities, and HIV-related health disparities are growing. The work documented in Innovations in HIV Prevention Research and Practice through Community Engagement spotlights the effectiveness of community involvement to reduce HIV infections in the United States. This timely resource introduces the concepts of community engagement, partnership, and community-based participatory research (CBPR). Contributors provide detailed examples of these concepts in which diverse research partners blend their unique insights and skills to arrive at an authentic understanding of phenomena and inform the translation of best practices and processes to enhance equity in HIV prevention and treatment. Equitable interactive collaboration is central to these efforts, in which community members and representatives from organizations, the scientific and medical sectors, and other relevant agencies nurture long-term health improvement through sustained teamwork. Challenges and barriers to effective engagement are identified, as are characteristics of successful partnerships. Included in the book: Details of a multigenerational HIV prevention intervention in a rural southeastern community. The challenges and successes of developing, implementing, and evaluating an intervention for higher-risk predominately heterosexual black men in college. The history of gay community involvement in HIV prevention and its contributions to the theory and current practice of engagement. Next steps in the integration of HIV-related policy change and research. Community engagement within American Indian communities. Keys to sustaining a CBPR partnership to prevent HIV within ethnic, sexual, and gender minority communities. Innovations in HIV Prevention Research and Practice through Community Engagement offers researchers and practitioners in public health, community health, and medicine guidance on community engagement that is both inspiring and realistic. "Community engagement and knowledge continue to be essential to prevent HIV infections. This book is a compilation of the state-of-the-science of engagement and delves deeper into the meaning and utilization of community-based participatory research, with implications that reach beyond the HIV epidemic to public health and medicine in general." - Laura C. Leviton, PhD, Senior Advisor for Evaluation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ

We all know that as a nation our mental health is in crisis. But what most don't know is that a critical ingredient in this debate, and a crucial part of the solution - what we eat - is being ignored. Nutrition has more influence on what we feel, who we become and how we behave than we could ever have imagined. It affects everything from our decision-making to aggression and violence. Yet mental health disorders are overwhelmingly treated as 'mind' problems as if the physical brain - and how we feed it - is irrelevant. Someone suffering from depression is more likely to be asked about their relationship with their mother than their relationship with food. In this eye-opening and impassioned book, psychologist Kimberley Wilson draws on startling new research - as well as her own work in prisons, schools and hospitals around the country - to reveal the role of food and nutrients in brain development and mental health: from how the food a woman eats during pregnancy influences the size of her baby's brain, and hunger makes you mean; to how nutrient deficiencies change your personality. We must also recognise poor nutrition as a social injustice, with the poorest and most vulnerable being systematically ignored. We need to talk about what our food is doing to our brains. And we need decisive action, not over rehearsed soundbites and empty promises, from those in power - because if we don't, things can only get worse.

The modern world can present the body as a machine that just needs to be regularly exercised. However, it is a remarkably sensitive organ in which a lot of our pain and hope is stored and that we need to interpret and handle with subtlety. This impact of our body upon our mind is something which needs to be explored as it is easy to pay attention to one more than the other and to to ignore the crucial balance between the two. This is a book filled with reflections and exercises designed to help us live more harmoniously and maturely within both mind and body. It gives guidance on how to calm our minds with bodily exercises that work on the real sources of our anxieties. It suggests how to be less rigid in, and timid about, our bodies and how to relax into them in a way we might not have done for far too long. It offers ideas on how to accept the way we look, and how to treat the body in order for it to assist the mind in yielding its very best ideas. The impacts of activities such as singing, dancing and art are explored along with the liberation of spirit that these might offer. This is a book, both theoretical and practical, that will improve our relationship between our physical and mental selves and allow us a route to a life of greater self-assurance, wisdom and freedom to be ourselves.

From the 'nothing works' maxim of the 1970s to evidence-based interventions to challenge recidivism and promote pro-social behavior, psychological therapy has played an important role in rehabilitation and risk reduction within forensic settings in recent years. And yet the typical group therapy model isn't always the appropriate path to take. In this important new book, the aims and effectiveness of individual therapies within forensic settings, both old and new, are assessed and discussed. Including contributions from authors based in the UK, North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, a broad range of therapies are covered, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mentalisation Based Therapy, Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focussed Therapy. Each chapter provides: an assessment of the evidence base for effectiveness; the adaptations required in a forensic setting; whether the therapy is aimed at recidivism or psychological change; the client or patient characteristics it is aimed at; a case study of the therapy in action. The final section of the book looks at ethical issues, the relationship between individual and group-based treatment, therapist supervision and deciding which therapies and therapists to select. This book is essential reading for probation staff, psychologists, criminal justice and liaison workers and specialist treatment staff. It will also be a valuable resource for any student of forensic or clinical psychology.

This book explores positive aging through the lens of precarity, aiming to ground positive aging theories in current social contexts. In recent years, research on aging has been branded by growing disagreements between supporters of the successful aging model and critical gerontologists who highlight the widening inequalities, disadvantages and precarity that characterize old age. This book comes to fill a gap in knowledge by offering an alternative view on positive aging, informed by precarity and its impact on projections concerning aging. The first part of the book places aging in broader theoretical and empirical context, exploring the complex links between views on aging, successful aging theories, policy and social reality. The second part uses results from a qualitative research conducted in Germany to illustrate the dissonance between successful aging ideals and both negative and positive views on aging as well as aging preparation strategies inspired by precarity. Findings from this section provide a solid starting point for comparisons with countries that are both similar and different from Germany in terms of welfare regimes and aging policies. The final part of the book discusses the psychological implications of these findings within and beyond the German case study and outlines potential solutions for practice. This book provides health psychologists, gerontologists, sociologists, social workers, health professionals as well as students and aging individuals themselves with better understanding of the meaning of aging in precarious times and builds confidence about aging well despite precarity.

Takes a very applied and accessible approach to assessments of mental capacity. Case examples illustrate decision-making capacity in a number of settings and contexts, including financial decisions, medical decisions, criminal/civil court, and other areas. Legal commentary helps illustrate state laws and ethical principles. Includes practice-oriented information and guidelines illustrating how psychologists, Mental Health professionals and lawyers work together. Gives attention to issues related to equity, stereotypes/bias, race, disability, socioeconomic status, and age.

Everyday Applications of Psychological Science explores several core areas of psychology, showing readers how to apply these principles to everyday situations in order to better their understanding of human behavior and improve their quality of life. The authors of this book, who are award-winning educators of psychology, have culled and collated the best practical research-based advice that psychological science can offer in an easy-to-read and digestible format. Lively and peppered with anecdotes, this book explores topical areas normally found in introductory psychology books but do so in a way that makes psychological science practical, accessible, and relevant to our readers. In Everyday Applications of Psychological Science, the best science that psychology has to offer is translated into life hacks that are applicable to improving readers' physical health, mental health, psychological wealth, relationships, and happiness. Everyday Applications of Psychological Science is vital reading for those interested in learning more about the field of psychology more generally and how aspects of it can be applied to daily life. Our approach may be of particular interest to current and prospective undergraduate students of psychology and those interested in learning more about mental health issues.

Everyday Applications of Psychological Science explores several core areas of psychology, showing readers how to apply these principles to everyday situations in order to better their understanding of human behavior and improve their quality of life. The authors of this book, who are award-winning educators of psychology, have culled and collated the best practical research-based advice that psychological science can offer in an easy-to-read and digestible format. Lively and peppered with anecdotes, this book explores topical areas normally found in introductory psychology books but do so in a way that makes psychological science practical, accessible, and relevant to our readers. In Everyday Applications of Psychological Science, the best science that psychology has to offer is translated into life hacks that are applicable to improving readers' physical health, mental health, psychological wealth, relationships, and happiness. Everyday Applications of Psychological Science is vital reading for those interested in learning more about the field of psychology more generally and how aspects of it can be applied to daily life. Our approach may be of particular interest to current and prospective undergraduate students of psychology and those interested in learning more about mental health issues.

This book presents up-to-date scientific information about alcohol based on Cox and Klinger's motivational model, which has been described as, "the most widely known and influential motivational model of alcohol use" (Cooper et al., 2016, p. 5). The book, however, was written to be understandable to a broad sector of the population, allowing for an interdisciplinary readership. Those who would find this book beneficial include academics who need nontechnical explanations of why people drink, such as professionals and students in psychology, psychiatry, and related fields, and teachers of high school health classes and university courses in addiction. While not aimed as a self-help book, this book might offer insight as to why a person might not be able to control the urge to drink, or answer questions people may have concerning the effect of alcohol on the brain.

This book offers original knowledge, debate, and understanding from frontline fieldwork data and the relations between mental health difficulties, mental healthcare provision, and social theory. Dominant discourse of the last half century has followed a medical perspective. This has marginalised contributions from social science. Furthermore purely medical approaches to mental healthcare have profound shortcomings. Thus, this book draws upon innovative research findings to rejuvenate the relationship between psychiatry and social science. It frames this by reference to certain inevitable and uncertain elements of mental health which characterise this field. Over nine chapters the volume is a unique contribution to several intersecting areas of intellectual enterprise, research, and learning - as well as a source of insight into how mental health practice and policy might be modified and improved. As a result, it appeals to a wide range of audiences including social scientists, mental health practitioners, mental health researchers, social theorists, mental health service users, and policy-makers.

Based on the lived experiences of incarcerated persons and staff, this book explores the symbolic significance of prison foodways to normalization, autonomy, identity construction, power, group formation and security. The book also traces the rationalization(s) that policy makers attach to prison food, from the water and bread diet of the 18th century, the contested abolition of alcohol consumption, to the current fear surrounding the spread of COVID-19 through food distribution in prisons. The argument is developed that prison food policies have always reflected how Belgian governments have treated imprisoned persons. The emphasis on Belgian prisons and the discussions on prison foodways situated on a micro and macro level add a unique flavour to prison food scholarship by providing a deeper understanding of a penal culture outside the dominant tradition of Anglo-Saxon and Nordic studies. Consequently, the book provides a nuanced conception of prison foodways for penologists, sociologists, those with interests in wider prison policy, and those working on the socio-cultural role of food in closed environments.

A critical perspective on one of the major public health issues of the day Discusses both conceptual and practical issues Synthesizes a range of disciplinary perspectives Includes findings from primary research International author team

The majority of cancer-related deaths are associated with nutritional problems. The major role that nutrition and diet play in the development and course of cancer had only been recently appreciated, and relatively little had been written on the topic in general. A critical component of nutrition and diet is eating behavior. Originally published in 1985, the purpose of this book was to meet the needs of both the clinician and the researcher by bringing together data and theory about nutrition and cancer from several disciplines, as considered from a biobehavioral perspective. The first chapter of the book provides an overview of the purposes and organization of the volume. The rest is divided into 3 parts. Part 1 focuses on basic research concerned with the nature and development of taste aversions and taste preferences in human and animals. Part 2 applies the basic processes reviews in the first part to the cancer area, focusing on eating and nutritional problems related to both tumor development and to learned processes that develop as a result of being exposed to radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments. Part 3 focuses on identifying and evaluating intervention strategies for improving the nutritional status of people with cancer or at high risk for developing cancer.

Takes a very applied and accessible approach to assessments of mental capacity. Case examples illustrate decision-making capacity in a number of settings and contexts, including financial decisions, medical decisions, criminal/civil court, and other areas. Legal commentary helps illustrate state laws and ethical principles. Includes practice-oriented information and guidelines illustrating how psychologists, Mental Health professionals and lawyers work together. Gives attention to issues related to equity, stereotypes/bias, race, disability, socioeconomic status, and age.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is predicted to be one of the greatest threats to public health in the twenty-first century. In this context, understanding the reasons why perceptions of antibiotic risk differ between different groups is crucial when it comes to tackling antibiotic misuse. This innovative volume gathers together chapters written by sociologists, psychologists and linguists with the common aim of examining the social factors that affect use of antibiotics among humans and animals. A unique focus on Denmark - one of the world's most progressive countries when it comes to antibiotic regulation - as well as Europe more broadly, makes this book a valuable resource for regulatory deliberations on future antibiotic policy to effectively combat AMR.

Neuroscience and Behavioral Neuroscience offered by many universities, and coursework has historically been very technical/scientific, now there is increasing demand within these programs for showing application. This book fills this gap in the market. Looks to dispel myths as well as reinforcing careful application of behavioral neuroscience. Spans many areas and gives a broad overview of BN careers: from clinical practice, forensics, consumer psychology, economics, leadership, education, health and robotics.

A critical perspective on one of the major public health issues of the day Discusses both conceptual and practical issues Synthesizes a range of disciplinary perspectives Includes findings from primary research International author team

* Includes coverage of treatment plans taking into consideration individual differences in age, health status, and culture * Effectively describes the bidirectional relationship between cardiovascular disease and trauma, ethics, cultural considerations, and personality pathology. * Provides specific instruction about how to navigate the relationship with medical doctors while illustrating the unique ethical challenges or limitations of the health psychologist working with patients, their families, and providers in clinical practice. * Adds the unique contribution of best practices in interacting between the multiple disciplines (e.g. primary care, cardiology, psychologists, and other allied professionals).

* Includes coverage of treatment plans taking into consideration individual differences in age, health status, and culture * Effectively describes the bidirectional relationship between cardiovascular disease and trauma, ethics, cultural considerations, and personality pathology. * Provides specific instruction about how to navigate the relationship with medical doctors while illustrating the unique ethical challenges or limitations of the health psychologist working with patients, their families, and providers in clinical practice. * Adds the unique contribution of best practices in interacting between the multiple disciplines (e.g. primary care, cardiology, psychologists, and other allied professionals).

* A ground-breaking attempt to bring together in one volume all the various strands of this fundamental debate about the nature of what is called addiction. * Presents a robust evaluation of the BDMA * Neatly divided into four sections representing For; Against; Unsure; Alternative Ways of Understanding and Responding to Addiction

* Provides the reader with information and education, enabling the provision of support to reduce psychological distress and improve diabetes self-management. * A necessary guide to understanding mental health issues in those with diabetes. * Explores cultural differences in the experience of diabetes * Includes anonymous quotes from people with diabetes based on numerous independent studies concerning how people self-manage their condition to illustrate the patient's perspective of the issues highlighted in each chapter.

* Links immunity with social theory. * Considers the themes of self, biography and emotion, and how these are transmitted in immunity media and communications. * Gives emphasis to popular culture, affect, social context and personal experience narratives in exploring the dynamics of immunity in health. * Grounded in personal experience narratives so is richly nuanced by gender, biography and context.* Accessible digest of social and cultural theory on immunity, which is often quite abstract and philosophical. * Applies analysis to contemporary health threats, in particular pandemics and superbugs.

What if philosophy could solve the psychological puzzle of trauma? Embodied Trauma and Healing argues just that, suggesting that one might be needed in order to understand the other. The book demonstrates how the body-mind problem that haunted Descartes was addressed by phenomenologists, whilst also proposing that the human experience is lived subjectively as embodied consciousness. Throughout this book, the author suggests that the phenomenological tools that are used to explore the body can also be an effective way to discuss the physical and mental aspects of embodied trauma. Drawing on the work of Paul Ricoeur, Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Emmanuel Levinas, the book outlines a phenomenological approach to the embodied and relational subject. It offers a reading of embodied trauma that can connect it to wider conversations in psychological underpinnings of trauma through Peter Levine's somatic research and Bessel van der Kolk's embodied remembering. Connecting to the analytic tradition, the book suggests that phenomenology can unify both language-based and body-based therapeutic practice. It also presents a compelling discussion that ties the embodied experience of relation in trauma to the wider causal factors of social suffering and relational rupture, intergenerational trauma and the trauma of land, as informed by phenomenology. Embodied Trauma and Healing is essential reading for researchers within the fields of philosophy, psychology and medical humanities for it actively engages with contemporary configurations of trauma theory and recent research developments in healing and mental disorder diagnosis.