Slavoj Zizek is perhaps the most important, original and enigmatic philosophers writing today. Many readers both inside and outside of the academy have been intrigued by both the man and his writing yet, given the density of his prose and the radical views he often espouses, they have struggled to get a handle on his basic positions. He draws upon and makes continual reference to the challenging concepts of Kant, Hegel, Marx, Lacan, and Badiou. His prose is dense and frenetic and his dialectical twists and turns seem to make it impossible to attribute to him any specific position: he celebrates St. Paul and orthodox Christians even as he engages in a spirited defense of Lenin.
"Zizek's Politics "will synthesize Zizek's myriad political writings into a systematic theory and put his theory into dialogue with key concepts and positions in contemporary political thought. It will provide readers with a much needed critical introduction to the political thought of one of the world's most widely known and eccentric thinkers.

Am I autistic, or is autism something I suffer from? Should I come out, to my friends, to my family, to the people I work with? Should I drop the mask? How can I explain my experience to a neurotypical world? The Subtle Spectrum offers an exploration into the postdiagnostic landscape of autism and the transformative journey of one woman, from her awareness of difference, through acceptance, to an embracing of autistic identity and beyond as she questions the cultural identity of autism. Joanna's narrative is enriched with insights from a range of diverse contributors, creating a reflective opportunity for people to gain a better understanding of the experience of being autistic. With a focus on relationships built across a neurodiverse divide, the book considers topics as broad as mental health, work opportunities and abuse, weaving theory and research with lived experience to give true insight into the life of an autistic person, both pre- and post- diagnosis. Written with a raw and engaging honesty, this is a crucial read for anybody who identifies as autistic as an adult or teenager, or anyone looking to support somebody exploring diagnosis. It will also provide an invaluable insight for social workers, educators and relationships counsellors working with autistic people.

From bestselling author and Alzheimer's advocate Maria Shriver comes the first coloring book created for brain health and people with Alzheimer's. This interactive coloring book is filled with inspiration and information that was developed in partnership with neurologists, psychologists, caregivers, and, of course, people with Alzheimer's. Each coloring page also features prompts to help people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers create, connect, and reflect. Color Your Mind combines coloring with useful brain health tips about: - Nutrition - Exercise - Social Connection - Sleep - ...and other valuable lessons for a fulfilling, balanced life. The activities, images, and approach in Color Your Mind were developed and refined through visits to nursing homes and memory care facilities. These visits and interactions also informed the selection of cheerful, inspiring coloring images throughout the book.

The qualitative analysis of naturally occurring discourse in neurogenic communication disorders, specifically in dementia studies, has experienced recent burgeoning interest from wide-ranging disciplines. This multidisciplinarity has been exciting, but has added contextual confusion. This book advances the study of discourse in dementia by systematically exploring and applying different approaches to the same free conversational data sets, collected and transcribed by the authors. The applied methodologies and theories comprise a useful sourcebook for students, researchers, and practitioners alike.

When Karen Siff Exkorn's son Jake was diagnosed with autism, she struggled to pull together comprehensive information about the disorder. Fortunately, she was able to educate herself, and her extensive at-home treatment of her son led to his amazing full recovery. But the journey wasn't easy, and now, in "The Autism Sourcebook", Siff Exkorn shares with parents the wisdom she wishes she'd had at the beginning. Recent studies show that there is a worldwide epidemic of autism. Early detection and early intervention are two of the key factors in improving prognosis-but too often, writes Siff Exkorn, parents get bogged down in denial or confusion about the still mysterious disorder, and are unable to take the necessary steps. Providing accessible medical information gleaned from the world's foremost experts, Siff Exkorn offers an inside look at families with children who have autism, and ties in her own first-hand experience as a parent.The author shares valuable knowledge about the following: what the diagnosis really means; understanding and accessing treatment options; knowing your child's rights in the school system; coping with common marital and familial stress; and making the stigma of autism a thing of the past. With extensive appendices, including the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Diagnostic Criteria for the Five Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and carefully selected lists of Internet resources, recommended readings, and top autism organisations worldwide, "The Autism Sourcebook" is the single most comprehensive, practical resource available to parents and loved ones of children with autism.

In this fascinating book, William R. Uttal raises the possibility that, however much we learn about the anatomy and physiology of the brain and psychology, we may never be able to cross the final bridge explaining how the mind is produced by the brain. Three main classes of mind-brain theory are considered and rejected: field theories, because they are based on a superficial analogy; single cell theories, because they emerge from a massive uncontrolled experimental program; and neural net theories, because they are constrained by combinatorial complexity.
To support his argument, Uttal explores the empirical and conceptual foundations of these theoretical approaches and identifies flaws in their fundamental logic. The author concludes that the problems preventing solution of the mind-brain problem are intractable, yet well within the confines of natural science.

Living in an age of digital distraction has wreaked havoc on our brains-but there's much we can do to restore our tech-life balance. We live in a world that is always on, where everyone is always connected. But we feel increasingly disconnected. Why? The answer lies in our brains. Carl D. Marci, MD, a leading expert on social and consumer neuroscience, reviews the mounting evidence that overuse of smart phones and social media is rewiring our brains, resulting in a losing deal: we are neglecting the relationships that sustain us and keep us healthy in favor of weaker and more ephemeral ties. The ability to connect and form strong social bonds is fundamental to human experience and emerged through unique structures in our brains. But ever-more-powerful technologies and ubiquitous access to media have hijacked our need to connect intimately and emotionally with others. The quick highs of clicking "like" and swiping right overstimulate the same neurological reward centers associated with social relationships. The habits that accompany our digital lifestyles are putting tremendous pressure on critical components of the brain associated with attention, emotion, and memory, changing how we process information and altering how we communicate and relate, even at a physiological level. As a psychiatrist working at the forefront of research on the impact of digital technology, Marci has seen this transformation up close and developed a range of responses. Rewired provides scientifically supported solutions for everyone who wants to restore their tech-life balance-from parents concerned about their children's exposure to the internet to stressed workers dealing with the deluge of emails and managing the expectation of 24/7 availability.

The treatment, assessment, intervention and evaluation of sexual deviants are topics that have experienced a recent resurgence in the mental health fields, as the number of reported sex abuse cases continues to rise. Practitioners are increasingly faced with both criminal and non-criminal sex offenders with a variety of backgrounds, abuses, and treatment history. Specialists and non-specialists alike are often unprepared and ill-equipped for the myriad of disorders prevalent in today's society. "Treating Sexual Offenders" provides the therapist with a guide to the assessment, treatment, and evaluation of a number of different disorders, including fetishisms, transvestic fetishisms, exhibitionism, frottage, pedophilia, sexual sadism, sexual masochism, telephone scatologia, voyeurism, rape, child molestation, and incest. Through extensive consideration of current research, theory and practice, the authors provide the clinician with the means to have a continued positive impact on the sex offender, from assessment to post-treatment evaluation and follow-up.

Gain a better understanding of the behaviors of sex offenders to create effective interventions Identifying and Treating Sex Offenders: Current Approaches, Research, and Techniques brings you up-to-date on the latest significant issues and state-of-the-art tools involved in the evaluation and treatment of adult sex offenders. This book provides you with current data regarding what is known about sex offenders, so that appropriate assessment, treatment, and prevention methods can be developed and utilized. Experts in the field discuss controversial topics including diagnoses, classification, public notification, and risk assessment to help psychologists, therapists, and social workers better understand this specialized population. In Identifying and Treating Sex Offenders, you'll learn more about the problems in defining sexual assault and sexual deviance, which in turn impede appropriate interventions. This book dispels many stereotypical assumptions with accurate information about sex offender statistics and research for lawmakers to use in creating policies and legal statutes that successfully deter recidivism in known sex offenders. This extensive resource paves the way towards a methodology that prevents sexual abuse from occurring in the first place. Identifying and Treating Sex Offenders explores a variety of assessment and treatment techniques, including: medical treatment skill-building methods such as enhancing empathy therapy polygraphy psychopharmacology and much more Identifying and Treating Sex Offenders is a thorough review and discussion of the theological, forensic, and rehabilitation issues surrounding the adult sex offender and the people associated with him or her. Special features of this book include a variety of tables, recommendations, and models on risk factors, types of sexual offenses and deviances, and recidivism research.

"Cultural Diversity" studies the relationship between culture and neuropsychology. Its goal is to examine salient aspects of this relationship and assist in bringing the issue of culture and cultural diversity to the forefront of neuropsychological discussions. The articles help further the understanding that ethnic and cultural variables are important not only in research design but also in clinical practice. In addition they urge clinicians to make cultural variables an integral component of any neuropsychological assessment and examine clinical data in the context of the patient's ethnic and cultural backround.

What is the prevalence of insomnia in a particular age group, in men and women, or in Caucasians and African Americans? What is the average total sleep time among normal sleepers among these groups? How does the sleep of Caucasians and African Americans differ? These are just some of the questions addressed in The Epidemiology of Sleep. This new book presents the most detailed and comprehensive archive of normal and abnormal sleep patterns. Based on a landmark study supported by the National Institute on Aging, 772 subjects from a host of populations including men, women, and various age and ethnic groups, prepared detailed sleep diaries for a two-week period. The use of these sleep diaries yielded a plethora of data on such characteristics as normal sleep patterns, various forms of insomnia, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and daytime sleepiness differentiated by age, sex, and ethnicity. The results generated by these data, charted in the book's numerous tables and graphs, provide a critical methodological advance in the sleep literature. The Epidemiology of Sleep opens with an overview of the rationale and unique characteristics of the study. This is followed by a comprehensive review of the existing epidemiological literature on sleep. Chapter three presents a detailed description of the methods used in the survey followed by meticulous information on the epidemiology of normal and insomnia sleep, that is unparalleled in the literature. Chapter six provides an archive of sleep patterns among African Americans. The book concludes with a discussion and interpretation of the most interesting findings. This insightful study, coupled with the comprehensive review of the existing literature on the epidemiology of sleep, make this volume an invaluable resource for sleep researchers, clinicians, health and clinical psychologists, gerontologists, epidemiologists, and advanced students.

Developmental Language Disorders: From Phenotypes to Etiologies is based on the recent conference of the same name sponsored by the Merrill Advanced Studies Center of the University of Kansas. In the past 10 years, considerable advances have taken place in our understanding of genetic and environmental influences on language disorders in children. Significant research in behavioral phenotypes, associated neurocortical processes, and the genetics of language disorders has laid the foundation for further breakthroughs in understanding the reasons for overlapping etiologies, as well as the unique aspects of some phenotypes. Too often the findings are disseminated in a fragmented way because of the discrete diagnostic categories of affectedness. This volume attempts to assimilate and integrate the findings of the transdisciplinary research toward a more coherent picture of behavioral descriptions, brain imaging studies, genetics, and intervention technologies in language impairment. The contributing authors are all scholars with active programs of research funded by the National Institutes of Health involving diverse clinical groups of children with language impairments.

This manual for facilitators of teen grief groups and other mental health professionals, addresses the unique needs of adolescents experiencing traumatic reactions in the aftermath of violent death. Including information on all types of violent death, this practical guide addresses issues of violence, trauma and loss including sections on logistics, screening, evaluation, consent, facilitators and parents.

This book constitutes a timely contribution to the existing literature by presenting a relatively comprehensive, neurobiological account of certain aspects of second language acquisition. It represents the collaborative efforts of members of the Neurobiology of Language Research Group in the Applied Linguistics and TESL Department at UCLA. Members of the group are trained in neurobiology and then use this knowledge to develop biological accounts of various aspects of applied linguistics.
The volume avoids the corticocentric bias that characterizes many brain-language publications--both cortical and subcortical structures receive their appropriate attention. In addition, it demonstrates that enough is presently known about the brain to inform our conceptualizations of how humans acquire second languages, thus, it provides a refreshingly novel, highly integrative contribution to the (second) language acquisition literature.
The goal of the research program was based on the need to drawmore links between the neurobiological mechanisms and second language acquisition. As such, the book promotes a neurobiology of language that starts with the brain and moves to behavior. The fundamental insights presented should guide second language acquisition researchers for years to come.

Written by a single author in a clear and consistent writing style, presents a logical and easy to follow discussion about each phase of neural development Presents an accessible approach to developmental neurobiology for students who do not have an extensive background in neuroscience or cell and molecular biology Clear, informative, and easy-to-follow illustrations support the concepts presented in the text Highlights neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders where relevant and therapeutic approaches to neurological diseases

Explore interventions and treatment methods designed to help curb the alarming trend toward violence in today's youth! Written in jargon-free lucid prose, Psychological Trauma and the Developing Brain: Neurologically Based Interventions for Troubled Children specifically shows how positive early experiences enhance brain development and how traumatic life experiences, especially child abuse and neglect, can affect a child's brain and behavior. Through carefully selected case studies, the book offers basic principles of treatment and a broad range of interventions that target the multiple symptoms and problems seen in children with a history of childhood trauma. Offering a new psychobiological model of child development, this book incorporates the influence of both genes and the environment and conceptualizes normal and pathological development in terms of common underlying processes. For readers concerned with promoting healthy development in children and helping children recover from childhood trauma, this engagingly written book describes exactly how a child's social/interpersonal environment can positively or negatively influence brain development. Throughout the book, the authors highlight the interrelationship between neurobiology and psychology. They present basic information about brain development and organization, describe exactly what is going on inside the brain at each stage of development, and illustrate these concepts through a detailed case study of a preschooler with severe problems in communicating and relating. They discuss the pernicious effects that traumatic stress has on brain and behavior, differentiating between simple and complex PTSD, and review the specific brain impairments currently attributed to a childhood history of maltreatment. Using their unique psychobiological perspective and illustrative case studies, the authors evaluate the principles and strategies of treatment, showing how relationships and experiences can mitigate the effects childhood trauma. After fleshing out the shocking cost to society of child maltreatment, the authors offer broad policy prescriptions that promote healthy development, including basic strategies for prevention and early intervention. Psychological Trauma and the Developing Brain: Neurologically Based Interventions for Troubled Children will show you: how interpersonal experience shapes brain development what is going on in the brain during the critical first six years how therapeutic relationships and interpersonal experience can promote emotional and cognitive development how childhood maltreatment can damage the brain and impair the developing mind what types of experiences and therapeutic strategies can mitigate the effects of childhood trauma what policy prescriptions, programs, and early intervention strategies can be implemented to promote healthy development

In January 1988, aged twelve, Martin Pistorius fell inexplicably sick. Within eighteen months he was mute and wheelchair-bound, being cared for at centres for severely disabled children. What no-one knew is that while Martin's body remained unresponsive, his mind slowly woke up, yet he could tell no-one, a prisoner inside his own body. During this time, he suffered abuse of a kind that is barely imaginable, yet still he kept the spirit of hope alive. It wasn't until he was twenty-three that a gentle therapist realised he was alert to everything and, along with his parents, assisted his road to recovery. Since then, against all odds, he has fallen in love, married, and now runs a thriving web design business. Martin's extraordinary story is a deeply moving account of the power of love.

This book is designed to acquaint serious students, scientists, and clinicians with magnetic source imaging (MSI)--a brain imaging technique of proven importance that promises even more important advances. The technique permits spatial resolution of neural events on a scale measured in millimeters and temporal resolution measured in milliseconds. Although widely mentioned in literature dealing with cognitive neuroscience and functional brain imaging, there is no single book describing both the foundations and actual methods of magnetoencephalopgraphy and its underlying science, neuromagnetism. This volume fills a long-standing need, as it is accessible to scientists and students having no special background in the field, and makes it possible for them to understand this literature and undertake their own research.
A self-contained unit, this book covers MSI from beginning to end, including its relationship to allied technologies, such as electroencephalography and modern functional imaging modalities. In addition, the book:
*introduces the field to the non-specialist, providing a framework for the rest of the book;
*provides a thorough review of the physiological basis of MSI;
*describes the mathematical bases of MSI--the forward and inverse problems;
*outlines new signal processing methods that extract information from single-trial MEG;
*depicts the early, as well as the most recent versions of MSI technology;
*compares MSI with other imaging methodologies;
*describes new paradigms and analysis techniques in applying MSI to study human perception and cognition, which are also applicable to EEG; and
*reviews some of the most important resultsin MSI from the most prominent researchers and laboratories around the world.

Co-ordination of movement plays a key role in human development and is an active area in sport and health sciences. This book looks in detail at how children develop basic skills, such as walking and reaching for objects, and more complex skills, such as throwing and catching a ball accurately or riding a bicycle.

Development of Movement Co-ordination in Children is informed by five major theoretical perspectives - neural maturation, information-processing, direct perception, dynamic systems and constraint theory - and these theories are explained in an introductory chapter.

The international contributions are then brought together under the headings of ergonomics, health sciences and sport. Focusing on practical applications, individual chapters cover many different aspects of movement behaviour and development, ranging from children's overestimation of their physical abilities and the links to injury proneness to the co-ordination of kicking techniques. Both normal and abnormal development is considered.

Development of Movement Co-ordination in Children will be of considerable interest to students, teachers and professionals in the fields of sport science, kinesiology, physical education, ergonomics and developmental psychology.

Rehabilitation of Parkinson's disease patients comprises various forms of therapy: physical, speech and psychosocial therapy. Physical rehabilitation is used in conjunction with various antiparkinsonian agents as a non-pharmacological treatment for Parkinson's disease. This book examines what are the long-term and short-term benefits of physical therapy and the effectiveness of physical rehabiliation.

A colorful and eclectic comics anthology exploring a wide range of autistic experiences—from diagnosis journeys to finding community—from contributors with autism. From artist and curator Bex Ollerton comes an anthology featuring comics from thirty autistic creators about their experiences of living in a world that doesn’t always understand or accept them. Sensory: Life on the Spectrum contains illustrated explorations of everything from life pre-diagnosis to tips on how to explain autism to someone who doesn’t have it, to suggestions for how to soothe yourself when you’re feeling overstimulated. With unique, vibrant comic-style illustrations and the emotional depth and vulnerability of memoir, this book depicts these varied experiences with the kind of insight that only those who have lived them can have.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves difficulties in social interaction and communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. Approximately half of children with ASD also exhibit disruptive behaviors such as tantrums and aggression, which can be stressful for the child and family. Parent Training for Disruptive Behavior is an 11-session intervention for parents who wish to learn how to reduce disruptive behaviors and increase adaptive skills in their children with ASD. Each session introduces effective behavior change strategies and includes easy-to-use worksheets, checklists, and take-home activities to help parents apply what they have learned. By participating in this intervention with a trained therapist, parents can help their children overcome behavior problems, promoting happier kids and families.

Revised and updated for the very first time, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder is a groundbreaking, comprehensive program to help those with bipolar disorder- and those who care about them- gain permanent control over their lives. Most people diagnosed with bipolar disorder are sent home with the name of a doctor and a bag of medications. However, only 20% of those with the illness are able to gain long term control over their lives with medication alone. Now, bipolar disorder expert Julie A. Fast, who was diagnosed with the illness at age 31, and specialist John Preston, Psy.D., have developed an effective program that helps readers promote stability, reduce the risk of suicide, increase work ability, decrease health care costs, and improve relationships. The book guides those with bipolar disorder and their loved ones toward a comprehensive personal treatment plan by incorporating: - medications and supplements - lifestyle changes - behavior modifications - guidelines on assembling an effective support team. By helping readers gather these powerful resources, TAKE CHARGE OF BIPOLAR DISORDER delivers a dynamic program to treat this dangerous, but ultimately manageable illness.

With the political changes between 1989 and 1992, ethnic unmixing and ethnic migration reached a new climax. State formation in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the collapse of Yugoslavia led to a new dynamic of interethnic relations between majority and minority populations. The break-up of these two multi-ethnic states created new minorities and made certain members of the previous titular nation (eg Russians, Serbs) into ethnic minorities. New states such as Croatia, Estonia and Macedonia were faced with the fact that large segments of their populations consisted of minorities. "Return migration" to Russia occurred when approximately 25 million (ethnic) Russians became minorities in the successor states of the former Soviet Union. In 20th-century Europe overall 40 to 60 million people were transferred, resettled or expelled as a consequence of "ethnic cleansing." This work examines the reasons for and the practice of ethnic migration and the challenges it produces.