This book is about the evolution and nature of cooperation and altruism in social-living animals, focusing especially on non-human primates and on humans. Although cooperation and altruism are often thought of as ways to attenuate competition and aggression within groups, or are related to the action of "selfish genes", there is increasing evidence that these behaviors are the result of biological mechanisms that have developed through natural selection in group-living species. This evidence leads to the conclusion that cooperative and altruistic behavior are not just by-products of competition but are rather the glue that underlies the ability for primates and humans to live in groups. The anthropological, primatological, paleontological, behavioral, neurobiological, and psychological evidence provided in this book gives a more optimistic view of human nature than the more popular, conventional view of humans being naturally and basically aggressive and warlike. Although competition and aggression are recognized as an important part of the non-human primate and human behavioral repertoire, the evidence from these fields indicates that cooperation and altruism may represent the more typical, "normal", and healthy behavioral pattern. The book is intended both for the general reader and also for students at a variety of levels (graduate and undergraduate): it aims to provide a compact, accessible, and up-to-date account of the current scholarly advances and debates in this field of study, and it is designed to be used in teaching and in discussion groups. The book derived from a conference sponsored by N.S.F., the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, the Washington University Committee for Ethics and Human Values, and the Anthropedia Foundation for the study of well-being.

This book presents an authoritative overview of the emerging field of person-centered psychiatry. This perspective, articulating science and humanism, arose within the World Psychiatric Association and aims to shift the focus of psychiatry from organ and disease to the whole person within their individual context. It is part of a broader person-centered perspective in medicine that is being advanced by the International College of Person-Centered Medicine through the annual Geneva Conferences held since 2008 in collaboration with the World Medical Association, the World Health Organization, the International Council of Nurses, the International Federation of Social Workers, and the International Alliance of Patients' Organizations, among 30 other international health institutions. In this book, experts in the field cover all aspects of person-centered psychiatry, the conceptual keystones of which include ethical commitment; a holistic approach; a relationship focus; cultural sensitivity; individualized care; establishment of common ground among clinicians, patients, and families for joint diagnostic understanding and shared clinical decision-making; people-centered organization of services; and person-centered health education and research.

Personality and Psychopathology compiles the conclusions of more than 30 internationally recognized experts who each carefully examine the link between personality traits and psychopathology. Recent findings have clarified the importance of personality in the development and expression of psychopathology.

In light of such discoveries, this reference examines the relationship of personality traits with psychopathology from several interlocking perspectives -- descriptive, developmental, etiological, and therapeutic. It successfully tackles - A description of the frequency and patterns of overlap between personality and psychopathology- The structure and stability of normal personality traits across the life span and their relation to psychopathology- An analysis of personality disorders from three different approaches- The causes of individual differences in personality and psychopathology from genetic, psychosocial, and neurobiological perspectives- The role of personality in the treatment of psychopathology

Complete with illustrative charts, this all-inclusive resource provides invaluable information on the link between personality and psychopathology.

This book is about the evolution and nature of cooperation and altruism in social-living animals, focusing especially on non-human primates and on humans. Although cooperation and altruism are often thought of as ways to attenuate competition and aggression within groups, or are related to the action of "selfish genes", there is increasing evidence that these behaviors are the result of biological mechanisms that have developed through natural selection in group-living species. This evidence leads to the conclusion that cooperative and altruistic behavior are not just by-products of competition but are rather the glue that underlies the ability for primates and humans to live in groups. The anthropological, primatological, paleontological, behavioral, neurobiological, and psychological evidence provided in this book gives a more optimistic view of human nature than the more popular, conventional view of humans being naturally and basically aggressive and warlike. Although competition and aggression are recognized as an important part of the non-human primate and human behavioral repertoire, the evidence from these fields indicates that cooperation and altruism may represent the more typical, "normal", and healthy behavioral pattern. The book is intended both for the general reader and also for students at a variety of levels (graduate and undergraduate): it aims to provide a compact, accessible, and up-to-date account of the current scholarly advances and debates in this field of study, and it is designed to be used in teaching and in discussion groups. The book derived from a conference sponsored by N.S.F., the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, the Washington University Committee for Ethics and Human Values, and the Anthropedia Foundation for the study of well-being.

All human beings have spontaneous needs for happiness, self-understanding, and love. In Feeling Good: The Science of Well Being, psychiatrist Robert Cloninger describes a way to coherent living that satisfies these strong basic needs through growth in the uniquely human gift of self-awareness. The scientific findings that led Dr. Cloninger to expand his own views in a stepwise manner during 30 years of research and clinical experience are clearly presented so that readers can consider the validity of his viewpoint for themselves. The principles of well-being are based on a non-reductive scientific paradigm that integrates findings from all the biomedical and psychosocial sciences. Reliable methods are described for measuring human thought and social relationships at each step along the path of self-aware consciousness. Practical mental exercises for stimulating the growth of self-awareness are also provided. The methods are supported by data from brain imaging, genetics of personality, and longitudinal biopsychosocial studies.
Feeling Good: The Science of Well-Being will be of value to anyone involved in the sciences of the mind or the treatment of mental disorders. It will also interest theologians, philosophers, social scientists, and lay readers because it provides contemporary scientific concepts and language for addressing the perennial human questions about being, knowledge, and conduct.

This book presents an authoritative overview of the emerging field of person-centered psychiatry. This perspective, articulating science and humanism, arose within the World Psychiatric Association and aims to shift the focus of psychiatry from organ and disease to the whole person within their individual context. It is part of a broader person-centered perspective in medicine that is being advanced by the International College of Person-Centered Medicine through the annual Geneva Conferences held since 2008 in collaboration with the World Medical Association, the World Health Organization, the International Council of Nurses, the International Federation of Social Workers, and the International Alliance of Patients' Organizations, among 30 other international health institutions. In this book, experts in the field cover all aspects of person-centered psychiatry, the conceptual keystones of which include ethical commitment; a holistic approach; a relationship focus; cultural sensitivity; individualized care; establishment of common ground among clinicians, patients, and families for joint diagnostic understanding and shared clinical decision-making; people-centered organization of services; and person-centered health education and research.

Conversion is very common but often misdiagnosed; even when diagnosed, treatment is difficult. It is critical for physicians to have the necessary knowledge to manage these patients in the most effective way. This volume gives all of the available, up-to-date information on when to think about conversion in movement disorders, how to make a diagnosis, how to use the laboratory to support a clinical diagnosis and how to develop a therapeutic plan. Written by experts in neurology, psychiatry, psychology, neuroimaging, neurophysiology and genetics, this book covers psychogenic movement disorders and other conversion disorders from all of the most relevant clinical angles. An accompanying CD-ROM with a video library featuring over 100 real-life examples of movement disorders will aid diagnosis. Neurologists and psychiatrists, as well as others interested in brain pathophysiology at the boundary of neurology and psychiatry, will find this a useful aid to both clinical practice and research.