Meaning, Mortality, and Choice ─ The Social Psychology of Existential Concerns

How does our awareness of our own mortality affect our behavior? How do we achieve a sense of freedom knowing that our thoughts and behaviors are predetermined (or at least constrained) by our bodies and our cultures? This book uses the lenses of personality and social psychology to examine how people deal with such existential questions. The book's 22 chapters, written by contributors in psychology who delivered lectures at the 2011 Herzliya Symposium on Personality and Social Psychology, are organized around four existential concerns: mortality, meaning, freedom, and social isolation. There is also a section on overcoming existential threats. Some specific subjects discussed are terror management theory and research, religion as a source of meaning, and the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior. Shaver is affiliated with the University of California-Davis. Mikulincer is affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Center, Israel. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)