Cultural-Existential Psychology : The Role of Culture in Suffering and Threat

Cultural Psychology And Experimental Existential Psychology Are Two Of The Fastest-growing Movements In Social Psychology. In This Book, Daniel Sullivan Combines Both Perspectives To Present A Groundbreaking Analysis Of Culture's Role In Shaping The Psychology Of Threat Experience. The First Part Of The Book Presents A New Theoretical Framework Guided By Three Central Principles: That Humans Are In A Unique Existential Situation Because We Possess Symbolic Consciousness And Culture; That Culture Provides Psychological Protection Against Threatening Experiences, But Also Helps To Create Them; And That Interdisciplinary Methods Are Vital To Understanding The Link Between Culture And Threat. In The Second Part Of The Book, Sullivan Presents A Novel Program Of Research Guided By These Principles. Focusing On A Case Study Of A Traditionalist Group Of Mennonites In The Midwestern United States, Sullivan Examines The Relationship Between Religion, Community, Guilt, Anxiety, And The Experience Of Natural Disaster-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Preface; Part I. Theory: 1. Theoretical Roots Of Cultural-existential Psychology; 2. Fundamental Principles Of Cultural-existential Psychology; 3. A Model Of Existential Threat; 4. Cultural Variation As Patterns Of Social Orientation And Control; 5. Cultural Threat Orientations: Disorientation-avoidance And Despair-avoidance; Part Ii. Research: 6. Modernization And Changes In Attitudes Toward Suffering Among Kansas Mennonites; 7. Cultural Threat Orientations Among Traditionalist Mennonites, Unitarian Universalists, And College Students; 8. Transcendence Versus Redemption In The Experience Of A Natural Disaster; Part Iii. Implications: 9. Cultural-existential Psychology And Contemporary Society; Appendices: Appendix A. Guide To Key Abbreviations And Terms; Appendix B. Data Analyses, Chapter 6; Appendix C. Methodology And Questionnaire Items, Chapter 7; Appendix D. Data Analyses, Chapter 7. Daniel Sullivan. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 258-292) And Index. "Cultural psychology and experimental existential psychology are two of the fastest-growing movements in social psychology. In this book, Daniel Sullivan combines both perspectives to present a groundbreaking analysis of culture's role in shaping the psychology of threat experience. The first part of the book presents a new theoretical framework guided by three central principles: that humans are in a unique existential situation because we possess symbolic consciousness and culture; that culture provides psychological protection against threatening experiences, but also helps to create them; and that interdisciplinary methods are vital to understanding the link between culture and threat. In the second part of the book, Sullivan presents a novel program of research guided by these principles. Focusing on a case study of a traditionalist group of Mennonites in the midwestern United States, Sullivan examines the relationship between religion, community, guilt, anxiety, and the experience of natural disaster"-- Provided by publisher Cover Half-title page Title page Copyright page Dedication Epilogue Contents Figures Tables Preface Acknowledgments Part I Theory 1 Theoretical roots of cultural-existential psychology 2 Fundamental principles of cultural-existential psychology 3 A model of existential threat 4 Cultural variation as patterns of social orientation and control 5 Cultural threat orientations: disorientation avoidance and despair avoidance Part II Research 6 Modernization and changes in attitudes toward suffering among Kansas Mennonites 7 Cultural threat orientations among traditionalist Mennonites, Unitarian Universalists, and college students 8 Transcendence versus redemption in the experience of a natural disaster Part III Implications 9 Cultural-existential psychology and contemporary society Appendix A Guide to key abbreviations and terms Appendix B Data analyses, Chapter 6 Appendix C Methodology and questionnaire items, Chapter 7 Appendix D Data analyses, Chapter 7 References Index