Damaged Life: The Crisis Of The Modern Psyche (critical Psychology Series)

This text presents an analysis of modernity's impact on the psyche. Modernization has brought many material benefits, yet we are constantly told how unhappy we are: crime, divorce, suicide, depression and anxiety are rampant. How can this contradiction be reconciled? Tod Sloan develops an integrated theory of the self in society by combining perspectives on personality development and sociohistorical processes to explore our complex response to modernization. He discusses the implications of postmodern theory for psychology and proposes concrete responses to address the issue of mass emotional suffering. His book is aimed at those working within psychology and related disciplines such as sociology and social policy, as well as anyone seeking enlightenment about the predicament of the self in contemporary society. Damaged Life provides a powerful and progressive analysis of modernity's impact on the psyche. Tod Sloan highlights the effects of seemingly remote issues on all our lives showing how capitalist industrialization has had a bearing on personal experience and intimate relationships. He presents an integrated theory of the self in society, setting personality development in the context of socio-historical processes and everyday life. An alternative critical psychology is introduced which explores our understanding of and complex response to modernization. The implications of postmodern theory are discussed and new solutions proposed to end the mass suffering of the modern self. This book should be read by all those studying or working with psychology and related disciplines such as sociology and social policy. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Damaged goods: the modern problematic......Page 12 The psychological impact of modernization......Page 34 The colonization of the lifeworld......Page 58 The formation of the psyche......Page 78 The domination of desire......Page 92 Ideological formations and their transcendence......Page 107 The destruction of meaning......Page 121 Decolonization......Page 138 References......Page 158 Index......Page 166 A powerful and progressive analysis of modernity's impact on the psyche. Tod Sloan discusses the implications of postmodern theory for psychology and proposes concrete responses to address the issue of mass suffering of the modern self In this text, the author shows how seemingly remote issues impact on all our lives. He explores the power relationship between Western civilization and third world countries and how it too shapes our personalities and psychologies. Tod Sloan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [147]-154) And Index.