Transcending self-interest: Psychological explorations of the quiet ego.

In the past decades, social scientists have observed rising selfishness and callousness among Americans. Transcending Self-Interest: Psychological Explorations of the Quiet Ego is an anthology of essays by learned psychologists discussing the problems of egocentrism, and ways in which egocentrism can be overcome. The theories and research point toward two important considerations: balancing the needs of the self with others, and cultivating such traits as compassion, non-defensive self-awareness, and independent self-identity. Individual essays include "The Lure of the Noisy Ego: Narcissism as a Social Trap", "Collective Angst: How Threats to the Future Vitality of the Ingroup Shape Intergroup Emotion", "Homonegativity and the Lesbian Self: Portraits of the Ego as Either Transcender or Occluder of Negative Social Stereotypes", and much more. A welcome addition to modern sociology and psychology shelves, deserving applause and recognition for its scientific focus on what is all too commonly regarded as a spiritual social problem. "For decades social scientists have observed that Americans are becoming more selfish, headstrong, and callous. Instead of lamenting a cultural slide toward narcissism, Transcending Self-Interest : Psychological Explorations of the Quiet Ego provides a constructive framework for understanding--and conducting research on--both the problems of egocentrism and the ways of transcending it. Heidi A. Wayment and Jack J. Bauer have assembled a group of contributors who are helping to reshape how the field of psychology defines the self in the 21st century. In the spirit of positive psychology, these authors call us to move beyond individualistic and pathological notions of self versus other. Their theories and research suggest two paths to this transcendence : (a) balancing the needs of self and others in one's everyday life and (b) developing compassion, nondefensive self-awareness, and interdependent self-identity. At the end of these converging paths lies a quiet ego--an ego less concerned with self-promotion than with the flourishing of both the self and others. Readers will find in this volume inspiration not only for future work in psychology but also for their own efforts toward personal development"--Jaquette. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved) "For decades social scientists have observed that Americans are becoming more selfish, headstrong, and callous. Instead of lamenting a cultural slide toward narcissism, Transcending Self-Interest: Psychological Explorations of the Quiet Ego provides a constructive framework for understanding--and conducting research on--both the problems of egocentrism and the ways of transcending it. Heidi A. Wayment and Jack J. Bauer have assembled a group of contributors who are helping to reshape how the field of psychology defines the self in the 21st century. In the spirit of positive psychology, these authors call us to move beyond individualistic and pathological notions of self versus other. Their theories and research suggest two paths to this transcendence: (a) balancing the needs of self and others in one's everyday life and (b) developing compassion, nondefensive self-awareness, and interdependent self-identity. At the end of these converging paths lies a quiet ego--an ego less concerned with self-promotion than with the flourishing of both the self and others. Readers will find in this volume inspiration not only for future work in psychology but also for their own efforts toward personal development"--Jacket. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved) For decades social scientists have observed that Americans are becoming more selfish, headstrong, and callous. Instead of lamenting a cultural slide toward narcissism, Transcending Psychological Explorations of the Quiet Ego provides a constructive framework for understanding--and conducting research on--both the problems of egocentrism and ways of transcending it. Heidi A. Wayment and Jack J. Bauer have assembled a group of contributors who are helping to reshape how the field of psychology defines the self in the 21st Century. In the spirit of positive psychology, these authors call us to move beyond individualistic and pathological notions of self versus other. Their theories and research suggest two paths to this (1) balancing the needs of self and others in one's everyday life and (2) developing compassion, nondefensive self-awareness, and interdependent self-identity. At the end of these converging paths lies a quiet ego--an ego less concerned with self-promotion than with the flourishing of both the self and others. Readers will find in this volume inspiration not only for future work in psychology but also for their own efforts toward personal development. α......Page 1 2008-03693-001......Page 19 2008-03693-002......Page 32 2008-03693-003......Page 42 2008-03693-004......Page 52 2008-03693-005......Page 61 2008-03693-006......Page 71 2008-03693-007......Page 81 2008-03693-008......Page 91 2008-03693-009......Page 100 2008-03693-010......Page 111 2008-03693-011......Page 120 2008-03693-012......Page 128 2008-03693-013......Page 137 2008-03693-014......Page 148 2008-03693-015......Page 158 2008-03693-016......Page 169 2008-03693-017......Page 180 2008-03693-018......Page 193 2008-03693-019......Page 205 2008-03693-020......Page 215 2008-03693-021......Page 228 β......Page 236 "For decades social scientists have observed that Americans are becoming more selfish, headstrong, and callous. Instead of lamenting a cultural slide toward narcissism, Transcending Self-Interest: Psychological Explanations of the Quiet Ego provides a constructive framework for understanding - and conducting research on - both the problems of egocentrism and the ways of transcending it."--Jacket