Religious Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy: East Meets West / Edition 1

by Frank De Piano, Ashe Mukherjee, Scott Mitchel Kamilar, Lynne M Hagen, Elaine Hartsman

Overview

Integrate spiritual traditions with psychological healing!

In this fascinating volume, clinical practitioners of different religious traditions examine the same clinical case, offering insights, interventions, and explanations of transformation and healing. This practical approach allows them to explore broader issues of personality theory and psychology from the perspectives of various spiritual traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Religious Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy addresses both the practical issues of doing psychotherapy and the deeper need to relate psychology and theology. After providing a thorough introduction to the spiritual tradition, each author presents a critical psychological theory of personality and psychotherapy grounded in that tradition. The authors address the questions of what it means to be a person, what causes human distress, and how individuals experience healing.

Religious Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy offers profound insights into the urgent issues of human suffering and psychological transformation, including:

• theories of personality structure and human motivation
• the nature of experience and processes of change
• the dialectical relation of theology and psychology
• convergences and difference among the religious psychologies
  
  Marrying theory and practice, spirit and psyche, Religious Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy offers profound insights and effective interventions. Mental health professionals, clergy, and scholars in religion, cross-cultural studies, personality, counseling, and psychotherapy will find this breakthrough book a life-changing experience and an invaluable resource.
  
  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780789012371
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/24/2002
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	450
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Frank De Piano, Ashe Mukherjee, Scott Mitchel Kamilar, Lynne M Hagen, Elaine Hartsman, R. Paul Olson

Table of Contents

• About the Editor
• Contributors
• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Objectives of This Book
• Underlying Assumptions
• Separation of Psychology and Religion
• Apologetic Function of Theology
• Critical Theory and a Method of Critical Correlation
• Organization of This Book
• Chapter 1. Hindu Psychology and the Bhagavad Gita
• Introduction
• Personality Theory
• Theory of Distress
• Theory of Therapy
• Practice of Therapy
• Evaluation
• Points of Dialogue
• Case Study
• Chapter 2. A Buddhist Psychology
• Introduction
• Personality Theory
• Theory of Distress
• Theory of Therapy
• Practice of Therapy
• Evaluation
• Points of Dialogue
• Case Study
• Chapter 3. Taoism and Psychology
• Introduction
• Personality Theory
• Theory of Distress
• Theory of Therapy
• Practice of Therapy
• Evaluation
• Points of Dialogue
• Case Study
• Chapter 4. Jewish Anthropology: The Stuff Between
• Introduction
• Personality Theory
• Theory of Distress
• Theory of Therapy
• Practice of Therapy
• Evaluation
• Points of Dialogue
• Case Study
• Chapter 5. Christian Humanism
• Introduction
• Personality Theory
• Theory of Distress
• Theory of Therapy
• Practice of Therapy
• Evaluation
• Points of Dialogue
• Case Study
• Chapter 6. Islamic Psychology
• Introduction
• Personality Theory
• Theory of Distress
• Theory of Therapy
• Practice of Therapy
• Evaluation
• Points of Dialogue
• Case Study
• Chapter 7. Convergence and Divergence
• Personality Theory
• Theories of Psychotherapy
• Index
• Reference Notes Included

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Patricia E. Murphy, PhD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This edited edition provides an understanding of personality and therapy from the perspective of six different major religions.
Purpose: Rather than integrate religious perspectives into aspects of psychology, the editor proposes to begin with various religious traditions, their understanding of human suffering, personality, and growth and let religious theories speak for themselves in dialogue with psychological theories.
Audience: Although the editor intends the book for mental health professionals as well as clergy and academic instructors, it is more likely to appeal to those who already have a strong interest in religion. Mental health providers might find aspects of the book useful for reference, but are apt to be put off by some of the theological jargon.
Features: Each chapter provides a clear presentation of the history and chief tenets of the given religion, followed by personality theory, theory of distress and therapy, the practice of therapy, evaluation and a case study from the particular religious perspective. The book offers a wealth of information on several religious traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christian Humanism, and Islam. The reader is offered approaches to counseling from each of these traditions.
Assessment: The editor sets a formidable goal in attempting to start from religion rather than psychology in describing the person. Some chapters do a better job than others in offering material that is accessible to the mental health specialist. A less involved and less intricate approach might be more appealing to the professional who sincerely wants to develop a deeper appreciation of the contribution of religion to an understanding of how religious persons view themselves and their world.

Doody's Review Service