Paul R. Robbins – författare

Suicide is now the third leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States, and some studies suggest that as many as 75 percent of all teenagers have considered killing themselves. Current research on young people who are suicidal (those who attempt and those who succeed) is discussed in a plain way. Among the wide ranging topics covered are the prevalence of adolescent suicide, racial and gender differences, methods used in the study of suicidal behavior, associated behavioral problems (e.g., drugs and alcohol), psychological profiles, precipitating events for suicide attempts, teenage suicide clusters, the effects of suicide on family and friends, the treatment of suicidal adolescents, and, most importantly, strategies for intervention and prevention.

Violence has been a part of the human condition for a long time. Evidence from the distant past of hominids shows traces of violence inflicted by other hominids. The history of our own species has more than its share of violent encounters--sometimes rising to the level of sheer brutality. Indeed, the examples of human inhumanity are so numerous and so diverse, one might entertain the thesis that violence is hardwired, as it were, into the genetic makeup of our species. The thesis underlying this book is that in order to better understand violence, it is important to examine anger and aggression and the interrelationship among the three concepts. Feelings of anger often precede aggressive and violent acts. If we learn how to control anger better, we can expect a reduction in violent acts. And aggression itself may be channeled into behaviors which can be useful rather than destructive. This book addresses the problem of anger by using an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on research from psychology, anthropology, sociology and history as well as statistical data provided by criminologists.

Our dreams fascinate us as individuals and as a society. What do surveys report people dream about? How about the dreams of the blind? The mentally ill? What does research show about the possibility of dream telepathy? How did the ancient people view dreams? This wide-ranging book also discusses such topics as REM studies, the effects of experimental stimulation on dream content, research on dreams and creativity, symbolism, and nightmares.The book explores a number of techniques used to analyze dreams, illustrating these approaches with dream examples and case studies.

The dynamics of 21st century life have created a social environment full of stressful situations. A Journal of The American Psychological Association noted that stress in the workplace has reached a critical point, and studies suggest that the most common aspects of our lives, such as relationships and daily activities, often cause the greatest degrees of stress.This book provides a comprehensive look at what professionals know about coping with stress, drawing upon research to assert which methods of coping seem to be effective and which do not. The book begins with a discussion of the nature of stress, looking at the effects of stress in daily life, considering some of the ways researchers study stress, and examining how the human body reacts to stressful events. The book then turns to the ways psychologists conceptualize, measure and study coping mechanisms, and to specific techniques, beginning with those that appear to be ineffective in reducing stress such as obsessing and ruminating about the problem and proceeding to those that appear effective such as seeking social support, exercise and improving interpersonal skills. For individuals considering professional help, the final chapters present some basic information about medications, psychotherapy and alternative medicine approaches.

Since the publication of the first edition in 1993, there have been important developments in the understanding of depression and in the treatment approaches. This new edition reflects these new realities, giving increased emphasis to the biological foundations of depression, the development of and wide use of antidepressant drugs, the shift in the means of dispensing these drugs from mental health professionals to primary care physicians, and the development of alternative medicine approaches to treatment.Written in an easy-to-read manner, the book provides a wide-ranging picture of what is known about depressed moods and depression, from demographic, biological, and psychological aspects to methods of treatment and issues surrounding recurrence.