Psychology of Everyday Life – serie

Benefiting readers ranging from students researching topics in food, psychology, and eating disorders to parents and general readers seeking to better understand a variety of issues regarding the psychology of food and eating, this book examines a wide range of complex issues, such as emotional eating, food as a form of social bonding and personal identity, and changes in eating throughout the lifespan.Filling Up: The Psychology of Eating addresses a broad subject area that some may rarely think about but that actually encompasses topics relevant to all individuals, regardless of culture or ethnicity. Eating is often an emotionally charged event, and as such, it involves powerful feelings, thoughts, and emotions. Why are we driven to eat what we do and how we do, what are the current controversies and debates that surround the psychology of eating, and how are eating patterns outside of the United States different than ours—and why?A new addition to the Psychology of Everyday Life series, this book provides a comprehensive examination of issues surrounding food and eating across the lifespan and around the globe. Many of the positive aspects of food, such as social bonding and continuance of ethnic identity and pride through food and family traditions, are highlighted, as are the serious negative aspects of eating, such as food-borne pathogens, unhealthy "trendy" diets, and the various health issues that result from over- or undereating. The book identifies and inspects numerous historical trends related to eating styles over time, including the history of fast food, the advent and booming popularity of food trucks, and food-based traditions like the wedding cake. Readers will benefit from scholarly essays that tackle interesting issues—such as whether or not sugar addiction is real and the merits of a Paleo diet—and that examine both sides of the debate and empower readers to reach their own informed opinions.

How does socializing and "hanging out" with friends play a key role in our lives? This book explores the world of socialization as it occurs in the United States as well as other cultures.Socialization and enjoying downtime with friends is an activity we regularly participate in but often take for granted. "Hanging out" may be something most people don't ponder, but socializing across our lifetimes is a key part of the human experience, and it plays an important role in our lives at the individual level as well as in social interactions within larger numbers of people: groups of friends, communities, entire countries or cultures, and even global society. A new title in Greenwood's The Psychology of Everyday Life series, Hanging Out: The Psychology of Socializing applies theories and concepts from psychology and sociology to explain the functions, benefits, harms, and consequences of how we spend our free time. Readers will learn about the many forms of socializing, discover why socializing is so important, and understand the positive and negative effects of socializing.The information—presented in a straightforward manner that is easily understandable to high school students and general readers—is drawn from classical theory as well as contemporary, cutting-edge empirical studies, affording readers a well-rounded understanding of socializing based on theoretical and empirical evidence. The book explores topics such as the physical and psychological benefits of socializing, the "dark side" of socializing, how the established "protocols" of socialization differ across cultures, and the differing viewpoints surrounding current controversies with respect to socializing.

This is a powerful resource for anyone who wants to understand the nature of interpersonal conflict—to study it, understand why it's a consistent part of human history, and perhaps avert it in their own lives.Why does conflict surround us in everyday life, from spats between individuals to major conflicts involving large groups? Is conflict inevitable? Why are conflicts and differences of opinion often so hard to resolve? Blowing Up: The Psychology of Conflict focuses on interpersonal conflict and the ways that this level of conflict can move beyond the original relationship to permeate larger constructs—small groups, large groups, whole organizations, and even entire nations. By examining both the positive and negative consequences of conflict—and by documenting its existence as normal and common—readers can appreciate how conflict does not immediately equate to negative feelings and how it also can be useful in creating rules and laws, aiding in negotiation, and bringing people together to work toward a common goal.This clear and accessibly written book in Greenwood's Psychology of Everyday Life series provides students with an understanding of the important role conflict plays in our lives, the many forms conflict may take, and the ways that conflict can actually be constructive and useful as well as destructive to relationships, discussions, and groups. The historical overview of established theories and the study of conflict to date provides readers with invaluable perspective into the subject by identifying and analyzing specific conflicts, including well-publicized conflicts in foreign countries. The book also charts conflict throughout the life cycle to help students identify the reasons for conflicts that occur in their own lives—with parents, friends, siblings, employers, romantic partners, and people in authority.

Covering important topics such as job satisfaction, workplace stress, and the changing nature of jobs and careers in the 21st century, this valuable resource explores how working affects us psychologically, for better and for worse and sometimes in imperceptible ways.Although most people go to work Monday through Friday, few stop to think about the central role work plays in our lives. Besides allowing us to provide for the material needs of ourselves and our families, having a job or career can help us to meet new people and stay socially connected, to increase our self-esteem and sense of self-worth, and to allow us to have an impact on the world. But work can also leave us exhausted and stressed, and many people find it difficult to balance their work and personal lives.This clear and accessibly written book in Greenwood's Psychology of Everyday Life series provides readers with an understanding of the important roles work plays in our lives, the many forms work may take, and the ways in which our relationships with work change throughout our lives. The information, presented in an unassuming, easy-to-understand manner, is drawn from classical theory as well as from contemporary research, affording readers a well-rounded understanding of the topic. The book also includes a collection of real-world scenarios to illustrate key concepts as well as scholarly essays offering perspective on current issues and debates related to work in America.

This appealing, accessible reference volume enables readers to easily understand what creates and constitutes stress—an unavoidable part of modern life—and learn about the psychology behind relaxation.What is "stress," from a psychological and physiological perspective? Why is it important to "unwind" and relax? Can some forms of stress actually be good? And how do people outside the United States relax? Part of Greenwood's The Psychology of Everyday Life series, this book defines in non-scientific language what stress and relaxation are, addresses factors related to our daily experiences with stress, identifies the negative effects of stress, and describes how to reduce stress and achieve relaxation. Readers will see how relaxation techniques are practiced around the world—and by people of all ages—and learn how "chilling out" can not only make you happier but may also help you live longer.The book also provides a critical-thinking section that challenges readers with questions such as "Are relaxation drinks effective?" The opposing viewpoints, written by scholars, encourage readers to consider the evidence on both sides of the debate and decide for themselves which answer makes the most sense. The scenarios presented in the book help readers to see the practical applications for relaxation techniques via an analysis of what is happening in the example and why particular recommendations may be made.