General Psychological Theory

A re-release of a volume of essays on the psychotherapy founder's famous themes includes coverage of a range of his intellectual and theoretical concepts, from the unconscious and the Oedipus complex to defense mechanisms and dream symbolism. Reprint. 15,000 first printing.

Psychologists like to claim that Psychology is a science, yet, until now, the discipline has lacked any real scientific laws, has had no overarching scientific paradigm and has been blighted by poor replicability of research, all of which have dogged the discipline. Attempts to place Psychology under a single scientific umbrella, e.g. Behaviourism, Cognitivism, Biological Science, Social Science or Human Science, have all failed for a host of reasons. This unique book presents a single paradigm for all of Psychology within a framework of Natural Science. For example, it employs as a model an organising principle known in another scientific discipline for over a century, the principle of Homeostasis. Findings across the entire discipline including perception, learning, emotion, stress, addiction, well-being and consciousness are all shown to be consistent with a new paradigm based on this, and other principles drawn from natural science.

This text presents the most important and influential social psychological theories and research programs in contemporary sociology. Original chapters by the scholars who initiated and developed these theoretical perspectives provide full descriptions of each theory, its background, development, and future. The first four chapters cover general approaches, organized around fundamental principles and issues--symbolic interaction, social exchange, distributive justice, and rational choice. The following chapters focus on specific research programs and theories, examining identity, affect, comparison processes, power and dependence, social exchange, status construction, and legitimacy. A concluding chapter provides an analysis of and commentary on the state of the theoretical programs in sociological social psychology. Contributors: Peter J. Burke, Joseph Berger, Coye Cheshire, Karen S. Cook, Pamela Emanuelson, Alexandra Gerbasi, Karen A. Hegtvedt, Michael A. Hogg, Guillermina Jasso, Edward J. Lawler, Michael W. Macy, George J. McCall, Linda D. Molm, Cecilia L. Ridgeway, Dawn T. Robinson, Lynn Smith-Lovin, Jan E. Stets, Jonathan H. Turner, Murray Webster Jr., David Willer, and Morris Zelditch, Jr.

"A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis" is a seminal work written by Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis. Originally published in 1920 as "Vorlesungen zur Einführung in die Psychoanalyse" in German, it serves as an overview of Freud's psychoanalytic theories and concepts. In this book, Freud provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of psychoanalysis, discussing topics such as the unconscious mind, the structure of the psyche (id, ego, and superego), dream interpretation, and the mechanisms of defense. Freud's psychoanalytic approach revolutionized the understanding of human behavior and influenced various fields, including psychology, psychiatry, and literature. "A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis" remains an important text for those interested in the foundations of psychoanalysis and Freudian theory. It has been translated into numerous languages and continues to be studied and referenced in the fields of psychology and mental health.