{"product_id":"optimizing-the-self-ole-jacob-madsen-9781138909670","title":"Optimizing the Self: Social representations of self-help","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book provides an analysis of the social representations of leading self-help genres, including neurolinguistic programming, cognitive self-help therapy, mindfulness, self-management, self-esteem, self-leadership and self-control. Exploring the globalised therapeutic culture of today, the book argues that psychology as 'science' is often abandoned to aid the individual pursuit for self-realization and self-optimization. Opposing the view that self-help culture is external to psychology, Madsen argues that it is firmly embedded within psychology, playing an important role in people's lives. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEach chapter traces and critically interprets a range of self-help philosophies and techniques, examining the claims of self-help literature to represent the most innovative psychological, medical or neurobiological research. Discussing each genre in turn, chapters examine key research alongside self-help literature to explore the effectiveness and impact of leading self-help genres in various social contexts and environments. The book offers a contemporary critical overview of issues concerning self-help, combining critical psychology with the theory of social representation to provide a broad perspective on self-help as a valid psychology. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eOptimizing the Self\u003c\/i\u003e will be of interest to academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the fields\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eof social representation, critical and cultural psychology and theory, clinical psychology, and the sociology of culture and science. The book will also be of use to critical and cultural psychologists and theorists, as well as clinical psychologists.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Ole Jacob Madsen\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 113890967X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781138909670\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Routledge\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/02\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 200\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.00h x 7.10w x 0.60d","brand":"Ole Jacob Madsen","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48065379729663,"sku":"9781138909670","price":220.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e29f3b83-c7fc-43c9-a4c7-80d723ac3f66.jpg?v=1768674804","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/optimizing-the-self-ole-jacob-madsen-9781138909670","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}