Your Own Worst Enemy: Understanding The Paradox Of Self-defeating Behavior - Hardcover

Berglas, Steven

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0465076807 ISBN 13: 9780465076802

Publisher: Basic Books, 1993

Synopsis

Describes the underlying causes of self-defeating behavior and provides strategies for overcoming them

About this title

From Library Journal

Most understandable to those who have done upper-level or graduate work in psychology and/or counseling, this book seeks to explain how and why people act in ways antithetical to their well-being. Berglas (clinical psychology, Harvard Medical Sch.) and Baumeister (psychology, Case Western Reserve) postulate that self-defeating behavior may be a form of coping mechanism to avoid the responsibilities that success affords. Both authorities in the field--Berglas wrote Self-Handicapping (Plenum, 1990), and Baumeister, Masochism and the Self (Erlbaum, 1989)--they point out that self-defeat may take many forms, i.e., procrastination, drug abuse or overdose, interpersonal abuse, or failure to follow directions. A more sophisticated adjunct to Judith Sills's Excess Baggage: Getting Out of Your Own Way ( LJ 12/92), this is recommended for academic and comprehensive public collections.
- Scott Johnson, Meridian Community Coll. Lib., Miss.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

While many of us may practice self-defeating behavior, most of us --contrary to conventional wisdom--don't really harbor a secret death wish, aver psychotherapist Berglas ( The Success Syndrome ) and research psychologist Baumeister ( Meanings of Life ). Observing that self-defeating acts can take myriad and devious forms, they compile numerous examples of how people create their own obstacles. Berglas and Baumeister buttress their list of self-sabotaging mechanisms with references to such memorable self-defeaters as Greta Garbo and Gary Hart. More descriptive than prescriptive, their approach may seem inadequate to readers who are looking for a blueprint for change. Nevertheless, the authors clearly demonstrate the insidious ways that people defeat themselves, and drive home the point that people's failure to achieve long-term goals often results from their choosing short-term pleasures instead.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Basic Books
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0465076807
• ISBN 13: 9780465076802
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 216