The Human Quest for Meaning: Theories, Research, and Applications (Personality and Clinical Psychology) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1138110825 ISBN 13: 9781138110823

Publisher: Routledge, 2017

Synopsis

The first edition of The Human Quest for Meaning was a major publication on the empirical research of meaning in life and its vital role in well-being, resilience, and psychotherapy. This new edition continues that quest and seeks to answer the questions, what is the meaning of life? How do we explain what constitutes meaningful relationships, work, and living?
The answers, as the eminent scholars and practitioners who contributed to this text find, are neither simple nor straightforward. While seeking to clarify subjective vs. objective meaning in 21 new and 7 revised chapters, the authors also address the differences in cultural contexts, and identify 8 different sources of meaning, as well as at least 6 different stages in the process of the search for meaning. They also address different perspectives, including positive psychology, self-determination, integrative, narrative, and relational perspectives, to ensure that readers obtain the most thorough information possible. Mental health practitioners will find the numerous meaning-centered interventions, such as the PURE and ABCDE methods, highly useful in their own work with facilitating healing and personal growth in their clients. The Human Quest for Meaning represents a bold new vision for the future of meaning-oriented research and applications. No one seeking to truly understand the human condition should be without it.

About this title

About the Author

Paul T. P. Wong, PhD, is a registered clinical psychologist in Ontario, Canada. He is president of the International Network on Personal Meaning, editor of the International Journal of Personal Meaning, and has held professional positions at various universities.

Review

“The human heart is a meaning-making organ. Living meaningfully with intention is a fulcrum that can counter the gravity of any predicament. In The Human Quest for Meaning a host of old pros provide the theory, research, and methods of meaning-centered practice.” - Jeffrey K. Zeig, The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Arizona, USA

“This new edition of The Human Quest for Meaning: Theories, Research, and Applications presents much of the best thinking and research on the human quest for meaning done in clinical, experimental, and social psychology today. Paul T.P. Wong has done a commendable job in selecting and bringing together leading researchers and their ideas. This book is destined to become a classic textbook in positive psychology, counseling, and the existential philosophy of psychology.” - Alexander Batthyany, University of Vienna, Austria and author of Empirical Research on Logotherapy and Meaning-Oriented Psychotherapy and Mind and Materialism; principal editor, Collected Works of Viktor Frankl (14 volumes)

“This is a book of enormous scope and diversity. Reflective of Paul Wong’s philosophical legacy, this work combines some of the best literature on meaning research with some of the wisest and most personally meaningful applications of that literature. I strongly recommend this volume.” - Kirk J. Schneider, co-author of Existential-Humanistic Therapy and Existential-Integrative Psychotherapy; editor, Journal of Humanistic Psychology

“Meaning matters!  That’s the persuasive message of this evidence-based review of the roots and fruits of meaning. Anyone interested in the human quest for meaning need look no further than this synopsis of state-of-the-art scholarship.” - David Myers, Hope College, Michigan, USA, author of The Pursuit of Happiness

“Anyone interested in the concept of meaning, whether student or senior faculty, researcher or clinician, will find this volume difficult to put down. Each chapter broadens and deepens our understanding of this fascinating topic. As a whole, the volume should be treasured as a compendium of contemporary thought about meaning.” - Susan Folkman, PhD, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), USA

“Paul Wong is the expert on the psychology of meaning, and this edited volume shows why.  Within these chapters he has assembled a comprehensive, authoritative, and cutting-edge review of the topic. This book is not to be placed on the shelf and forgotten. It is an essential resource for both researchers and practitioners who want a deeper understanding of why meaning matters.” - Robert A. Emmons, University of California, USA, editor-in-chief, The Journal of Positive Psychology

“With absolute conviction, this is the most comprehensive, scholarly statement to date on the nature of meaning and purpose in life. There is no better example of the deep dialogue between science, philosophy, and practice than this classic work. Anybody who is interested in this topic should have a copy on their bookshelf.” - Todd B. Kashdan, George Mason University, Virginia, USA, author of Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life and Designing Positive Psychology

“Like the previous edition, this book represents a landmark contribution to the study of meaning. This stimulating volume is essential reading for researchers and practitioners interested in the topic of meaning.  It will set the intellectual agenda in this field for years to come.” - Camille B. Wortman, Stony Brook University, New York, USA, coauthor of Traumatic Bereavement and Treatment for Survivors of Sudden Death

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1138110825
• ISBN 13: 9781138110823
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 768
• Editor: Wong Paul T. P.