Blending the latest academic research with case studies of famous figures, this highly insightful book presents 'doubt' as a central concept for psychology. It is a concept which has been oddly neglected in the past, despite its ubiquitous nature and far-reaching influence.
Selfless is a memoir, reflecting on identity, social class, mobility, education, and on psychology itself; how psychology as a discipline is conducted, how it prioritises objects of study, how it uncovers psychological truths about the world. Geoffrey Beattie takes the reader on a journey through his early life in working-class Belfast, his Ph.D. at Trinity College Cambridge and subsequent academic and professional career, to explore fundamental issues within psychology about social class and social identity. Beattie discusses the difficulties inherent in this process of education and change, and how social background affects how you view academic work and the subject matter of one's discipline. This book movingly details a life and how it is changed by the processes of education, the psychological pressures when abandoning those close to you, the dissonance within and how it feels and operates. The book takes a critical look at psychology from the other side, and examines the process of becoming 'selfless', meaning having little sense of self rather than being overly concerned with the wishes and needs of others. Showing how our early experiences and their influence continues throughout life, Beattie's emotionally engaging, entertaining, and witty text offers general readers, students, and academics fresh insights into psychology, adaptation and personal change.
Lies, Lying, and Liars delves into the psychology of lies, exploring the processes of lying and its far-reaching consequences. Drawing from a rich tapestry of psychology and sociobiology, the book discusses the role of lying and liars in day-to-day life.
Exploring the theme of unconscious biases, the book utilizes innovative technology and experimental methods to reveal how deeply ingrained attitudes toward race shape our daily behaviors and thoughts. The author's personal encounters with prejudice enrich the narrative, while historical context and social psychological theories provide a comprehensive framework for understanding race and racism. Through these insights, readers are encouraged to reflect on their own biases and the societal structures that perpetuate them.