Understanding Emotions [Paperback]

Keith Oatley (Author), Jennifer M. Jenkins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1557864950 | ISBN-13: 978-1557864956 | Publication Date: February 13, 1996 | Edition: 1

This new textbook is the first book to fully span the fast growing field to research on emotions. It ranges across a broad range of disciplines, covering the entire lifespan from infancy to adulthood. Its main theme is that emotions have functions: they set priorities among our concerns and they provide the underlying structure of human friendships, to the excitements of sexuality. Understanding Emotions is designed as a textbook for second- and third-year university courses, and the text itself is fully supported by introductions and summaries, suggestions for further reading, plus a comprehensive bibliography and a glossary.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The contemporary field of emotion research is an immensely challenging one to synthesise. Oatley and Jenkins have done this, and have managed to do so in a way that makes this field accessible to a broad audience without sacrificing the precious scientific integrity upon which the entire research enterprise rests. Understanding Emotions is a truly first-rate introductory treatment of this important area, and promises to be of great use to students, teachers, and researchers in the many fields now concerned with better understanding emotions." James Gross, Stanford University, The BPPS Quarterly

"There is nothing like this book on the market. It goes deeper into the problems than any introductory book on emotion that I know, lacking the superficiality of most such texts. The discussions, although accessible, are of intellectual standing. The book is full of theoretical ideas of elaboration that I find very challenging. In addition, it is highly enjoyable in its examples, interesting, very well written, up-to-date, and informative. The organization is admirable, placing culture first and only then going into the more basic processes." Professor Nico Frijda, University of Amsterdam

"In my view, this particular text is quite distinctive in terms of its breadth. It draws upon and integrates material on emotions from social and clinical psychology, from psychiatry, from sociology, from anthropology and from literature. It addresses important issues regarding emotions from many more theoretical perspectives than has been typical in most recent books on emotions. It includes historical material as well as very up-to-date work on emotions and it addresses both theoretical and applied issues." Margaret S. Clark, Carnegie Mellon University

"Oatley and Jenkins's book is an excellent text that is well written, interesting, and accessible while maintaining intellectual rigor. It is comprehensive in its coverage and considers the historical roots of emotion research as well as the most recent research." Contemporary Psychology

"At each turn, the authors have gone to great lengths to make this book accessible, from their clear and compelling writing, to the large number of figures, tables, insets with biographical information about key figures, summary sections, and helpful suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter. Studies are thoughtfully selected and carefully presented in enough detail that a student can clearly see how a question was framed and answered. Connections between studies are drawn within each chapter, and pains also have been taken to make connections across chapters as well. Understanding Emotions is a truly first-rate introductory treatment of this important area, and promises to be of great use to students, teachers, and researchers in the many fields now connected with better understanding emotions." James Gross, Stanford University

From the Back Cover

This new textbook by cognitive scientist and prize-winning novelist Keith Oatley, and developmental psychologist Jennifer M. Jenkins, is the first to fully span the fast-growing field of research on emotions. It is designed as a textbook for second- and third-year university courses, and the text itself is fully supported by introductions, summaries, and suggestions for further reading, plus a comprehensive bibliography and a glossary.

Understanding Emotions ranges across the disciplines from philosophy and narrative literature through anthropology, evolutionary theory, brain research, psychology, and sociology, covering the entire lifespan, from infancy to adulthood. Its main theme is that emotions have functions: they set priorities among our concerns and they provide the underlying structure and human relatedness from attachment in infancy, to the warmth of family life and of friendships, to the excitements of sexuality. Interpersonal functions of emotions include those of anger which mediates conflict and often prompts renegotiation, and the more problematic effects of contempt. Emotions sometimes become dysfunctional in orders of depression, anxiety, and excessive aggression, but these disorders can also be understood in terms of how they arise. The book emphasizes the human value of emotions, with practical concern for clinical problems, education and everyday understanding.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 13, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557864950
• ISBN-13: 978-1557864956
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,739,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating overview and update, January 15, 2007

By 

R. Rodriguez (Bakersfield, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding Emotions (Paperback)

A fascinating overview and update for someone not having paid much attention to this field. Having been schooled in 70's, the scientific advances in the field of affective science, a field not in existence at that time, is truly amazing in its potential for understanding human behavior in everyday life.

A highly recommended resource to this book is an online series of classroom podcasts produced by the University of California at Berkeley by co-author Dacher Keltner (available on iTunes and other sites).

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Emotions (Purchased on 08/18/2011) by Keith Oatley, September 19, 2011

By 

Courtney Williams (cedar rapids, ia, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding Emotions (Paperback)

This book has some highlighting and writing in it, but overall I am satisfied with the purchase. The book showed up promptly as well.