This book represents a new look at social psychology and relationships for the discerning reader and university student. The title of the book argues forcefully that the very nature of being human is defined by our relationships with others, our lovers, family, and our functional or dysfunctional interactions. Written in easy to follow logical progression the volume covers all major topical areas of social psychology, with results of empirical research of the most recent years included. A common project between American and European social psychologists the book seeks to build a bridge between research findings in both regions of the world. In doing so the interpretations of the research takes a critical stand toward dysfunction in modern societies, and in particular the consequences of endless war and repression. Including topics as varied as an overview of the theoretical domains of social psychology and recent research on morality, justice and the law, the book promises a stimulating introduction to contemporary views of what it means to be human. A major emphasis of the book is the effect of culture in all major topical areas of social psychology including conceptions of the self, attraction, relationships and love, social cognition, attitude formation and behavior, influences of group membership, social influence, persuasion, hostile images, aggression and altruism, and moral behavior.

Issues of gender and sexuality are intrinsic to people’s experience: their sense of identity, their lives and the loving relationships that shape and sustain them. The life and mission of the Church of England – and of the worldwide Anglican Communion – are affected by the deep, and sometimes painful, disagreements about these matters, divisions brought into sharper focus because of society’s changing perspectives and practices, especially in relation to LGTBI+ people. Living in Love and Faith sets out to inspire people to think more deeply both about what it means to be human, and to live in love and faith with one another. It tackles the tough questions and the divisions among Christians about what it means to be holy in a society in which understandings and practices of gender, sexuality and marriage continue to change. Commissioned and led by the Bishops of the Church of England, the Living in Love and Faith project has involved many people across the Church and beyond, bringing together a great diversity and depth of expertise, conviction and experience to explore these matters by studying what the Bible, theology, history and the social and biological sciences have to say. After a Foreword from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the book opens with an invitation from the Bishops of the Church of England to embark on a learning journey in five parts: Part One sets current questions about human identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage in the context of God’s gift of life. Part Two takes a careful and dispassionate look at what is happening in the world with regard to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. Part Three explores current Christian thinking and discussions about human identity, sexuality, and marriage. In the light of the good news of Jesus Christ, how do Christians understand and respond to the trends observed in Part Two? Part Four considers what it means for us as individuals and as a church to be Christ-like when it comes to matters of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. Part Five invites the reader into a conversation between some of the people who have been involved in writing this book who, having engaged with and written Parts One to Four, nevertheless come to different conclusions. Amid the biblical, theological, historical and scientific exploration, each part includes Encounters with real, contemporary disciples of Christ whose stories raise questions which ask us to discern where God is active in human lives. The book ends with an appeal from the Bishops to join them in a period of discernment and decision-making following the publication of Living in Love and Faith. The Living in Love and Faith book is accompanied by a range of free digital resources including films, podcasts and an online library, together with Living in Love and Faith: The Course, a 5-session course which is designed to help local groups engage with the resources, also published by Church House Publishing.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Clear, accessible wise advice for modern minds.' Matt Haig 'Dr Soph is the therapist and best friend that the world deserves. The world of therapy and professional help is still so inaccessible to so many people and this book is a crucial and life changing one that should be placed in everyone’s mental health toolkit!' Scarlett Curtis 'A Manual for Being Human is the motherlode, enlightening on why you might feel and behave how you do.' The Times ‘A truly wonderful, warm and wise one-stop shop for any inquisitive human. Packed full of prompts, practical tips and pep talks that will guide you through any situation.’ Emma Gannon ‘There is a damn good reason why people are struggling. We are not raised to understand ourselves. In fact, we are raised misunderstanding ourselves and fearing the very thing that makes us, us.’ Dr Soph Do you want to believe in yourself and your ability to be content with who you are? If the answer is yes, then A Manual for Being Human is the book you need to read. Do you want to understand how your childhood affects who you are today? How it affects your relationship with yourself and others? How school, bullying, gender expectations and even the social media you consume each day affects your emotional wellbeing? Do you want to know what your emotions actually are, where they come from and how to manage them when they threaten to overwhelm you? In this practical and insightful guide, Dr Soph will help you to understand why we all feel anxious, stressed, insecure and down from time to time. Her three-step methodology, developed through years of experience supporting people to make genuine change in their lives, will help you to identify problems arising from past experiences and current life events, look at the patterns, bad habits and negative cycles that may be keeping you stuck, and then draws on established, proven therapeutic techniques such as mindfulness, journaling, self-compassion, grounding and breathing and relaxation techniques to provide a toolkit of go--to techniques to use any time. Reassuring, knowledgeable and kind, Dr Soph offers support to those feeling lost at sea in today’s troubling times and gives you the tools you need to help get the most out of life. 'Finally! A book which takes psychological wellbeing across the lifespan out of the therapy room and into the mainstream. Dr Soph’s warm, reassuring and frank style will have you understanding yourself, your actions and your relationships without a hefty therapy price tag.' Dr Karen Gurney, author Mind the Gap

The imperative question presented in this book is: Can our mind obey us when we do not like the thoughts which cross our mind? If we try to stop disturbing thoughts, often the mind will do the opposite, dwelling on those thoughts, and defying our wishes. Artists get rid of all unnecessary materials to form an art object. Likewise, we need to get rid of all the unnecessary conflicts which keep swimming in our mind, and hold onto the essential part of life. In other words, we polish our inner psyche, by cultivating the garden of our mind and removing all the weeds. We as humans have the capacity to clean the landscape of our mind and bring a different set of emotions to the scene. That is how we progressed from animalistic sensations to being creative individuals.

This book is unique in the sense that it offers a comprehensive review and analysis of human communication and mediated communication around the world. This is one of the first attempts to do so in a systematic, comprehensive way. It challenges the assumption that Western theories of human communication and mass communication have universal applicability. It surveys the applicability of mass communication theories to other than Western cultures. The book explains the influence of culture on all forms of communication behavior, be it personal, mediated or mass communication. It presents communication theories from around the world, incorporating a vast body of literature from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. This updated information on important international perspectives that includes both interpersonal and mediated communication is presently not readily available in other sources. The book offers an integrated approach to understanding the working of electronic means of communication that are hybrid media combining human and mediated communication. These new media that are often presented as universal are even more culture-bound than the traditional media.

The central deity-personalities of the Urantia Revelation are humanity's spiritual parents—Christ Michael (or Jesus) and his coequal partner, Mother Spirit. In this sequel to The Adventure of Being Human: Lessons on Soulful Living from the Heart of the Urantia Revelation, the focus is exclusively on Mother Spirit—the all-loving, omnipresent mother of us all. She is the reality behind all of the cherished notions of a divine mother throughout human history as well as the majestic source of the Holy Spirit, and of life itself. In this charming guide you will learn all about her and discover how she regards the unique challenges of being human. She will explain why our lives on this complex and sometimes dangerous planet offer an ideal setting for our adventures of soul growth. This book provides a selection of Mother Spirit's teachings from her many years of "live" transmission sessions, along with rich supporting materials. Her unprecedented and delightful instructions on the art of soulful living are more accessible than ever before.

This is the first book that examines healthy human relationships in post-apartheid South Africa. In contemporary South Africa, human relationships are under considerable threat. Despite the 1994 commitment to an inclusive and human-rights-based democracy, human relationships remain strained. Bearing in mind South Africa's tortuous and divisive past, this book brings to light many issues, prospects and challenges with regard to the promotion of healthy human relationships after apartheid ended. Social work and social development perspectives are central to the issues that are raised in this volume. The profession of social work has always championed the centrality of human relationships, being less interested in the internal functioning of people and more interested in their interpersonal functioning within broader structures and forces, including social justice, building people's strengths and capabilities, anti-discrimination, diversity and empowerment. This edited book is based on select papers presented at a social work conference in 2019 that was co-hosted by the Department of Social Development at the University of Cape Town and the Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions. In the chapters, the contributors offer some solutions to the ubiquitous societal ills that emanate from either corrosive or broken human relationships: Resurgent racism in post-apartheid South Africa and the need to promote healthy human relationships Promoting healthy human relationships with sub-Saharan African immigrants and South Africans Promoting family and human relationships in a traumatised society Social policy, social welfare, social security and legislation in promoting healthy human relationships in post-apartheid South Africa Social protection as a tool to promote healthy human relationships in South Africa Promoting Healthy Human Relationships in Post-Apartheid South Africa is an essential resource for an international audience of scholars, policy-makers, and social work and social development practitioners, legislators and students.

Every human being is born with an extraordinary set of inner resources, including intelligence, attention, mind, imagination, consciousness, willpower, love, and emotion. Strangely, most people pass through young-adulthood and 13+ years of schooling without ever formally learning about any one of these innate capacities. As a result, a vast majority of folks spend their days harnessing only a small fraction of the great potential that is freely available within them.The User's Guide to Being Human is the first owner's manual to comprehensively examine the inner tools with which people shape their lives. Merging art with science, this book illuminates 16 core capacities that enable people to bring out the best in themselves, their activities and relations. It offers step-by-step coaching for all who wish to master the ongoing art of personal development. A companion workbook provides additional support for the exercises and Personal Growth Project.

`There is a wide ranging reference list, which contributes to making Human Relationships an invaluable book for all students and professionals who want to understand interpersonal relationships from a wide perspective' - Theraputic Communities The Third Edition of this highly successful textbook provides a unique and comprehensive introduction to the study and understanding of human relationships. This thoroughly revised edition combines the most recent research from social and clinical psychology, sociology and communication studies with greater interdisciplinarity and emphasis on processes of everyday life. Fresh insights from family studies, developmental psychology, occupational and organizat

Amplifying the core spiritual teachings of The Urantia Book—a unique and thrilling revelatory book first published in 1955—this guide introduces the two central deity-personalities of the Urantia revelation: Christ Michael—Jesus—and his feminine, coequal consort, Mother Spirit. As the study relates, these two deities maintain intimate contact with their sons and daughters, demonstrating their love through an unprecedented series of teachings. In one short volume, this compilation chronicles Jesus’ own awe-inspiring lessons—updated for the 21st century—along with essential introductory and background materials. The wisdom provided here offers heartfelt instructions on the art of living, making a challenging cosmological reference concise and accessible.