People with psychological problems almost always experience difficulties with interpersonal relationships and communication. Are interpersonal difficulties simply the result of psychological disturbance, or can they also precipitate and maintain psychopathology? This book presents an in-depth analysis of interpersonal theories and research findings on frequently encountered mental health problems. It reviews a vast body of knowledge on how interpersonal experiences fundamentally shape an individual's behavior, thoughts, and emotions, sometimes with painful and far-reaching effects. In the process, the book provides the most comprehensive discussion to date of the interpersonal paradigm in mental health. Written in a clear, nontechnical style, the book takes a close look at the full range of major psychological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, anxiety, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. Chapters describe the clinical features and epidemiology of each disorder and examine its interpersonal characteristics in depth. The focus is two-fold, encompassing both how interpersonal difficulties affect psychological problems and how these problems then disrupt relationships and communication. The book cogently demonstrates that interpersonal events have a profound impact on the development, course, and consequences of specific disorders, even those that can be traced to biological or cognitive factors. Also discussed are broader connections between interpersonal experiences and vulnerability to psychopathology. Throughout, findings are incorporated from diverse theoretical, disciplinary, and methodological perspectives, including hundreds of studies of parent-child relations, marital interaction, personal relationships, interpersonal communication, and everyday social interactions. Bringing readers up to date on current knowledge, the book also identifies key areas for future investigation. This timely work will be read with interest by students, researchers, and practitioners in clinical, social, personality, and developmental psychology; interpersonal communication; counseling psychology; and family studies. It will serve as a text in advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses.

People with psychological problems almost always experience difficulties with interpersonal relationships and communication. Are interpersonal difficulties simply the result of psychological disturbance, or can they also precipitate and maintain psychopathology? This book provides an in-depth analysis of interpersonal theories and research findings on frequently encountered mental health problems. It integrates results from hundreds of studies on parent child relations, marital interaction, personal relationships, communication, and related areas. The focus is on elucidating the role of interpersonal difficulties in the development and persistence of the full range of major psychological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, anxiety, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. In the process, the book provides the most comprehensive discussion to date of the interpersonal paradigm in mental health.

Interpersonal Processes presents a wide range of new and existing research on this important field of applied social psychology. Gaining an understanding of the interaction between people in their homes, workplaces and leisure pursuits is not only of importance to social psychologists. The contributors, all well-known researchers, explain the reasons for their specialist topics as well as illustrate the application of these ideas. The main themes and issues in the study of interpersonal processes are outlined by the editors. They discuss both the theories and their possible applications.

This volume brings together leading investigators who integrate two distinct research domains in social psychology--people's internal worlds and their close relationships. Contributors present compelling findings on the bidirectional interplay between internal processes, such as self-esteem and self-regulation, and relationship processes, such as how positively partners view each other, whether they are dependent on each other, and the level of excitement in the relationship. Methodological challenges inherent in studying these complex issues are described in depth, as are implications for understanding broader aspects of psychological functioning and well-being.

Modern interpersonal psychology is now at a point where recent advances need to be organized so that researchers, practitioners, and students can understand what is new, different, and state-of-the art. This field-defining volume examines the history of interpersonal psychology and explores influential theories of normal-abnormal behaviors, widely-used assessment measures, recent methodological advances, and current interpersonal strategies for changing problematic behaviors. Featuring original contributions from field luminaries including Aaron Pincus, John Clarkin, David Buss, Louis Castonguay, and Theodore Millon, this cutting-edge volume will appeal to academicians, professionals, and students interested in the study of normal and abnormal interpersonal behavior.

This book examines the proposition that psychopathology is often related to interpersonal processes. The book is divided into six parts. Part I (chaps. 2-5) delineates the basic principles of an interpersonal approach. In part II (chaps. 6 and 7), we apply the principles of part I to four personality disorders. In the course of the book we examine all 10 personality disorders that are currently recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). In part III (chaps. 8 and 9), we consider the interpersonal foundations of syndromes. In part IV (chaps. 10-12) we consider disorders that involve an identity disturbance with interpersonal consequences. Finally, in part V (chap. 13) we summarize the major themes of the book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved).

This authoritative handbook provides a cutting-edge overview of classic and current research as well as an assessment of future trends in the field of interpersonal processes. Ensures thorough and up-to-date coverage of all aspects of interpersonal processes Includes contributions by academics and other experts from around the world to ensure a truly international perspective Provides a comprehensive overview of classic and current research and likely future trends Fully referenced chapters and annotated bibliographies allow easy access to further study Now available in full text online via xreferplus, the award-winning reference library on the web from xrefer. For more information, visit www.xreferplus.com

Many psychologists would agree that most emotional and behavioral problems are essentially social and interpersonal problems. Not only are psychological difficulties typically caused or maintained by interpersonal processes, but problems typically manifest themselves in the course of personal relationships. Many emotional and behavioral problems are rooted in "normal" interpersonal processes - precisely the processes that social psychology describes. The Social Psychology of Emotional and Behavioral Problems: Interfaces of Social and Clinical Psychology documents the rich interplay between social and clinical psychology in theory and research. Since the 1980's, great strides have been made in integrating aspects of social and clinical psychology. Researchers now study psychological difficulties from social psychological perspectives and graduate programs are becoming increasingly receptive to cross-fertilization between social and clinical psychology. This volume not only details the interface between the fields but also helps to solidify their mutually beneficial coexistence.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Interpersonal Problems presents a complete treatment protocol for therapists working with clients who repeatedly fall into unhealthy patterns in their relationships with friends, family members, coworkers, and romantic partners. These clients may blame others, withdraw when feeling threatened, react defensively in conflicts, or have a deep-seated sense of distrust—all interpersonal problems that damage relationships and cause enormous suffering. This book presents an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) approach—utilizing a schema-based formulation—to help these clients overcome maladaptive interpersonal behavior. First, clients learn how schema avoidance behavior damages their relationships. Second, clients face “creative hopelessness” and practice new mindfulness skills. Third, clients examine what they value in their relationships and what they hope to gain from them, and translate their values into clear intentions for acting differently in the future. And lastly, clients face the cognitive and emotional barriers standing between them and values-based behavior in their relationships. By learning to act on their values instead of falling into schema-influenced patterns, clients can eventually overcome the interpersonal problems that hold them back.