In Living Buddhism, Julia Cassaniti explores Buddhist ideas of impermanence, nonattachment, and intention as they are translated into everyday practice in contemporary Thailand. Although most lay people find these philosophical concepts difficult to grasp, Cassaniti shows that people do in fact make an effort to comprehend them and integrate them as guides for their everyday lives. In doing so, she makes a convincing case that complex philosophical concepts are not the sole property of religious specialists and that ordinary lay Buddhists find in them a means for dealing with life's difficulties. More broadly, the book speaks to the ways that culturally informed ideas are part of the psychological processes that we all use to make sense of the world around us.In an approachable first-person narrative style that combines interview and participant-observation material gathered over the course of two years in the community, Cassaniti shows how Buddhist ideas are understood, interrelated, and reinforced through secular and religious practices in everyday life. She compares the emotional experiences of Buddhist villagers with religious and cultural practices in a nearby Christian village. Living Buddhism highlights the importance of change, calmness (as captured in the Thai phrase jai yen, or a cool heart), and karma; Cassaniti's narrative untangles the Thai villagers' feelings and problems and the solutions they seek.

This book features research papers that examine a host of contemporary issues in Thailand. Coverage includes culture, gender violence, tourism, human trafficking, environmental and ecological issues, sustainability and the sufficiency economy, the (mis)handling of elephants, and more. It features a sociological and anthropological perspective with a dash of communication for sustainable social change. The papers investigate the various phases of communication technology and its impact on cultural change in the country. They explore the use of social networks and privacy issues as well as ethical journalism in the contexts of Thai Buddhism, Thai culture, and other enabling environmental factors. The contributors focus on documentary research of both quantitative and qualitative data on Thai social change as a consequence of globalization and digital technology. They first provide a general overview of social media and communication in the country. Next, the authors go on to explore the specifics of digital communication. This includes a look at its impact on the various ways of Thai communication given politico-economic and religious influences.

Despite diverse, rich cultural traditions and abundant economic opportunity, there has been a paucity of research on psychology in Southeast Asia. This book aims to fill that gap, with a series of well-written theoretical and empirical chapters by PhD psychologists in SE Asia along with respected international colleagues and co-authors from around the globe. In particular this book focuses upon critical sociocultural, clinical, and health issues and perspectives in psychology in Southeast Asia. Overviews help contextualize the cultural data, permitting nuanced examination of significant psychological issues in nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and more. Psychologists and mental health professionals with interests in Asia will find this book to be a must-read, as will other readers seeking to deepen their cultural and international understanding.

'Advances in Psychology Research' presents original research results on the leading edge of psychology. Each chapter has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial advances across a broad spectrum.

This second edition of The Handbook of International Psychology chronicles the discipline of psychology as it evolves in different regions, from the perspective of those living and working in the countries they write about. This volume surveys the history, methodology, education, training, and future of psychology in more than 100 countries/territories, organized by region and continent. In this thoroughly updated and expanded edition, chapters highlight the important ways in which psychological knowledge and services are contextualized through culture, history, geography, social, and political forces. This comprehensive handbook is essential for students and teachers of psychology, as well as professionals wanting to develop their understanding of psychology around the world.

The Book Develops Two Major Themes. The First Theme Attempts To Understand The Sources Of Value Orientation Of The Thai People, And Their Individual And Group Behaviour. To This End The Study Examines Three Major Value Systems And Their Institutions, As Well As Their Mutual Relationship And Interaction. As The First Value System, The Study Examines The Theravada Buddhism As Founded By The Buddha, Then Focuses On Its Application In Thailand, On Buddhist Ethics And Morality, On The Conflicts Between Some Aspects Of Buddhism And The Rapidly Changing Society And, Finally, On Various Movements Attempting To Reform Buddhism In That Country. As The Second Major Value System, The Study Examines The Role Which Animism And The Spirit Worship Play In The Daily Life Of The Thai People, Their Symbolism, And Their Fusion With Buddhism And Its Values And Institutions At The Grassroot Level Of The Society. As The Third Value System, The Study Discusses Various Theories Which Attempt To Explain The Psycho-Cultural Values And Attitudes Of The Thai People, How These Interact With Buddhism And Animism, And How They Add Another Dimension To The Already Complex Pattern Of Social Behaviour. These Three Value Systems Interact And Define The Parameters Within Which All Aspects Of The National Life Political, Cultural, Economic And Others Are Actualized. The Second Major Theme Of The Book Concentrates On The Position Of Women In Thailand. It Begins With The Explanation Of The Attitudes Which The Buddha Himself Held Towards The Women, Examines The Status Of Women In Early Buddhist Societies And Of Those Women Who Chose To Renounce The World And Join The Buddhist Order To Seek Personal Salvation, As Well As The Role Of The Lay Women In A Buddhist Society At That Time. The Book Then Focuses On The Position Of Women In The Thai Society Through Various Stages Of Its History, And Culminates In The Discussion Of The Legal Position Of Women Today And The Attempts To Improve Their Status. However, In Treating The Latter Subject The Study Is Descriptive Rather Than Prescriptive, Leaving It To The Thai Women Themselves To Decide Which Remedies To Pursue To Improve Their Position.

As the speed of globalization accelerates, world cultures are more closely connected to each other than ever before. But what exactly is culture? It seems to be involved in all psychological processes, but can its psychological consequences be studied scientifically? How can cultural differences be described without reifying culture and reinforcing cultural stereotypes? Culture and mind constitute each other, but how? Why do humans need culture? How did the evolution of the mind enable the development of human culture? How does participation in culture transform the mind, and how does the mind process and apply culture? How may culture become a resource for pursuing valued goals, and how does culture become part of the self? How do culture travelers navigate cultures and negotiate multiple cultural identities? The authors of this volume offer a refreshing theoretical perspective and organize seemingly disparate research evidence into a coherent body of psychological knowledge. With its accessible language and lively narrative, this volume engages its readers in an intellectual journey through the fascinating research literatures in psychology, anthropology, and the cognate disciplines. This book will make an ideal textbook for senior undergraduate and graduate courses on psychology and culture, cultural studies, cognitive anthropology, and intercultural communication.

Psychologists from nineteen countries in Asia and Oceania report on the expansion of western psychology in the region at both the academic and the professional levels. With its own network of associations, conferences, and journals, the comminity of psychologists in the East has braved new frontiers for the discipline, yet its achievements are litt

This handbook discusses the latest findings from different fields of positive psychology from a global perspective by providing a coherent framework to get a better understanding of the development and practice of positive psychology. It starts with the parameters of positive psychology and a summary of the historical rise of positive psychology (both first wave and second wave of positive psychology) in the US, and its slow but steady growth on a global scale. This handbook highlights the major contributions of positive psychologists across 17 major regions of the world on theory, research, assessment and Practice. It discusses how positive psychology can progress human living in different countries and it shows the reasons why positive psychology has become an important source in research and education around the world.