This book features contributions from twenty six leading experts that survey the theoretical, historical, methodological, empirical, and clinical aspects of repression and the repressive personality style, from both psychoanalytic and cognitive psychological perspectives. "Rarely does a volume present contributions on a controversial topic from such distinguished clinicians and experimentalists . . . . There is something of interest in this volume for almost anyone involved in experimental cognitive psychology and psychiatry."—Carroll E. Izard, Contemporary Psychology "The concept of repression is the cornerstone of psychoanalytic theory. . . . This is a delightful book, unusually well-written. . . . Recommended."—Choice "Readable, thorough, wide ranging and consistently interesting. . . . A testament to the continuing power of psychodynamic ideas when faced with individual psychopathology."—Sue Llewelyn, Psychologist "Singer has brought together some of the best empirical research in the areas of unconscious mental activity and repression—that is at once interdisciplinary and scholarly."—Howard D. Lerner, International Review of Psycho-analysis "A rich reference, replete with summaries and citations, covering a variety of topics related to the psychology of repression and dissociation. . . . A thoughtful, detailed and eclectic discussion of the scientific and theoretical basis of repression and dissociation."—Steven Lazrove, M.D., American Journal of Psychiatry

This book offers a comprehensive overview of the concept of repressed memories. It provides a history and context that documents key events that have had an effect on the way that modern psychology and psychotherapy have developed. Chapters provide an overview of how human memory functions and works and examine facets of the misguided theories behind repressed memory. The book also examines the science of the brain, the reconstructive nature of human memory, and studies of suggestibility. It traces the present-day resurgence of a belief in repressed memories in the general public as well as among many clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, “body workers,” and others who offer counseling. It concludes with legal and professional recommendations and advice for individuals who deal with or have dealt with the psychotherapeutic practice of repressed memory therapy. Topics featured in this text include: The modern diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (once called MPD) The “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s and its relation to repressed memory therapy. The McMartin Preschool Case and the “Day Care Sex Panic.” A historical overview from the Great Witch Craze to Sigmund Freud’s theories, spanning the 16th to 19th centuries. An exploration of the cultural context that produced the repressed memory epidemic of the 1990s. The repressed memory movement as a religious sect or cult. The Repressed Memory Epidemic will be of interest to researchers and clinicians as well as undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of psychology, sociology, cultural studies, religion, and anthropology.

This thorough revision of the first edition, updates and expands, with 25 percent new material, what was generally recognized as a major survey of contemporary scientific research in hypnosis. In this edition, also a classic, the editors include three new essays in modern hypnosis studies. They also provide a new conceptual framework--cognitive, ego-psychological, and phenomenological--with which to examine hypnosis. This edition is divided into six sections--Theoretical and Historical Perspectives, New Theories, Surveys of Broad Areas, Lines of Individual Research, Individual Researches within Specific Areas, and Anticipations for Future Research. The entire book was completely revised in the light of additional research since publication of the original edition. Thirteen of the twenty chapters in the first edition were updated by their authors, six so extensively that they amount to new chapters, with changes in title and order of authors in the case of coauthored chapters. Hypnosis: Developments in Research and New Perspectives is intended for researchers in hypnosis and clinical practitioners in medicine and psychology. The focus, as indicated by the changed subtitle, is on developments since publication of the original editions: empirical studies, experiments with physiological indicators of hypnosis, and theoretical uses associated with use of hypnosis as a research tool. Altogether, this second edition is a valuable overall guide to an intriguing topic.

"This book is essentially clinical in nature. But it is a clinical book with a research base. The clinical strategies and techniques that are presented are ones that the authors have used in their practice and that they have taught their graduate students to use. They are procedures with an evidential base. Many of the specific techniques they describe have been validated in clinical trials and outcome studies, and their approach to most strategic issues has been shaped by their understanding of the research literature in hypnosis, psychotherapy, and psychopathology. If there is a fundamental difference between this book and the many other guides that have been published on clinical applications of hypnosis, it is the degree to which the principles and practices the authors describe are evidencebased. Hence, the subtitle of this book. The authors aim to bring their enthusiasm for integrating hypnosis with empirically supported methods to a wide readership and to move hypnosis more securely into the mainstream of established clinical practice." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

The subject of hypnosis has not lost any of its ability to fascinate and intrigue – and this holds equally true for both the layperson and the student of hypnotic behavior. Phenomena of hypnosis range from simple tasks involving ideomotor response to more complex tasks involving substantial distortions of perceived reality such as age regression, hallucination, and amnesia. Obviously, with a topic so diverse and so interesting, there are plenty of books around. Originally published in 1982, what makes this title stand out is the authors’ focus: instead of trying to survey the whole field and evaluate the full spectrum of theories about hypnosis, they hone in on specific points of view with the aim of illustrating the nature of hypnotic phenomena.