Paloutzian (experimental and social psychology, Westmont College) and Park (psychology, U. of Connecticut) provide a 33-chapter handbook on the psychology of religion and spirituality, for social and clinical psychologists, pastoral counselors, and students and researchers in psychology and religious studies. Psychologists and a few religious studies specialists from the US and some countries in Europe address the foundations, including definitions, core issues, measurement assessment, research methods, psychodynamic psychology and religion, and evolutionary psychology as a foundation for the psychology of religion; religious and spiritual development across the lifespan; and the neural and cognitive bases of religion and connections to emotion, personality, culture, and social behavior. They discuss religious practices and rituals, conversion experiences, prayer, spiritual struggles, fundamentalism, forgiveness, values, and morality, and implications for individual and collective well-being in terms of health, mental health, coping, psychotherapy, workplace spirituality research, terrorism, and other areas. New topics in this edition include cross-cultural issues, spiritual goals, emotional values, and mindfulness. Most chapters have been redesigned or rewritten, with 25 new and eight revised chapters. The main themes of the book are more integrated, and the introductory and concluding chapters argue that the application of religious meaning systems and the multilevel interdisciplinary paradigm can allow reconceptualization of the field and expand research. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

From foremost authorities in the field, this comprehensive volume synthesizes the breadth of current knowledge on the psychological processes underlying spirituality, religious behavior, and religious experience. Presented are cutting-edge theories, conceptual frameworks, methodologies, and empirical findings emerging from all psychological subdisciplines. Coverage includes the neural and cognitive bases of religiousness; social, personality, and developmental issues; religion as a meaning system; and implications for behavior, mental health, and clinical practice. Seamlessly edited, the Handbook provides a definitive portrait of the current state of the science, fosters the development of integrative theory, and identifies vital directions for future research.

"The goal of this handbook is to provide thorough coverage of the current state of the field: what we know about religion and spirituality and their roles in human functioning (as well as what we do not know), and how we can apply this knowledge to advance the welfare of people, individually and collectively. In addition, we hope to spur the field forward by encouraging greater coherence and integration in the field. To achieve our first goal of thorough coverage of the psychology of religion and spirituality, we have taken the ambitious approach of creating a two-volume handbook. To achieve our second goal of encouraging greater coherence in the field, we have taken two steps. First, we have developed an integrative paradigm, consisting of several guiding themes for the field. Our integrative paradigm is introduced in the first chapter of Volume 1 and elaborated further in the introduction to Volume 2. Readers are strongly encouraged to read these introductory chapters to provide them with this orienting vision for the field. We also shared the integrative paradigm with the authors of our chapters and asked them to work within this overarching perspective. Second, we have provided a strong organizing framework for these two volumes. Although both volumes integrate research, theory, and practice, the first volume places greater emphasis on research and theory, and the second volume focuses in greater detail on practice"--Introduction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).

This handbook aims to bridge the gap between the fields of positive psychology and the psychology of religion and spirituality. It is the authoritative guide to the intersections among religion, spirituality, and positive psychology and includes the following sections: (1) historical and theoretical considerations, (2) methodological considerations, (3) cultural considerations, (4) developmental considerations, (5) empirical research on happiness and well-being in relation to religion and spirituality, (6) empirical research on character strengths and virtues in relation to religion and spirituality, (7) clinical and applied considerations, and (8) field unification and advancement. Leading positive psychologists and psychologists of religion/spirituality have coauthored the chapters, drawing on expertise from their respective fields. The handbook is useful for social and clinical scientists, practitioners in helping professions, practitioners in religious and spiritual fields, and students of psychology and religion/spirituality. This is an open access book.

"The goal of this handbook is to provide thorough coverage of the current state of the field: what we know about religion and spirituality and their roles in human functioning (as well as what we do not know), and how we can apply this knowledge to advance the welfare of people, individually and collectively. In addition, we hope to spur the field forward by encouraging greater coherence and integration in the field. To achieve our first goal of thorough coverage of the psychology of religion and spirituality, we have taken the ambitious approach of creating a two-volume handbook. To achieve our second goal of encouraging greater coherence in the field, we have taken two steps. First, we have developed an integrative paradigm, consisting of several guiding themes for the field. Our integrative paradigm is introduced in the first chapter of Volume 1 and elaborated further in the introduction to Volume 2. Readers are strongly encouraged to read these introductory chapters to provide them with this orienting vision for the field. We also shared the integrative paradigm with the authors of our chapters and asked them to work within this overarching perspective. Second, we have provided a strong organizing framework for these two volumes. Although both volumes integrate research, theory, and practice, the first volume places greater emphasis on research and theory, and the second volume focuses in greater detail on practice"--Introduction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).

Research has indicated that spiritual and religious factors are strongly tied to a host of mental health variables, both positive and negative. That body of research has significantly grown since publication of the first edition 20 years ago. The second edition of the Handbook of Spirituality and Religion and Mental Health identifies not only whether religion and spirituality influence mental health and vice versa, but also how and for whom. The contents have been re-organized to speak specifically to categories of disorders in the first part of the book and then more broadly to life satisfaction issues in the latter part of the book. Hence 100% of the book is now revised with new chapters and new contributors.

"The goal of this handbook is to provide thorough coverage of the current state of the field: what we know about religion and spirituality and their roles in human functioning (as well as what we do not know), and how we can apply this knowledge to advance the welfare of people, individually and collectively. In addition, we hope to spur the field forward by encouraging greater coherence and integration in the field. To achieve our first goal of thorough coverage of the psychology of religion and spirituality, we have taken the ambitious approach of creating a two-volume handbook. To achieve our second goal of encouraging greater coherence in the field, we have taken two steps. First, we have developed an integrative paradigm, consisting of several guiding themes for the field. Our integrative paradigm is introduced in the first chapter of Volume 1 and elaborated further in the introduction to Volume 2. Readers are strongly encouraged to read these introductory chapters to provide them with this orienting vision for the field. We also shared the integrative paradigm with the authors of our chapters and asked them to work within this overarching perspective. Second, we have provided a strong organizing framework for these two volumes. Although both volumes integrate research, theory, and practice, the first volume places greater emphasis on research and theory, and the second volume focuses in greater detail on practice"--Introduction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).