recent book – ‘Others in Mind: Social Origins of Self-Consciousness’
Written on March 23, 2009
This book slipped by and I forgot to feature it before now: Others in Mind: Social Origins of Self-Consciousness by Philippe Rochat (Cambridge University Press, 2009)
Product description from the publisher:
Why are we so prone to guilt and embarrassment? Why do we care so much about how others see us, about our reputation? What are the origins of such afflictions? It is because we are members of a species that evolved the unique propensity to reflect upon themselves as the object of thoughts, an object of thoughts that is potentially evaluated by others. But, Philippe Rochat’s argument goes, this propensity comes from a basic fear: the fear of rejection, of being socially “banned” and ostracized. Others in Mind is about self-consciousness, how it originates and how it shapes our lives. Self-consciousness is arguably the most important and revealing of all psychological problems.
More information from the publisher, including an excerpt.
Filed in: cognitive science,consciousness,culture,new books,self.
