Enduring desire

Sex, Love, and Romance in the Mass Media

Mary-Lou Galician

This accessible yet research-based text offers both foundational theories and practical applications of analysis and criticism of mass media portrayals of sex, love, and romance in a wide variety of mass media, from entertainment to advertising to news. The multidisciplinary methodological perspective comes out of a media literacy approach and embraces a variety of traditions along the quantitative-qualitative continuum. Focused on portrayals of male-female coupleship, the book is centered around the 12 major myths and stereotypes of Galician's Dr. FUN!'s Mass Media Love Quiz©, each of which has a corresponding Dr. Galician Prescription® that encapsulates healthy strategies--rarely found in the mass media--to counteract that myth or stereotype. Readers learn how to identify, illustrate, deconstruct, evaluate, and reframe the mass media's mythic and stereotypic portrayals of sex, love, and romance. They also learn how to use their own formal critical evaluations to clarify their own values and--as media consumers or mass communication creators--to share their insights with others. Thus, the learning objectives encompass all three major educational domains: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. Part I of this book covers the five foundations: myths and stereotypes of love and coupleship models of realistic and constructive love and coupleship mass media storytelling approaches, techniques, and devices research and theories of mass media effects; and strategies and skills of media literacy Part II is devoted to exploring the myths and stereotypes identified in the Quiz. Following several brief case studies and a summary of related research and commentary, each chapter focuses on analyses and criticisms of portrayals of sex, love, and romance in the content of news and advertising, as well as entertainment using Galician's Seven-Step Dis-illusioning Directions. Each chapter concludes with a "Dis-illusion Digest." While critical of unrealistic portrayals and the damage t

Overcoming objectification

Ann J. Cahill

The second edition of Overcoming Objectification: A Carnal Ethics provides a critical analysis of the widely used (particularly in feminist philosophy) concept of objectification, and offers a new concept (derivatization) in its stead. Cahill suggests an abandonment of objectification due to the concept’s dependence on a Kantian ideal of personhood, an ideal that fails to recognize sufficiently the role the body plays in personhood and results in an implicit vilification of the body and sexuality. Phenomena associated with objectification are ethically problematic not because they render women objects, and therefore not-persons, but rather because they construct feminine subjectivity and sexuality as wholly derivative of masculine subjectivity and sexuality. Women are not objectified as much as they are derivatized: turned into a mere reflection or projection of the other. Cahill argues for a sexual ethics grounded in difference, carnality, and intersubjectivity. The preface to the second edition traces new scholarly contributions to conversations regarding sexual ethics, feminist engagements with Kant, intersectionality, and trans philosophy. With original and far-reaching insights regarding the structure of gender inequality, this work will be of interest to students and scholars in the humanities and social sciences alike and will be of particular use to those interested in sexual ethics, sexual assault, and dominant media representations of gendered bodies.

Existential and spiritual issues in death attitudes

Adrian Tomer, Grafton Eliason, Paul T. P. Wong

Existential and Spiritual Issues in Death Attitudes provides: an in-depth examination of death attitudes, existentialism, and spirituality and their relationships; a review of the major theoretical models; clinical applications of these models to issues such as infertility, bereavement, anxiety, and suicide; and an introduction to meaning managemen

Romance and sex in adolescence and emerging adulthood

Ann C. Crouter, Alan Booth

Abstract: "Adolescence" is designed to function as an undergraduate text that facilitates the teaching and learning of adolescent psychology. The text is organized into two sections. Part I is devoted to a survey of the study of adolescence and introduces the student to the basic fundamentals of the subject matter. Topics covered in Part I include perspectives on adolescence and youth, physical development and sexual development, intellectual and cognitive development, socalization, and personality development. Part II introduces the student to nine key aspects of adolescent development in a chapter-by-chapter approach.

Group and Team Coaching

Christine Thornton

Group and Team Coaching is a best-seller offering a new perspective on the ‘secret life of groups’, the subconscious and non-verbal processes through which people learn and communicate in groups and teams. Originally published in 2010 and designed for easy navigation, it is a highly regarded team coaching handbook, and required reading on many courses. This new edition is fully updated, with a completely new chapter on working with groups and teams on virtual platforms, including hybrid and blended working. Christine Thornton uses key concepts from psychology, group analysis and systems theory as well as her own extensive experience to give practical advice. Topics include: the invisible processes of group dynamics; common dilemmas; pitfalls of team coaching and how to avoid them; pros and cons and best practice online; how to design coaching interventions; supervising coaching; ethics. Based on research and including many vignettes and case studies, this new edition is essential reading for coaches working with groups and teams, and leaders working with their own teams or commissioning coaching.

Smile, or You're Doing it Wrong: A Journey from Rock Bottom to Redemption

Ric Bucher

Ric Bucher's memoir chronicles his descent into addiction and depression following a career-ending injury, detailing his struggle to rebuild his life from its lowest point. Through raw honesty, he explores the profound impact of his personal demons on his relationships and self-worth. The narrative ultimately charts his arduous path toward recovery and finding a renewed sense of purpose and joy.

Project Maven: A Marine Colonel, His Team, and the Dawn of AI Warfare

Sebastian Mallaby

This book chronicles the improbable journey of Marine Colonel Gregory Boyington's team as they spearheaded Project Maven, a groundbreaking initiative to integrate artificial intelligence into drone warfare. Mallaby details the complex challenges of overcoming bureaucratic inertia and technical hurdles to equip military drones with AI for target identification. The narrative highlights the ethical and strategic implications of this nascent era of AI-driven conflict, showcasing the human ingenuity behind a significant technological leap.

I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything

Donella H. Meadows

This insightful memoir chronicles a year-long experiment where the author, Donella H. Meadows, attempted to delegate a significant portion of her daily tasks and responsibilities to artificial intelligence. Meadows meticulously documents her experiences, exploring the practical applications, surprising limitations, and evolving relationship between human agency and AI-driven assistance across various facets of her life. The narrative offers a compelling examination of the potential and pitfalls of integrating AI into everyday routines, prompting reflection on work, creativity, and the very definition of human productivity.

Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen

Marina Nitze

This revised edition of Building a StoryBrand presents a framework that helps businesses clarify their message by positioning the customer as the hero of their story. It outlines a seven-part framework to guide businesses in crafting clear and compelling communication that resonates with their target audience. The book provides practical strategies to eliminate jargon and confusion, enabling businesses to articulate their value proposition effectively and drive customer engagement.