Danger
Our Quest for Excitement
Published on 19. October 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-85168-481-6 (ISBN)
Description
Why do we slow down to look at car accidents? Why would rich people shoplift? What draws people to parachuting, military service, and sadistic sex?
These are just some of the questions this book unravels in its investigation of our paradoxical liking of danger. Using the concept of a 'protective frame', drawn from Reversal Theory, Danger: Our Love of Living on the Edge explains how, even in dangerous situations (often because of them!) anxiety becomes excitement and fear, exhilaration--transforming the horrifying into the heavenly.
Examining different kinds of protective frames and how they affect our behaviour, as well as how they are institutionalized in our culture, this book explores how excitement-seeking can lead to disaster for ourselves or others, how it opens us to manipulation-but also how it can be uniquely creative and life-enhancing.
An intellectual tour de force, Danger throws light on a critically important but often neglected force of human nature and culture.
These are just some of the questions this book unravels in its investigation of our paradoxical liking of danger. Using the concept of a 'protective frame', drawn from Reversal Theory, Danger: Our Love of Living on the Edge explains how, even in dangerous situations (often because of them!) anxiety becomes excitement and fear, exhilaration--transforming the horrifying into the heavenly.
Examining different kinds of protective frames and how they affect our behaviour, as well as how they are institutionalized in our culture, this book explores how excitement-seeking can lead to disaster for ourselves or others, how it opens us to manipulation-but also how it can be uniquely creative and life-enhancing.
An intellectual tour de force, Danger throws light on a critically important but often neglected force of human nature and culture.
Reviews / Votes
"One of the most exciting ideas to come along in motivational psychology over the past several decades." * Contemporary Psychology * -- Newspaper Article 'This is a scream' on the slides in the Tate mentions "Danger: Our Quest For Excitement" and quotes Michael Apter. * The Times * --Article entitled "Slides: The New Therapy" makes reference to the book and Apters views on fear. * top sante health and beauty *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
272 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-85168-481-6 (9781851684816)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Renowned psychologist Michael J. Apter has taught and researched in a number of universities worldwide, including Yale, Georgetown, and Chicago in the United States, and Toulouse, Bergen, Barcelona, and Louvain in Europe. His revolutionary work on reversal theory led him to found Apter International, a consultancy firm offering products and services to businesses worldwide. He currently resides in Manassas, Virginia.