Creating Meaning in Young Adulthood: The Self-actualizing Power of Relationships

Description

Creating Meaning in Young Adulthood explores the ways in which young adults are creating meanings in life through their relationships with the world. Chapters synthesize research in the fields of child psychology, counseling, multicultural education, and existential-humanistic psychology to offer readers a contemporary understanding of the greater challenges for growth and development that youth currently face. Using ample case studies, the book also sets forth a resilience-based approach for helping readers facilitate the healing, growth, and enlightenment of young adults. Cover Half Title Endorsements Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction PART I 1. Young Adulthood in the End of Times In the Shadows of Normalcy The Things Children Carry into Young Adulthood The Ghost and Its Shell Possibilities in No-Thing-Ness 2. Multicultural Humanistic Psychology A Global Framework Multicultural Beginnings in Humanistic Psychology The Potential of Humanity: Growth-Promoting Relationships Third Force—Third Dimension Developing a Multicultural Humanistic Psychology Culturally Relative Self-Actualization Processes of Young Adulthood in Multicultural Humanistic Psychology 3. Existential Terror and the Necessary Distractions Being the Center of the Universe Managing the Terror of Death Knowing the Night Expanding an Inclusive Existential Philosophy Discovering Relationships with the World The Loneliness of Death Existential Loneliness: Solitude and Broken Life The Icy Chill of Death Loneliness Anxiety: Streaming in the Darkness Loneliness Anxiety’s Effects on Well-Being To Be or Not to Be Loneliness in a Cyber-Youth 4. Constellations within the Darkness: Growth-Promoting Relationships Rhythms and Rituals of Being Together The Space between the Stars The Pursuit of Meaning Growth-Promoting Brain Development Socio-Emotional Intelligences for Relationship Building The Tides of Emotions Living Life in Widening Rings 5. The Bold Companionship of Defeat “My Deathless Courage” Mindful Defeat Learning from Defeat in Relationships Knowing Relationships within the Darkness Empirical Explorations of Mindfulness 6. Healing, Growth, and Enlightenment Exploring Spirituality Spiritual Disturbances Spirituality for a Personal Existentialism PART II 7. Creating Meaning with the Natural World Being an Outsider Shinrin-yoku: The Restorative Powers of the Forest In Awe of It All Hyun: For Those I Will Never Meet Tala: Finding My Nature Companions that Lead Us through the Darkness Therapeutic Animal Encounters Humans’ BFFs (Best Friends Forever) Hyun: Two Encounters Tala: The Companionship of Twinkie 8. Precious Silence of Solitude The Mindful Self Monserrat: On My Own Tala: Compassion for Thyself 9. Volunteer Group Activity Expressing Altruism through Volunteer Programs Monserrat: Open Eyes, Open Heart Tala: Helping Others, Faith Restored 10. The Nature of Growth-Promoting Relationships Social Support and Relationship Challenges Tala: Climbing Mountains of Emotions, Together Monserrat: Celebrating Kovacs Conclusion Index