Books in the Mind Shapers series

A fascinating introduction to Stanley Milgram, best known for his experiments on obedience. Lunt explores Milgram's influence in social psychology, looking at the implications of his work on questions surrounding political agency and subjectivity. Locating Milgram's work against a backdrop of social change, this is an engaging, authoritative read.

A beautifully written exposition of Freud's ideas and how they emerged from the zeitgeist of the age, Stevens offers students and general readers a stimulating and uniquely balanced assessment of Freud's work. He also examines its implications for society and for understanding the person. The best and most readable introduction to Freud available.

Erik Erikson has been described as 'probably the most significant post-Freudian thinker' with a 'unique and profound vision'. Al Gore was his student, Bill Clinton a great admirer. Getting to grips with his complex ideas however is no easy task. This book provides a comprehensive and in-depth road map to Erikson's work and is ideal for all students of Psychology. Stevens lucidly and authoritatively analyses his ideas about childhood development, adolescence, identity, the life cycle and his psychobiographical studies of Luther and Gandhi. This penetrating critique of Erikson's work reveals how relevant his ideas are today.

Kelly's pragmatic approach to psychology arose from his clinical practice and has been a strong formative influence on clinical psychology and personality theory. Taking us through the development of Kelly's work and setting it in its historical context, this is a fascinating account of one of the foremost personality theories of the 20th century.

The twentieth century was defined by far-reaching social changes, and this fresh insight into the life and works of Erich Fromm offers a compelling overview of his observations. Fromm's views on personal relationships, therapy, and his critique of society were closely tied to his astute analysis of the changes he witnessed and made him into a highly influential social and political commentator. In this absorbing introduction, Thomson considers how Fromm's early experiences influenced his enquiry into the human condition and examines what relevance his ideas still hold for students and readers today.