{"product_id":"pathological-altruism-9780199738571","title":"Pathological Altruism","description":"The benefits of altruism and empathy are obvious. These qualities are so highly regarded and embedded in both secular and religious societies that it seems almost heretical to suggest they can cause harm. Like most good things, however, altruism can be distorted or taken to an unhealthy extreme. \u003cem\u003ePathological Altruism\u003c\/em\u003e presents a number of new, thought-provoking theses that explore a range of hurtful effects of altruism and empathy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePathologies of empathy, for example, may trigger depression as well as the burnout seen in healthcare professionals. The selflessness of patients with eating abnormalities forms an important aspect of those disorders. Hyperempathy - an excess of concern for what others think and how they feel - helps explain popular but poorly defined concepts such as codependency. In fact, pathological altruism, in the form of an unhealthy focus on others to the detriment of one's own needs, may underpin some personality disorders. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePathologies of altruism and empathy not only underlie health issues, but also a disparate slew of humankind's most troubled features, including genocide, suicide bombing, self-righteous political partisanship, and ineffective philanthropic and social programs that ultimately worsen the situations they are meant to aid. \u003cem\u003ePathological Altruism\u003c\/em\u003e is a groundbreaking new book - the first to explore the negative aspects of altruism and empathy, seemingly uniformly positive traits. The contributing authors provide a scientific, social, and cultural foundation for the subject of pathological altruism, creating a new field of inquiry. Each author's approach points to one disturbing truth: what we value so much, the altruistic \"good\" side of human nature, can also have a dark side that we ignore at our peril.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Barbara Oakley\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/19\/2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 496\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.16lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.10h x 6.90w x 1.10d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780199738571\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBarbara Oakley is an associate professor of engineering at Oakland University in Michigan. Her work focuses on the complex relationship between social behavior and neuroscience. Her books include \u003cem\u003eCold-Blooded Kindness\u003c\/em\u003e (Prometheus Books, 2011) and \u003cem\u003eEvil Genes\u003c\/em\u003e (Prometheus Books, 2007). \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAriel Knafo is a senior lecturer in psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research deals with the genetic and environmental contributions to empathy and altruism and how children's genetics affect their behavior and the way parents react to them. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eGuruprasad Madhavan, a bioengineer, is a program officer in policy and global affairs at the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council - collectively called the National Academies - in Washington, DC. He is senior co-editor of \u003cem\u003eCareer Development in Bioengineering and Biotechnology\u003c\/em\u003e (Springer, 2008). \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDavid Sloan Wilson is SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. His books include \u003cem\u003eThe Neighborhood Project\u003c\/em\u003e (Little, Brown, 2011), \u003cem\u003eEvolution for Everyone\u003c\/em\u003e (Delacorte, 2007), \u003cem\u003eDarwin's Cathedral\u003c\/em\u003e (Chicago, 2002), and \u003cem\u003eUnto Others\u003c\/em\u003e (Harvard,1998).\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43232613695603,"sku":"9.7802E+12","price":197.17,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/files\/img_54564ae8-5136-4739-bba0-0ac5c354d64a.jpg?v=1754048216","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/products\/pathological-altruism-9780199738571","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}