Hurt Feelings
Theory, Research, and Applications in Intimate Relationships

Suggests that distance writing will allow mental health professionals to assign interactive practice exercises specifically focused on hurt feelings.

Luciano L'Abate (Author)

9780521141413, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 September 2011

436 pages, 4 b/w illus. 1 table
22.8 x 15.3 x 2.3 cm, 0.59 kg

'There is now a new standard by which all future work on hurt feelings will be measured. Luciano L'Abate's book is one of the finest volumes I've seen on a single emotion. In it, he examines hurt feelings from every imaginable perspective - neuroscience, culture, gender theory, developmental, clinical psychology, and others. The ideas are rich and L'Abate takes the reader on an exciting tour on who gets hurt feelings and why … This is a very readable book that is studiously researched. At the same time, it made me think about topics I never understood or appreciated. More than anything, it reminded me what a creative and fertile mind put this wonderful book together.' James W. Pennebaker, American Journal of Family Therapy

Hurt feelings are universal and are present in human beings as well as in animals. These feelings are usually avoided by human beings and overlooked by the scientific and professional mental health communities. Yet, if unresolved and not shared with loved ones and professionals, they tend to fester in our bodies and effect our functioning. If not expressed and shared with caring others, anger, sadness and fear are at the bottom of mental illness. Developmentally, each of these feelings respectively gives rise to antisocial acts, depression and severe mental illness. This book suggests that instead of traditional one-on-one, face-to-face, conversation-based interventions, distance writing will allow mental health professionals to assign interactive practice exercises specifically focused on hurt feelings.

1. The nature of hurt feelings: what is intimacy?
Part I. Background: 2. Hurts: the avoided feelings
3. The origins of hurt feelings
4. The developmental socialization of hurt feelings
5. Hurt feelings in the family
Part II. The Scientific Bases of Hurt Feelings: 6. The discovery of hurt feelings: the pioneers
7. Biological processes underlying hurt feelings: with special attention to neural mechanisms Lin Xiao, Dana Smith, Antoine Bechara and Luciano L'Abate
8. Gender and individual differences in hurt feelings
9. Cultural differences in hurt feelings
10. The psychopathology of hurt feelings: influences on physical and mental health
Part III. Applications of Hurt Feelings in Mental Health: 11. Sharing social support: self-help, health promotion, and prevention of mental illness
12. Psychotherapy: sharing hurt feelings and fears of being hurt
Part IV. Models of Hurt Feelings in Theory and Applications: 13. Hurt feelings: a construct in search of a theory.

Subject Areas: Psychology: emotions [JMQ], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH]