The Oxford Companion to Emotion and the Affective Sciences Book

Few areas have witnessed the type of growth we have seen in the affective sciences in the past decades. Across psychology, philosophy, economics, and neuroscience, there has a been an explosion of interest in the topic of emotion and affect.

Comprehensive, authoritative, up-to-date, and easy-to-use, the new Oxford Companion to Emotion and the Affective Sciences is an indispensable resource for all who wish to find out about theories, concepts, methods, and research findings in this rapidly growing interdisciplinary field - one that brings together, amongst others, psychologists, neuroscientists, social scientists, philosophers, and historians. Organized by alphabetical entries, and presenting brief definitions, concise overviews, and encyclopaedic articles (all with extensive references to relevant publications), this Companion lends itself to casual browsing by non-specialists interested in the fascinating phenomena of emotions, moods, affect disorders, and personality.

Not only does the book provide entries on affective phenomena, but also on their cognitive antecedents and the associated responses in physiological systems, facial, vocal, and bodily expressions, and action tendencies. Numerous entries also consider the role of emotion in society and social behavior, as well as in cognitive processes such as those critical for perception, attention, memory, judgement and decision-making.

The volume has been edited by a group of internationally leading authorities in the respective disciplines who have commissioned and reviewed contributions from major experts on specific topics. In addition to comprehensive coverage of technical terms and fundamental issues, the volume also highlights current debates that inform the ongoing research process. In addition, the Companion contains a wealth of material on the role of emotion in applied domains such as economic behaviour, music and arts, work and organisation, the family and group dynamics, religion, law and justice, and societal change.

Highly accessible and wide-ranging, this book is a vital resource for scientists, students, and professionals eager to obtain a rapid, conclusive overview on central terms and topics and anyone wanting to learn more about the mechanisms underlying the emotions dominating many aspects of our lives.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Christopher J. Graver, PhD(Madigan Army Medical Center)
Description:This is a companion book for readers interested in the booming field of affective neuroscience that includes perspectives from a variety of disciplines.
Purpose:The primary aim is to provide background, context, and explanations of key ideas and concepts in the affective sciences.
Audience:This book is appropriate for anyone in need of a simple companion as they wade through the increasingly complex world of the affective sciences. This may include researchers new to the field as well as graduate students learning about it for the first time. A large number of experts in the field contributed to this book.
Features:Organized in alphabetical order with cross-references, the book is essentially laid out like a giant glossary of terms, theories, and concepts, but with more information on some topics than one might traditionally find in a glossary. Topics range from abstract concepts (meaning of trust) to concrete topics (function of the orbitofrontal cortex). Each entry is concise yet adequate to convey pertinent information. There are figures when appropriate to illustrate a point, and the references are current.
Assessment:As long as readers understand that this is a subject companion to the field of affective science, and not a traditional textbook, they will undoubtedly find it an indispensable supplement in their reading and studies.