BOOKS
The Gift of Cancer:
Turn Your Tragedy into a Treasure… A Treasure Map to Happiness! (2014)
”Wendy Treynor had endured a lifetime of rejection. Why were some people so mean? What could be done about it? Going to graduate school to find out, she launched a quest to heal herself and others, but it later fell apart. Soon after earning her Ph.D., Treynor suddenly lost her career, money, health insurance and identity. She was so miserable she dreamed of getting cancer so she could make an easy exit from this world.
But everything changed when her wish for cancer came true. The disease sent Treynor on a journey of self-discovery, providing her with an enlightened understanding of the problem, its solution, and what it means to be happy. Weaving scholarship and story, this powerful book is more than just a compelling read. The Gift of Cancer is a transformational tool for anyone who wants to live a happier and more fulfilling life.”
-Peter Zuckerman, INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR of Buried in the Sky
“Wendy Treynor’s research has revealed powerful insights about human psychology, and now she shares the moving experiences from her personal journey.”
–Adam Grant, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR of Give and Take
(photo by Nick Rutsis)
”Wendy Treynor has written a wise, deep, touching, and funny meditation upon her experience with cancer.This is an honest and uplifting book, one that will empower and enlighten you.”
-Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology, UC Berkeley
Author of Born To Be Good:The Science of a Meaningful Life
”This books tells Wendy Treynor’s remarkable story of resilience and courage. May it shine a light on your own stepping stones to greater meaning.”
–Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D., Author of Positivity and Love 2.0
“This beautiful book is a gift and therefore no surprise that its genesis is the truth of Wendy Treynor. I have never before read a book with such raw truth in it. Wendy is living proof that even cancer can be a gift, when we use it to discover and live once more as our TrueSelf. In doing so, we heal our lives.”
– Derek Mills (The StandardsGuy®), Author of the BESTSELLING BOOK The 10-Second Philosophy®. Creator of the StandardsRevolution(TM)
“Wendy will touch your heart and inspire you to dig a little deeper and reach for new heights in both your life and career.”
–Mark LeBlanc, President of Small Business Success, Author of Growing Your Business and Never Be the Same
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Towards a General Theory of Social Psychology:
Understanding Human Cruelty, Human Misery, and, Perhaps, a Remedy (A Theory of the Socialization Process) (2009)
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Uniting social psychology concepts and potentially resolving controversies in the social psychology literature, this book lays a theoretical foundation that explains the socialization process. The work responds to Milgram’s call for a theory of “ …[how] properties of situations are transformed into psychological forces in the individual,” (1965, p. 74). The work unifies Festinger’s seemingly disparate dissonance (1957) and social comparison (1954) theories to answer the question: “Why do good people do evil things?” and unites seemingly conflicting theoretical perspectives on the origins of self-esteem. The work introduces the everyday group concept, allowing social psychologists to theoretically link long-term with short-term phenomena, the identity shift effect explanation of the peer pressure process, offering insight into how wartime atrocities can be committed by individuals with a clear conscience, and the social psychological environment theory of depression, offering a social psychological explanation of a cause and cure for depression. Lastly, the work advances, and may complete, reference group theory—which has remained unfinished since the 1950’s— and in so doing, “promises to be of central importance to social psychology,” (Kelley, 1952, p. 410).
Keywords: attitudes cognitive dissonance conflict culture depression emotion happiness identity morality self-esteem
REVIEWS
“… a highly intriguing and entertaining read, sure to give both psychology students and non-specialist general readers much to think about.”
“An amazing integration of classic and current social psychological theories. This book is a tremendous primer for anyone interested in understanding the underlying motives behind human behavior and social interaction.”
-John Tauer, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of St. Thomas
“Dr. Treynor’s work integrates across an amazing spectrum of theory to provide new views about social psychology.”
–Adam B. Cohen, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University