Choice 评论

Whereas other works have focused on theory building--e.g., Forrest Tyler's Cultures, Communities, Competence, and Change, 2001)--Thomas (emer., Univ. of California, Santa Barbara) reviews many of the same subjects from within the many cultures mentioned, compiling a comprehensive catalog of behaviors, perspectives, interpretations, and ideologies. Experienced and authoritative, the author has many publications to his name. Each of the treated topics in this diligent compilation--topics ranging from competence, values, humor, gender, and self to rites, prohibitions, time, and knowing--is presented from many different folk psychology perspectives, allowing useful comparisons and shedding light on common sources of misunderstanding. The author goes beyond simple illustrative cataloging, however, gathering each subject area under several straightforward propositions. The final chapter turns the focus to the purpose, history, and future of folk psychology, from the perspectives of individuals and societies. The sections having to do with the value of knowing a variety of folk psychologies, the relation of folk beliefs to innovative psychologies, and the processes of change should be mandatory reading for students hoping to be service providers and for professionals with a multicultural clientele. L. M. C. Abbott Trapp formerly, California School of Professional Psychology