Thomas J. Cottle Libri

Exploring the interpretation of life experiences, the book presents sixteen life studies that highlight personal reflections and the influence of culture on meaning-making. Readers will discover how individuals construct significance from their encounters, showcasing the interplay between personal insights and cultural contexts in shaping narratives.

Exploring the psychological and emotional toll of long-term unemployment, this book delves into the experiences of men who have faced extended joblessness. It portrays unemployment as a traumatic event that impacts identity and purpose, often leading to severe consequences for individuals and their families. Through personal narratives, the author reveals how some men struggle to cope, resulting in family abandonment or tragic outcomes. The work prompts reflection on the broader societal implications of prolonged unemployment and its effects on both individuals and families.

In Beyond Self-Esteem , Thomas J. Cottle argues that America’s preoccupation with notions of self-esteem and self-regard not only does not reflect the fundamental nature of the self, but leads to selfish behavior and an inability to devote one’s self to friendships. The self, Cottle writes, is predicated on social relationships and, more specifically, on the affirmation each of us offers to the other, as well as the degree of responsibility we find ourselves willing to take for one another. It is Cottle’s contention, reinforced by his theoretical positions and by the narrative accounts of children and adults alike, that affirmation of and the assumption of responsibility for other people remain the most ethical human actions.

In Mind Fields , Thomas J. Cottle argues that the period known as adolescence is essentially a social construct influenced greatly by popular culture. To understand young people, therefore, is to recognize how the very consciousness of adolescents is shaped by a culture, dominated by the entertainment industry, and the power of television and the computer, constantly urging them to turn away from the normal evolution of their personal and social lives. In this fundamentally distracting environment, young people explore their consciousness, sharing it with others, as well as form their sense of identity, all the while having these most inner experiences affected as much by the culture as by their own temperaments and personalities. It is the culture that determines the forms of recognition and independence, as well as intimacy and attachment that adolescents must learn. In the end, the author argues for the value of self-reflection as a critical ingredient of identity formation and a fundamental antidote to distracting cultural influences.