The Storied Nature of Human Life

This book sheds new light on the life and the influence of one of the most significant critical thinkers in psychology of the last century, Theodore R. Sarbin (1911-2005). In the first section authors provide a comprehensive account of Sarbins life and career. The second section consists in a collection of ten publications from the last two decades of his career. The essays cover topics such as the adoption of contextualism as the appropriate world view for psychology, the establishment of narrative psychology as a major mode of inquiry, and the rejection both mechanism and mentalism as suitable approaches for psychology. The book is historically informed and yet focused on the future of psychological theory and practice.  It will engage researches and scholars in psychology, social scientists and philosophers, as well general readership interested in exploring Sarbins theories.

Karl E. Scheibe is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, USA. His publication record includes a wide range of topics from verbal learning, to theoretical studies on self and identity and in recent years, theoretical essays connecting psychology to the language of drama and the techniques of theatre. Frank J. Barrett is Professor of Management and Organizational Behavior at the Naval Postgraduate School in California, USA. He has written and lectured widely on social constructionism, appreciative inquiry, organizational change, jazz improvisation and organizational learning.