Procrastination and Task Avoidance: Theory, Research, and Treatment (The Springer Series in Social Clinical Psychology) - Hardcover

Ferrari, Joseph R.; Johnson, Judith L.; McCown, William G.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0306448424 ISBN 13: 9780306448423

Publisher: Springer, 1995

Synopsis

Procrastination is a fascinating, highly complex human phenomenon for which the time has come for systematic theoretical and therapeutic effort. The present volume reflects this effort. It was a labor of love to read this scholarly, timely book-the first of its kind on the topic. It was especially encouraging to find that its authors are remarkably free of the phenomenon they have been investigating. One might have expected the opposite. It has often been argued that people select topics that trouble them and come to understand their problems better by studying or treating them in others. This does not appear to be true of the procrastination researchers represented in this book. I base this conclusion on two simple observations. First, the work is replete with recent refer­ ences and the book itself has reached the reader scarcely a year following its completion. Second, when one considers the remarkable pace of pro­ grammatic research by these contributors during the past decade, it is clear that they are at the healthy end of the procrastination continuum. The fascinating history of the term procrastination is well documented in this book. The term continues to conjure up contrasting, eloquent images-especially for poets. When Edward Young wrote in 1742, "Pro­ crastination is the Thief of Time," he was condemning the waste of the most precious of human commodities.

About this title

Synopsis

This text offers the first thorough scientific investigation of chronic procrastination. Leading international experts discuss its historical origins, definition and measurement, as well as explore its relationship with academic tasks, agitation, perfectionism, depression, passive aggression, and obsessions-compulsions. The authors also examine diverse theoretical approaches and therapeutic advances to control procrastination frequency.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0306448424
• ISBN 13: 9780306448423
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288