The Psychology of Insecurity: Seeking Certainty Where None Can Be Found

Insecurity is an inevitable part of being human. Although life is  insecure for every organism, humans alone are burdened by knowing that  this is so. This ground-breaking volume features contributions by  leading international researchers exploring the social psychology of  insecurity and how existential, metaphysical, and social uncertainty  influence human social behaviour.

Chapters in the book  investigate the psychological origins of insecurity, evolutionary  theorizing about the functions of insecurity, the motivational  strategies people adopt to manage insecurity, self-regulation  strategies, the role of insecurity in the formation and maintenance of  social relationships, and the influence of insecurity and uncertainty on  the organization of larger social systems and public affairs. The  chapters also discuss how insecurity influences many areas of  contemporary social life, highlighting the applied implications of this  line of research. Topics covered include the role of insecurity in  social communication, social judgments, decision-making, group  identification, morality, interpersonal behaviour, relationships,  attitudes, and many applied aspects of social life and politics where  understanding the psychology of insecurity is of critical importance.

This  accessible and engaging book will be of interest to students,  researchers, and practitioners as a textbook or reference book in  behavioural and social science fields, as well as to a broad spectrum of  intelligent lay audiences seeking to understand one of the most  intriguing issues that shapes human social life.