The Psychology of Peace: An Introduction

by Rachel M. MacNair / Praeger (under Greenwood ), 2003 / 240 pages

Intended mainly as a college textbook, this book would also be of interest to peace activists and pro-life activists who want to understand the basics of what psychology knows about the causes and effects of violence and of nonviolence. All of the issues of violence normally covered under the consistent life ethic are included and interwoven in a way that makes it suitable for study of the ethic, directly by those who wish to and indirectly by those who are not yet familiar with it.

There is a 55-page instructor's manual available free by e-mail attachment; send a blank e-mail with “Peace Psych Teacher's Manual” in the subject line and it will be sent by reply. Review copies for classes are available directly from the publisher.

http://greenwood.com/books/BookDetail.asp?dept_id=1&sku=B7856 for the paperback

http://greenwood.com/books/BookDetail.asp?dept_id=1&sku=C7855 for the hardcover

by phone: 1-800-225-5800

Gaining Mind of Peace: Why Violence Happens and How to Stop It

by Rachel M. MacNair / Xlibris, 2003 / 172 pages

This is the children's version of the college textbook above, explaining some of the same concepts of interest to those in grade 6 and up, in simple language with stories. Those adults who prefer the quick yet thorough read that is common to children's books may also enjoy the book. This one is also more suitable for Christmas and birthday presents for young people.

Available in paperback and hardcover:

www.xlibris.com/GainingMindofPeace.html

by phone: 1.888.795.4274 x276 or 215.923.4686 for out-of-USA orders

Email: Orders@Xlibris.com Fax: 215.599.0114

There is a 40% discount for non-profit organizations, libraries and those purchasing to donate to libraries, or bulk purchases used for classes; be sure to mention this status to get the discount.

Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress:
The Psychological Consequences of Killing

by Rachel M. MacNair / Praeger (under Greenwood ), 2002 / 216 pages

This volume introduces the concept of Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress (PITS), a form of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms caused not by traditionally expected roles, such as being a victim or rescuer in trauma, but by being an active participant in causing trauma. Sufferers of PITS may be in the roles of soldiers, executioners, or abortion doctors and nurses, where it is socially acceptable or even expected for them to cause trauma, including death. Scattered evidence of PITS is consolidated, its implications are explored, and exciting potentials for future research are suggested.

The idea of applying the post-trauma symptoms to those who kill is obvious to most peace activists, but has been something of a blind spot in the scholarship on trauma. The idea of applying it across different groups of those who kill, finding common themes, is obvious to activists on the consistent life ethic.

http://www.greenwood.com/books/BookDetail.asp?dept_id=1&sku=C7691&imprintID= for hardcover

by phone: 1-800-225-5800

NOTE: The publisher has only put this out in expensive hardcover. They can put it out in more reasonably-priced paperback under the condition that they get reviews from three professors which indicate that the professors would be likely to adopt it for a class if it were in paperback form; this would best be done by April, 2004. If you are a professor that could honestly do this, please contact the author, Rachel M. MacNair, at drmacnair@hotmail.com or (816) 753-2057.

Dehumanizing the Vulnerable: When Word Games Take Lives

by William Brennan / Loyola Press, 1995 / 287 pages

This is a classic in understanding the depth of the consistent life ethic. Brennan shows how the language used against vulnerable groups has common points – describing them as non-human, animals, parasites, diseases, garbage, and so forth. He then applies this systematically to different targeted groups: women, unborn children, ethnic and racial minorities, political opponents and enemies in war.

(out of print, but available through various outlets such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com)

The following books have been authored by members of the research arm of Consistent Life. They do not all deal with the consistent life ethic directly, but they all deal with at least some part of it and are friendly to it. They are helpful to anyone interested in nonviolent approaches.

Swimming against the Tide: Feminist Dissent on the Issue of Abortion

Angela Kennedy (Editor)

Excessive Force: Power Politics and Population Control

Elizabeth Liagin

Is There No Other Way?: The Search for a Nonviolent Future

Michael N. Nagler

Nagler has also authored several good books on Gandhi and similar themes.

Detrimental Effects of Abortion: An Annotated Bibliography with Commentary

Thomas W. Strahan (Editor)

Nonviolent Social Movements: A Geographical Perspective

Stephen Zunes (Editor), Lester R. Kurtz (Editor), Sarah B. Asher (Editor)

Tinderbox: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Roots of Terrorism

Stephen Zunes, with Richard Falk

FORTHCOMING:

Pro-life Feminism: Yesterday & Today

Expanded Second Edition

Mary Krane Derr, Rachel M. MacNair, Linda Naranjo-Huebl, Editors

The 1995 version of this book is now out of print, though still available in some outlets. The 2004 version will be published by Xlibris. More information will be posted here when it comes out; you may also check at Xlibris.

If you would like to be placed on an e-mail list to be notified when the book comes out, you may send a message saying so to: drmacnair@hotmail.com. You will receive one notification and one reminder and then your address will be deleted, and never shared with others.