pModern psychological and political theory meet head-on in this powerful re-evaluation of America's contradictory and sometimes dangerous addiction to individualism. Best-selling author Gaylin and co-author Jennings investigate the contentious intersections of interdependence and autonomy, rights and public responsibility. They examine the painful abrasion occurring between America's tradition of personal freedom and privacy, as it rubs against the still valuable if almost vanishing ideals of sacrifice and social order. ppOur current culture of autonomy-championed by both liberals on the left and libertarians on the right-is based on the idea of rationality as the motivation for human conduct. But, as the authors remind us, people are not simply rational creatures-appeals to emotions are always far more effective than logical argument in changing our behavior.ppThis timely edition includes a new preface updated examples and illustrations throughout and new coverage of contemporary soci