Experience on the Edge: Theorizing Liminality

Liminality is a key concept within the social sciences to address aspects of human experience and social life that fall outside of ordered structures. This book aims to develop a culturally and experientially sensitive psychology by setting out an original theoretical framework and applying it to various domains. It will be useful for graduate students and researchers in cultural psychology, critical psychology, psychosocial psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, anthropology, and the social sciences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 21 October 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Liminality has emerged as a central concept within the social sciences, attracting an increasing scholarly attention in recent years. Its significance lies in its ability to address those aspects of human experience and social life that transcend structured frameworks. In stark contrast to the well-defined roles and routines that dominate industrial work and economic life, liminality highlights transitional spaces, indeterminacy, ambiguity, play, and creativity. Consequently, it serves as a vital concept and a necessary counterbalance to the excessive focus on structural influences on human behavior.

This book endeavors to leverage the concept of liminality to cultivate a culturally and experientially sensitive psychology. To achieve this, it begins by establishing an original theoretical framework aimed at comprehending the "liminal sources of cultural experience." Subsequently, the concept is applied to diverse domains, including tourism, pilgrimage, aesthetics, children's play, art therapy, and medical diagnosis. Finally, these domains are synthesized in a concluding commentary chapter that contextualizes them within an overarching theoretical framework.

This book holds immense value for graduate students and researchers in cultural psychology, critical psychology, psychosocial psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, anthropology, and the social sciences, including cultural studies. Its comprehensive approach and interdisciplinary insights make it a valuable resource for scholars seeking to explore the complexities of human experience and social dynamics from a liminal perspective.

Weight: 338g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030831738
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021