This volume is a sequel to the landmark work that established an exciting new field of study, Stress, Appraisal and Coping (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). The author now explores the newest trends in research and theory, focusing on the rationale for cognitive-mediational approach to stress and emotions. He makes clear distinctions between social stress, physiological stress, and psychological stress. By integrating both stress and emotion into one theoretical framework, with appraisal and coping as its basis, this book takes a narrative approach to both theory and research. Lazarus concludes with a look at stress and health, with a specific focus o new developments in infectious diseases, the role of the nervous system, and his view of recent changes in psychotherapy.

This book is an intellectual and personal history of Richard Lazarus, a psychologist whose pioneering research and theories in stress, coping, and emotion continue to have a worldwide influence. The author interweaves the account of his personal life and career with the developments of psychology as an academic discipline during the past five decades. His reminiscences offer glimpses of academic life, university politics, and also his growing contacts with the European and Japanese colleagues who invited him to lecture. The book concludes with his thoughts about aging, retirement, and issues of life and death.