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Book Cover for: The Marvel of Martyrdom: The Power of Self-Sacrifice in a Selfish World, Sophia Moskalenko

The Marvel of Martyrdom: The Power of Self-Sacrifice in a Selfish World

Sophia Moskalenko

Hardcover
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The Marvel of Martyrdom is about how self-sacrifice can change lives and how martyrs can change the world.

The book starts large -- with famous and influential martyrs such as Jesus and Gandhi -- and ends small -- with ordinary people whose own experiences of self-sacrifice give martyrdom its political power. Seeking the developmental origins of self-sacrifice, the book explores children's folklore and the success of mega-hits such as The Matrix and Harry Potter. Seeking the everyday rewards of self-sacrifice, the book shows the potential for finding meaning and happiness in helping others.

The Marvel of Martyrdom takes a broad perspective on self-sacrifice and martyrdom, bringing together religion, popular culture, history, psychology and mythology. Stories of individuals both famous (Gandhi) and obscure (Rodrigo Rosenberg) intertwine with research on altruism, happiness, and radicalization to terrorism. The changing landscape of the book's setting -- from The Roman Empire to 19th century Russia to Nazi Germany to post-War II India, to present day Ukraine -- makes the power of self-sacrifice and martyrdom come alive and shows their potential to change people and cultures.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Oxford University Press
  • Publish Date: Jan 23rd, 2019
  • Pages: 256
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 9.30in - 6.40in - 1.00in - 1.05lb
  • EAN: 9780190689322
  • Categories: • Social Psychology• History & Theory - General• Sociology - General

About the Author

Sophia Moskalenko is a psychologist who studies terrorism, radicalization, martyrdom and self-sacrifice. She is a research fellow at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism.

Clark McCauley is Research Professor of Psychology at Bryn Mawr College, a consultant and reviewer for the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, and a lead investigator with the National Consortium for Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism. He is Founding Editor Emeritus of Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict and a member of the Editorial Boards of Peace and Conflict: The Journal of Peace Psychology and Terrorism and Political Violence.

Praise for this book

"The Marvel of Martyrdom tells a remarkable story about what martyrdom is... and what it isn't. Combining insights from psychology, from imaginative literature, from religion, and from careful analysis of contemporary world events, this book shows us what a powerful tool for social change martyrdom can be, and how easily we can confuse true martyrs, who are rare, with imposters, who are commonplace. After reading this book, you will see the world differently."

-- Barry Schwartz, Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Action, Swarthmore College, and author of Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do the Right Thing and Why We Work?

"This book is fantastic. Martyrdom, blasphemy, sacrilege... these concepts all need to be brought into the social sciences if we are to understand the strange and violent events rocking our world."

-- Jonathan Haidt, Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership, Stern School of Business, New York University, and author of The Righteous Mind

"Stories of self-sacrifice stand tall among drivers of social and political change. They capture our attention and imagination. They fascinate and inspire us. In their comprehensive and wonderfully-crafted exploration of self-sacrifice and martyrdom, Moskalenko and McCauley delve into the science of the human capacity to sacrifice for those we love, for those causes we hold dear, often at tremendous personal cost. Through a series of carefully selected cases, The Marvel of Martyrdom takes us on an incredible journey. It's a must-read."


-- Anthony F. Lemieux, Director of the Global Studies Institute, Georgia State University

"This book shows how the political power of martyrdom depends on the extent to which normal human beings learn the rewards of self-sacrifice. Martyrdom is revealed as the shining peak of a mountain of everyday self-sacrifice, a mountain obscured by Western devotion to models of human behavior dictated by self-interest. Read this book for a brilliant analysis and for a more positive view: we are happier to the extent that we are unselfish."

-- Ifat Maoz, Head of the Department of Communications and Journalism, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

"Innovative and compelling"

-- Choice