Bogusława Piasecka Knihy

The metaphor comparing the accumulation of life experiences to packing luggage for a long, unpredictable journey is well-known. Negative, painful experiences add weight to this metaphorical luggage, while positive experiences help lighten the load, making travel safer and more predictable. This metaphor illustrates the core premise of the monograph, highlighting how self-esteem and resilience are shaped by a synergistic effect of experiences, particularly from family and social environments, alongside biologically conditioned traits. The reviewed texts provide intriguing insights based on robust empirical studies and introduce relatively unknown psychological research methods. They also carry practical implications, addressing resilience, autism, stress coping, and quality of life. This edited collection will particularly interest psychologists focused on health issues or clinical psychology, as well as those in educational and developmental psychology. It can be beneficial for psychology graduates and students in social sciences, including psychology, health sciences, and pedagogy.