The New Authority: Family, School, and Community

Description

Haim Omer builds on his previous work to present a model of authority for parents, teachers and community workers that is suitable for today's free and pluralistic societies. This new authority contrasts with traditional authority in that it emphasizes self-control and persistence over control of the child, a network of support over a strict hierarchy, taking mutual responsibility for escalations over holding the child solely responsible, patience over threats, non-violent resistance over physical force, and transparency over secrecy. In addition to a thorough discussion of the underlying theory, The New Authority presents a practical program for families, schools and communities. Dr Omer provides specific instructions to combat violence and risky behavior at home and in school, increase parent and teacher interest and support, and implement interventions that increase safety, improve atmosphere and generate community cohesiveness.

Haim Omer is Professor of Psychology at Tel-Aviv University. He is the author of Critical Interventions in Psychotherapy, Constructing Therapeutic Narratives (with Nahi Alon), Parental Presence, Non-Violent Resistance: A New Approach for Violent and Self-Destructive Children, and The Psychology of Demonization (with Nahi Alon, with a foreword by the Dalai Lama). He has also published articles in Family Process, the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, the American Journal of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy Research, the Journal of Family Therapy, the American Journal of Psychotherapy, the British Journal of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, Familiendynamik and Psychotherapie in Dialog. Dr Omer's books have been translated into Dutch, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Portuguese and German. He routinely lectures in Europe on non-violent resistance and on the new authority.

"This book presents an innovative, caring, and developmentally sensitive therapeutic approach for restoring parent, teacher, and community-wide authority over violent and risk-taking youths. Omer and his colleagues share their broad and practical clinical knowledge about effective strategies for parenting and educating children and adolescents with serious behavior problems. This book will appeal to beginning and seasoned practitioners alike and represents a valuable addition to the ever-growing list of evidence-based interventions for behavior problem youths and their social systems." - Charles M. Borduin, University of Missouri "It is Haim Omer's ingenuity in thinking up and trying out collective responses that makes his work invaluable to families and now schools and their communities. The New Authority ranks with the 'collective practices' of Denborough and White as the best things going in breaking from the individual or family as the only sites to which we can appeal when the going gets tough." - David Epston, co-author of Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends "The New Authority by Haim Omer offers a unique understanding of authority in modern society that helps parents and teachers fulfill their responsibilities, handle common difficult situations, and foster self-control and responsible autonomy in children. Clear sound principles, concise case examples, and network-building suggestions promote practical application of the book's important thesis. A valuable resource for mental health and education professionals involved in working with children and parents." - David Schnarch, author of Passionate Marriage and Intimacy & Desire