Psychology in the Bathroom (PDF)

NICK HASLAM Professor of Psychology at the University of Melbourne, Australia. His interests span social, personality and clinical psychology, and he has published extensively on topics including psychiatric classification, dehumanization, prejudice and refugee mental health. He is Associate Editor of the British Journal of Social Psychology and sits on four other journal editorial boards. His previous publications include Introduction to Personality and Intelligence; Yearning to Breathe Free (co-edited); Introduction to the Taxometric Method: A Practical Guide and Relational Models Theory: A Contemporary Overview (edited).

"Dr. Haslam should be congratulated for creating a unique compendium of information that is so entrenched in our human behavior but rarely thought about or discussed. Psychology in the Bathroom details a wide range of behaviors that are linked to excretory function. Topics such as the 'anal' personality, latrinalia (toilet graffiti, flatulence, scatologic swearing (potty mouth) and medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome are well covered with regard to their history, psychology and gender and cultural differences in their societal expression. Some topics, like whether the toilet seat should be up or down is nicely discussed in a balanced attempt to solve a seemingly unsolvable domestic problem. I highly recommend this book to psychologists, health care professionals and anyone else interested in understanding such difficult to obtain areas of knowledge." - Douglas A Drossman, Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA and Past President of the American Psychosomatic Society.

"Why is it that the psychological study of eating and sex enjoy so much attention from psychologists and the general public, while a no-less universal feature of human experience is ignored? Psychology in the Bathroom argues persuasively for the importance of this overlooked topic, then comprehensively rectifies its neglect. In doing so, this glorious, witty and unerringly pitch-perfect book offers an unusual and compelling window to the human psyche. With a scope far grander than its subject matter, this meticulously researched and wide-ranging study of excretion and related phenomena, both typical and pathological, integrates fascinating and often surprising insights from intersections with psychoanalytic theory, clinical research, the study of emotion, the intimacy of body and mind, language, gender and more. Beautifully written with unfailing clarity, sensitivity and humour, this important, captivating and charming exploration of