Hypocrisy Unmasked. Dissociation, Shame, and the Ethics of Inauthenticity. New York: Jason Aronson, 2010. Ronald C. Naso, Ph.D., ABPP Stamford, CT Hypocrisy Unmasked explores the motives, meanings, and mechanisms of hypocrisy. It argues that hypocrisy represents above all else a compromise among intrapsychic, interpersonal, situational, and cultural/linguistic forces and is observable in virtually all situations in which conflicts of interest must be solved noncoercively. In his treatment of this subject, Dr. Naso accords a healthy respect to the hypocrite's existentiality as well as to the impact of opportunity and chance on moral decision-making. Ultimately, hypocrisy exposes the ineradicable moral ambiguity of the human condition and the irreconcilability of desires and obligations. Reviews "Dr. Ron Naso presents us with an intriguing and highly original exploration of the phenomenon of hypocrisy. A psychoanalytically oriented psychologist, Naso asks us to consider hypocrisy without 'collapsing' it into psychopathology. He draws on psychoanalytic and philosophical texts to explore the sources of hypocrisy in dissociative mechanisms which function to avoid shame at the expense of morality."—Ellen Nasper, PhD, Yale School of Medicine "Through striking clinical examples and painstaking analysis, Naso documents hypocrisy's emergence as a form of compromise against the backdrop of ambiguity and moral dissonance that virtually defines postmodern sensibility. Masterfully exposing the vital pull of the field without negating individual agency, he nests hypocrisy in a search for attunement that goes far in explaining its ubiquity in human affairs and its enactment in the consulting room by client and therapist alike. Hypocrisy Unmasked illuminates the intersection of two-person psychology and contemporary ethics in ways that will enhance our capacity to negotiate moral uncertainty, both in our patients and ourselves."—Abby Stein, PhD, John Jay College of Criminal Justice; author of Prologue to Violence: Child Abuse, Dissociation, and Crime "Rather than succumb to the accepted yet simplistically negative definition of hypocrisy, Dr. Naso has unmasked the intricacies of purpose and context, then reformulated this designation in the best postmodern tradition. The result of his efforts is a stunning book demonstrating originality, creativity, nuance, and keen scholarship. This book makes a significant and welcome contribution to the discussion of shame and dissociation for both clinicians and academics."—Richard Raubolt, PhD, author of Power Games Influence, Persuasion, and Indoctrination in Psychotherapy Training     Jason Aronson home | clinical | educational | insurance faqs books | publications | links | map | contact