This chapter outlines contemporary research related to excellent and inadequate leadership. This research reveals some practical problems arising in leadership research and identifies important psychological issues that contribute to bad or toxic leadership. The concept of wisdom, including practical wisdom, is elaborated as an effective and ethical foundation of leadership theory and practice. Central to practical wisdom are wise reasoning and the ability to do things wisely, including doing leadership wisely. There is a discussion of issues related to developing wisdom generally, and then specifically in leaders and potential leaders. The chapter fills a gap in understanding how to develop wisdom in people so that they act wisely. The chapter will give you some ideas on how to develop your wisdom potential. Finally, we will discuss the implications of our views on leadership and wisdom before concluding with reflections on why we keep appointing/ voting for bad leaders.

“Pure” obsessions were once considered untreatable. This chapter provides clarity on the definition of obsessive thoughts and their associated behavioral sequelae (mental and physical rituals, reassurance seeking, and avoidance). The reader will become familiar with the universality of intrusive thoughts and the mechanism by which they convert to obsessive thoughts in certain individuals. The most common misinterpretations of obsessive thoughts are outlined (including fears that one is crazy, immoral, and/or dangerous). Up-to-date research on evidence-based treatment for this symptom is reviewed. Structured assessment tools and options for open-ended questions are provided for measuring not only symptoms, but the maladaptive beliefs associated with these symptoms. A case vignette of a new mother who began having intrusive thoughts of harming her infant is used to illustrate the case formulation, as well as behavioral and cognitive interventions. The chapter ends with relapse prevention strategies and suggested further reading.

This chapter outlines the application of a cognitive behavioral protocol targeting intolerance of uncertainty (CBT-IU) for the treatment of GAD. The theoretical rationale and empirical support for the CBT-IU protocol are presented, followed by an overview of assessment and case conceptualization and a description of each treatment module. Intolerance of uncertainty is viewed as a higher-order cognitive process that drives the development and maintenance of the worry cycle in GAD. Negative beliefs about uncertainty and its consequences are posited to lower the tolerance threshold for the uncertainty in daily life situations, and lead to worry as an attempt to reduce uncertainty through mental planning and preparing. CBT-IU treatment components include (1) psychoeducation and worry awareness training, (2) reevaluation of the usefulness of worry, (3) reevaluation of negative beliefs about uncertainty, identification of safety behaviors, and belief testing through behavioral experiments, (4) problem-solving training and reorientation, (5) written exposure for hypothetical worries, and (6) relapse prevention planning. Each module can be flexibly applied according to a client’s particular presentation. The overarching goal of CBT-IU is to increase tolerance to uncertainty by developing more balanced beliefs about uncertainty and its consequences.

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the treatment of choice for people with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The first part of the chapter describes the clinical features and processes of BDD, and introduces an updated CBT model of the self as an aesthetic object that evolves around the notion that people with BDD experience distressing mental imagery of their disliked features, maintained by self-focused attention and safety-seeking behaviors. In the second part of the chapter, we present an updated assessment and treatment protocol to BDD. We use case material to illustrate how to engage clients and socialize them into a psychological way of working to overcome their appearance concerns. We illustrate assessment and formulation, how to set up effective behavioral experiments, how to conduct mirror retraining, imagery rescripting, and compassion-focused techniques. BDD screening and diagnostic measures are also presented.