Twist of Fate

From Ancient Greece to contemporary times, themes of fate and destiny have served as a central worldview for many. These compelling ideas have guided those in battle, and provided influence and inspirations for politicians, philosophers, and artists. Despite a pervasive concern with fate, we find that an explicit discussion of this construct is absent from psychological theory. Twist of Fate reconciles contemporary psychological research with the ancient and frequently held position of fatalism that was common in that era. The Greek mythological history of the "Moirae" (the triad of goddesses known as the "Fates") offers a unique perspective on human beings by illustrating how fate and destiny influence a variety of behaviors such as drug addiction, spirituality, sexual activity, aggression, and other applied psychological topics.

An analysis of the "Moirae" integrates diverse ideas from evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, psychoanalysis, and Nietzsche's philosophy into a fatalistic view of the human personality. The analysis raises the issues of possibilities for personal change, the role of clinical interventions, and what role freedom actually plays in the human experience. Twist of Fate also accounts for recent developments in personality theory and research by shedding new light on findings from evolutionary psychology, narrative theory, and trait psychology. The result is an integrative personality theory that takes the reader from Nietzsche to neuroscience.