White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts

White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts PDF Author: Daniel M. Wegner
Publisher: Penguin Group
ISBN:
Category : Self-control
Languages : en
Pages : 230

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Book Description
For several years, social psychologist Daniel M. Wegner has been investigating the inability to control thoughts. Drawing on the most recent breakthroughs in this area of research, this is an illuminating explanation of just how human minds work and of the glimmerings of madness in all people.

White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts

White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts PDF Author: Daniel M. Wegner
Publisher: Penguin Group
ISBN:
Category : Self-control
Languages : en
Pages : 230

Get Book

Book Description
For several years, social psychologist Daniel M. Wegner has been investigating the inability to control thoughts. Drawing on the most recent breakthroughs in this area of research, this is an illuminating explanation of just how human minds work and of the glimmerings of madness in all people.

The Illusion of Conscious Will

The Illusion of Conscious Will PDF Author: Daniel M. Wegner
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262290553
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 725

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Book Description
A novel contribution to the age-old debate about free will versus determinism. Do we consciously cause our actions, or do they happen to us? Philosophers, psychologists, neuroscientists, theologians, and lawyers have long debated the existence of free will versus determinism. In this book Daniel Wegner offers a novel understanding of the issue. Like actions, he argues, the feeling of conscious will is created by the mind and brain. Yet if psychological and neural mechanisms are responsible for all human behavior, how could we have conscious will? The feeling of conscious will, Wegner shows, helps us to appreciate and remember our authorship of the things our minds and bodies do. Yes, we feel that we consciously will our actions, Wegner says, but at the same time, our actions happen to us. Although conscious will is an illusion, it serves as a guide to understanding ourselves and to developing a sense of responsibility and morality. Approaching conscious will as a topic of psychological study, Wegner examines the issue from a variety of angles. He looks at illusions of the will—those cases where people feel that they are willing an act that they are not doing or, conversely, are not willing an act that they in fact are doing. He explores conscious will in hypnosis, Ouija board spelling, automatic writing, and facilitated communication, as well as in such phenomena as spirit possession, dissociative identity disorder, and trance channeling. The result is a book that sidesteps endless debates to focus, more fruitfully, on the impact on our lives of the illusion of conscious will.

Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts

Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts PDF Author: Karen Kleiman
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136857702
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 268

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Book Description
What if I drop my baby when I go down the steps? What if I burn the baby in the bathtub? Thoughts like these can be frightening to new mothers, but are a common symptom pregnant and postpartum women can experience. Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts addresses the nature of these intrusive, negative and unwanted thoughts. Kleiman and Wenzel offer answers to the women who seek information, clarification, and validation in this useful resource for healthcare professionals working with these mothers. Written by two clinicians who have established themselves as leading experts and authors in this specialized field, this book maintains a compassionate tone that will be a voice familiar to many women in the postpartum community. Whether you must confront these negative notions personally or in your practice, this book will explain what these thoughts are, why they are there, and what can be done about them.

Thought Suppression

Thought Suppression PDF Author: Eric Rassin
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0080461182
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description
Is it possible to ban unwanted thoughts from consciousness? According to the literature on thought suppression, the answer is no. In the 1980s, Wegner and colleges demonstrated that the average person cannot prevent a trivial thought like that of a polar bear from entering consciousness approximately seven times in a five minute period. This experimental finding was followed by a substantial number of replications. This book provides an up-to-date overview of the thought suppression literature. First, similarities and differences between suppression, repression, and dissociation are discussed. Methodological issues are then considered. Finally, the clinical applications of the thought suppression literature are discussed. Although there are numerous conditions to which the phenomenon of suppression can be applied, obsession and traumatic recollection are the main applications. In addition to offering an overview of the literature, this book links the thought suppression paradigm to other research fields, such as directed forgetting and repressive coping. Furthermore, it discusses the phenomenon of thought suppression in the light of broader theories such as the cognitive theory of obsession, and the ego depletion hypothesis. Clinical implications and directions for future research are offered.

The Secret

The Secret PDF Author: Rhonda Byrne
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0731815297
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
The tenth-anniversary edition of the book that changed lives in profound ways, now with a new foreword and afterword. In 2006, a groundbreaking feature-length film revealed the great mystery of the universe—The Secret—and, later that year, Rhonda Byrne followed with a book that became a worldwide bestseller. Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it. In this book, you’ll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life—money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You’ll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that’s within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life. The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers—men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible.

The Imp of the Mind

The Imp of the Mind PDF Author: Lee Baer
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101118083
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description
A leading expert on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder explores the hidden epidemic that afflicts millions of Americans. In the first book to fully examine obsessive bad thoughts, Dr. Lee Baer combines the latest research with his own extensive experience in treating this widespread syndrome. Drawing on information ranging from new advances in brain technology to pervasive social taboos, Dr. Baer explores the root causes of bad thoughts, why they can spiral out of control, and how to recognize the crucial difference between harmless and dangerous bad thoughts. An illuminating and accessible guide to the kinds of thoughts that create extreme fear, guilt, and worry, The Imp of the Mind provides concrete solutions to a tormenting and debilitating disorder. Including special sections on the prescription medications that have proven effective, it is "a beautifully written book that can be a great help to people who want to know what to do about obsessions" (Isaac Marks, M.D., author of Living with Fear: Understanding and Coping with Anxiety).

Truth in Memory

Truth in Memory PDF Author: Steven Jay Lynn
Publisher: Guilford Press
ISBN: 9781572303454
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 508

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Book Description
How accurate is memory? Are there important differences in how and what we remember across the life span? What is the prevalence of "repressed memory" for traumatic events? What is the best way for therapists to elicit accurate memories from someone who may be a victim of incest? This book addresses these and other compelling questions reflecting deep divisions in scientific opinion, professional practice, and legal decision making. Leading researchers and practitioners review the current literature, describe new findings and clinical techniques, and draw upon their extensive experience in the field to provide diverse perspectives on the place of memory in our lives and the impact upon memory of personal, interpersonal, and situational influences.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder PDF Author: Leslie J. Shapiro
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1440871310
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
A comprehensive introduction to one of the most common psychiatric disorders, a condition that results in intrusive, irrational thoughts and/or repetitive, illogical physical or mental actions. Titles in this Health and Psychology Sourcebooks series address psychological, physical, or environmental conditions that threaten human health and wellbeing. This book presents a comprehensive overview of OCD—one of the five most common psychiatric disorders. Obsessions range from those associated with contamination, safety, and order or symmetry to scrupulosity, or the need the do the "right" thing. Compulsions range from counting, touching, and tapping to excessive cleaning/washing, arranging, or even hoarding. Written by a therapist among the most experienced in the world in dealing with this disorder, this book covers the incidence, symptoms, diagnosis, history, development, and causes, as well as the effects and costs of OCD. It also addresses theory, research, and treatments and offers insight into and case studies illustrating how the disorder displays in society, at work, and in relationships. A glossary of terms, suggested further readings, and resource websites and organizations listing are included.

Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals

Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals PDF Author: Ian Osborn
Publisher: Dell
ISBN: 0440508479
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 337

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Book Description
While on vacation, Raymond incessantly checked the carpets of Disney World looking for poison he had seen spilled there--in his mind.... Sherry was terrified of her thoughts about stabbing her baby daughter.... Jeff couldn't silence a mental voice urging him to have sex with men and animals.... Howard Hughes had it. So did historical figures Martin Luther and Ignatius of Loyola. They all suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)--as do over five million Americans who need to know that there is now hope and help. Ian Osborn, M.D., a specialist in OCD and a sufferer himself, has written the first comprehensive book on the experience, diagnosis, and treatment of OCD. He reveals recent discoveries about the disease as a biological disorder--a physical, not a psychological abnormality--and the exciting new therapies that have dramatically changed the future for OCD sufferers. His wise, compassionate book includes: Pencil-and-paper tests for self-diagnosis Six steps to conquering OCD Medication that works Early signs that show OCD in children Guidelines for family members A comprehensive listing of where to find organizations and support groups--and more

Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot

Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot PDF Author: Richard Restak, M.D.
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 0307421309
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
In Mozart’s Brain and the Fighter Pilot, eminent neuropsychiatrist and bestselling author Richard Restak, M.D., combines the latest research in neurology and psychology to show us how to get our brain up to speed for managing every aspect of our busy lives. Everything we think and everything we choose to do alters our brain and fundamentally changes who we are, a process that continues until the end of our lives. Few people think of the brain as being susceptible to change in its actual structure, but in fact we can preselect the kind of brain we will have by continually exposing ourselves to rich and varied life experiences. Unlike other organs that eventually wear out with repeated and sustained use, the brain actually improves the more we challenge it. Most of us incorporate some kind of physical exercise into our daily lives. We do this to improve our bodies and health and generally make us feel better. Why not do the same for the brain? The more we exercise it, the better it performs and the better we feel. Think of Restak as a personal trainer for your brain—he will help you assess your mental strengths and weaknesses, and his entertaining book will set you to thinking about the world and the people around you in a new light, providing you with improved and varied skills and capabilities. From interacting with colleagues to recognizing your own psychological makeup, from understanding the way you see something to why you’re looking at it in the first place, from explaining the cause of panic attacks to warding off performance anxiety, this book will tell you the whys and hows of the brain’s workings. Packed with practical advice and fascinating examples drawn from history, literature, and science, Mozart’s Brain and the Fighter Pilot provides twenty-eight informative and realistic steps that we can all take to improve our brainpower.