Thinking in the Shadow of Feelings: A New Understanding of the Hidden Forces That Shape Individuals and Societies

Provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between thought and emotion arguing that thinking impedes self-knowledge and that emotions are rooted in childhood experiences

Bar-Levav diagnoses the vast majority of adults as physically grown-up children of greatly varying emotional ages. He demonstrates that people's actions are swayed by irrational fears of being abandoned, engulfed or destroyed, even as we pretend to be rational beings. Most of us, he argues, suffer long-term depression sustained by a deep sense of failure and futility. The author, a psychotherapist and an editor of the journal Voices, offers many fresh insights, but his attempt to link his broad theory of human behavior to social and political problems is simplistic. For example, one questions his view that people with an ill-defined sense of self tend to support liberal causes, or his belief that fear of being hurt or destroyed underlies a homosexual orientation. Crammed into this study are warnings against overpopulation, an analysis of romantic love as aggressive, tips on parenting and a defense of "sensible selfishness." Psychology Today Book Club alternate.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Bar-Levav maintains that we humans are not the rational beings we think we are; our feelingswhich, unfortunately, do not reflect reality wellliterally determine the way we live our lives. This view of human nature both arises from and is the basis for Bar-Levav's clinical work as a psychiatrist. His focus is on the feelingsespecially fear, but also love, hate, anger, hurt, sadness, and happinessrooted in the earliest life experiencesthat is, from the womb. He presents his theory as comprehensive, explaining not only the lives of individuals but also what happens in society as a whole. Well written, interesting, and challenging; recommended for larger collections. John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.