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正在检索... Science | Book | BF697 .O65 1993 | 1 | Stacks | 正在检索... 未知 | 正在检索... 不可借阅 |
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Kirkus评论
From ebullient popular-science writer Ornstein (The Evolution of Consciousness, 1991, etc.): a theory of human nature, based on recent studies in child development, brain structure, personality, and genetics. There's no such thing as a ``true self,'' says Ornstein: We're a composite of influences and possibilities, directed--but not entirely ruled--by our genetic heritage. The broad outlines of Ornstein's patchwork human being will be old hat to readers with even a surface knowledge of the subject as the author runs through the influence of evolution and genes; the mystery of lefthandedness; the role of the family; and differences between the sexes (adventurous men, nurturing women). Sometimes his critical criteria seem contradictory: He rejects IQ as an indicator of race-based differences but accepts it as an indicator of birth-order differences (first-borns have higher IQs). Overall, Ornstein's view of human nature falls comfortably within neoliberal lines: We're a mix of genes and environment, about which we have some--but not too much--say; all the races and sexes are just about equal. More original is his explanation of human aberration. Ornstein divides behavior into three modes: ``gain'' (introverts vs. extroverts); ``deliberation-liberation'' (planners vs. free spirits); and ``approach-withdrawal'' (optimists vs. pessimists). Those who move to the extreme in any mode become psychotic--excessive ``deliberation-liberation'' melts into schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder, for instance, while excessive extroversion becomes criminality. Ornstein thus redefines psychosis as an excess of normal behavior rather than as an utter break from normality: This provocative thesis deserves investigation. Unusual roots, worth chewing on--but more weeding would have helped. (Illustrated with 40 cartoonish line drawings by Ted Dewan)
《书目》(Booklist)书评
Following the sensational Evolution of Consciousness (1991), Ornstein has written a book designed to push psychology further from its place between philosophy and astrology and nudge it closer to science by attempting to tie what we know about the "self" to the organization of various parts of our brains. This is not as profound a book as his last, but it is full of great humor, extraordinarily direct and powerful illustrations, and no small measure of wisdom and insight. Much of Ornstein's work is a synthesis of what others have found, and as a taste of the sort of case he brings forward, none is more telling than the story of identical twins, separated at birth, growing up to be compulsively neat. Why, both twins were asked, are you so neat? My mother, one replied: she was so compulsive herself. My mother, the other replied: she was such an absolute slob. Thus we have used psychology to explain what would have been better explained by genes. Ornstein's study, however, is not a simplistic biology-is-destiny attack on traditional psychology; rather, it is a most arresting look at the "self" by one of the most witty and original psychologists writing today. ~--Stuart Whitwell
《图书馆杂志》(Library Journal )书评
Individuals have different mental organizations, temperaments, and preferences. Ornstein, whose 20 other books include Healthy Pleasures (Addison-Wesley, 1990) and The Evolution of Consciousness (Touchstone: S. & S., 1992) , describes three overarching dimensions of individuality as well as miscellaneous other factors like drive and focus that make humans complex. This self-exploration book targets behaviors and cites the brain mechanisms that produce them. The author contends that because the brain and nervous system develop with experience, we can take an active role in changing our brain processes to improve how we manage ourselves. This is written more as a textbook than a self-help book one would use to actually effect those changes. For psychology collections.-- Carol Schrader, Carrollton P . L ., Tex. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.