We like to think of ourselves as individuals. But imagine what life would be like if we were each a combination of two people. Imagine if the real "us" was the one capable of conscious experience, self awareness, critical thinking, rational choice, self control, planning for a better life, and appreciating right and wrong. Imagine if the real us was the one with a sense of morality, a desire to do the right thing, and a wish to become a better person and make the world a better place. Then imagine what it would feel like to be trapped with another person who kept interfering, taking over at critical times, preventing us from putting our own decisions into effect, stopping us from keeping the promises we make to ourselves and others, making us do things that we regret, getting us into trouble, then letting us take the blame. Imagine if we were conscious and thoughtful Heart & Mindbrains, having to share our lives with unconscious and inconsiderate Bodybrains - which live for the moment, have addictive personalities, never think about the consequences of their own actions, and never plan for the future. Imagine if all of our complex human behaviours were actually motivated by just three basic drives - the same drives that are responsible for all the behaviours of all living things. Imagine if everything we experienced, everything we did, everything we felt, thought about, learnt, and remembered, was governed by emotions and moods. Imagine if the most advanced part of the human brain, the cerebral cortex towards the front, turned out to be an offshoot of the most basic system, one that we share with much simpler creatures, the emotional limbic system. Imagine if it was possible to train the Bodybrain to liberate us from its tyranny. Imagine if we could plan for the future with hope and expectation, and review the past with satisfaction and pride. Imagine what it would feel like to be fully in control of our selves and our lives. If you can imagine that - you are a Heart & Mindbrain. This book is for you.
About the Author: Bernard Allen led a series of schools over a period of twenty years before becoming a full-time writer, consultant and expert witness. He writes books and provides training on the psychology of behaviour, working across the UK and abroad, advising courts, insurers and governments on liability issues relating to behaviour. He is on the register of expert witnesses, a member of the Society of Expert Witnesses and a graduate member of the British Psychological Society . He has taken an interest in reducing the use of restraint for the past 25 years. In 1996 he produced the first UK video training package for children's services, "Holding Back", and later trained as a Team- Teach instructor at principal tutor level. He is the author of the Team-Teach training manuals and the CthrU Behaviour approach.