Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain The New Science of Optimism and Pessimism

Elaine Fox 지음

Random House 2012년 06월 07일 출간

작품소개

책소개

Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Glass half-full or half-empty? Do you look on the bright side or turn towards the dark? These are easy questions for most of us to answer, because our personality types are hard-wired into our brains. As pioneering psychologist and neuroscientist Elaine Fox has discovered, our outlook on life reflects our primal inclination to seek pleasure or avoid danger？？inclinations that, in many people, are healthily balanced. But when our 'fear brain' or 'pleasure brain' is too strong, the results can be disastrous, as those of us suffering from debilitating shyness, addiction, depression, or anxiety know all too well.Luckily, anyone suffering from these afflictions has reason to hope. Stunning breakthroughs in neuroscience show that our brains are more malleable than we ever imagined. In Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain, Fox describes a range of techniques？？from traditional cognitive behavioural therapy to innovative cognitive bias retraining exercises？？that can actually alter our brains？？ circuitry, strengthening specific thought processes by exercising the neural systems that control them. The implications are enormous: lifelong pessimists can train themselves to think positively and find happiness, while pleasure-seekers inclined toward risky or destructive behavior can take control of their lives. Drawing on her own cutting-edge research, Fox shows how we can retrain our brains to brighten our lives and learn to flourish. With keen insights into how genes, life experiences and cognitive processes interleave together to make us who we are, Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain revolutionises our basic concept of individuality. We learn that we can influence our own personalities, and that our lives are only as 'sunny' or as 'rainy' as we allow them to be.

출판사 서평

"Every day I send my kids out the door to school with this admonition, ？？you can choose to be happy.？？ More often than not, they roll their eyes, but in Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain Elaine Fox (no relation) offers a scientific argument for my contention. After much research, and in comprehensive, but comprehensible detail, Professor Fox provides a mental map to the sunny side of the street. For optimists and pessimists alike, this fascinating book is a must read."

작가정보

저자(글) Elaine Fox

인간의 감정을 다양한 과학적 측면에서 연구하는 인지심리학자이자 정서신경과학자. 더블린대학교에서 심리학·신경과학 전공으로 박사학위를 취득한 뒤 뉴질랜드 빅토리아대학교를 거쳐 영국 에식스대학교 뇌과학연구소를 이끌었다. 이후 옥스퍼드대학교에서 옥스퍼드정서신경과학연구소(OCEAN)를 설립하고 소장을 맡았다. 현재 호주 애들레이드대학교 심리학부 교수이자 학과장으로 재직 중이다. 〈네이처〉 〈사이언스〉 〈이코노미스트〉 〈뉴욕타임스〉 등에 연구 성과가 실렸고, 유럽연구이사회(ERC) 연구자상(Advanced Investigator Award)을 수상했다. 저서로 《즐거운 뇌, 우울한 뇌》가 있다. 《스위치크래프트, 전환의 기술》은 변화의 시대에 반드시 필요한 적응력과 상황 대처 능력을 키울 방법을 알려주는 최적의 안내서다. 25년간의 연구와 경험을 토대로 우리의 뇌를 빠르고 유연하게 재구성하는 ‘전환 기술’의 4가지 핵심 요소를 제시한다.