The as if principle : the radically new approach to changing your life

The as if principle The radically new approach to changing your life

Richard Wiseman, 1966-

Book - 2013

Victorian philosopher William James had a theory about emotion and behavior: It isn't that our feelings guide our actions (feel happy and you will laugh). On the contrary, it is our actions that guide our emotions (laugh and you will feel happy). This led James to a remarkable conclusion: "If you want a quality, act as if you already have it." Roused by James's astonishing discovery, renowned psychologist Richard Wiseman confirms James's principle and shows how the self-help genre has for too long put the cart before the horse in trying to help us take control of our lives. Bringing to the table an array of firsthand experiments, surprising histories, and psychological case studies, Wiseman illustrates in detail how... we can apply this principle in our daily lives. Whether it's quitting a bad habit, persevering through a difficult task, or achieving your dream self, The As If Principle can help.--From publisher description.

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Subjects
Self-actualization (Psychology)
Interpersonal relations.
Published
New York : Free Press 2013.
Language
English
Main Author
Richard Wiseman, 1966- (-)
Edition
1st Free Press hardcover ed
Item Description
Previously published in London in 2012 by Macmillan as Rip it up.
Physical Description
xii, 285 p. : ill. ; 22 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (p. 249-266) and index.
ISBN
9781451675054
  • A Brief Introduction
  • It's time for positive action
  • Chapter 1. How to be Happy
  • Where we meet that adorable genius William James, turn the world upside-down, learn how to create good cheer at will, and visit the fun factory
  • Chapter 2. Attraction and Relationships
  • Where we unpack the mysteries of the human heart, discover the power of footsie, invent a new type of speed dating, and learn how to live happily ever after
  • Chapter 3. Mental Health
  • Where we meet the "Napoleon of neuroses," find out why watching sports is bad for your health, and discover how best to deal with phobias, anxiety, and depression
  • Chapter 4. Willpower
  • Where we learn why rewards punish and discover how to motivate others, beat procrastination, stop smoking, and lose weight
  • Chapter 5. Persuasion
  • Where we explore the problems of changing people's minds, find out what really manipulates the masses, and discover how cooperation can shape society
  • Chapter 6. Creating a New You
  • Where we learn how to feel more confident, change our personality, and slow the effects of aging
  • Conclusion
  • Where we hypnotize a woman, saw a brain in half, and discover why you really are of two minds about everything
  • Appendix
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • Index
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

The American psychologist William James once said, "If you want a quality, act as if you already have it." Wiseman (59 Seconds), a British psychologist and social media phenomenon, backs up the "act as if" dictum by parsing scientific studies and offering practical tips to help folks become the person they want to be. If you're lacking in confidence, adopt a more powerful pose; if you're feeling down, just smile! Drawing from such well-known trials and tests as the Zimbardo prison study and the Stanislavski acting method, as well as historical and pop culture figures like Frederick Douglass and Joan Baez, Wiseman makes a convincing argument for the power of action (though his assertion that his is a "radically new approach" is less persuasive-James uttered his famous maxim in 1884). Yet he's at his best when he puts down his bag of tricks and turns his attention to the relationship between action and thought, as when he considers the inefficacy of public health information campaigns when compared to the success of legislation in changing behavior. Readers who have enjoyed Wiseman's previous work will likely enjoy this addition to his oeuvre; more skeptical readers might just have to grin and bear it. Illus. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review

Psychologist Wiseman (The Luck Factor; 59 Seconds) presents an innovative approach to changing behavior, proposing that actions have the power to change the way one thinks and feels. Instead of thinking one's way to stopping smoking, losing weight, etc., and changing behavior, it's more effective to act "as if" one already has overcome that demon or attained a particular goal. He focuses on specific behaviors in the arenas of willpower, relationships, mental health, and more. In a nutshell he advocates, "Forget positive thinking; try positive action." Fun, refreshing, and worth a read. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

"The most-followed psychologist on Twitter" re-examines the process of creating personal change and growth. Rather than thinking about making changes and trying to act on those new thought processes, Wiseman (Paranormality: Why We See What Isn't There, 2011, etc.) suggests a new approach to changing your life by performing a motion that in turn changes your thoughts. Most self-help books, writes the author, "preach the same simple mantra: if you want to improve your life, you need to change how you think"--positive thoughts will make you happier and bring greater wealth and success. However, Wiseman believes that actions can speak louder than words, so his method, based on research by William James and others over the past century, states that one's behavior causes an emotional response, rather than the emotion being the catalyst for the behavior. Smile and you'll feel happier, feel loving and love will manifest, eat only when your body says "I'm hungry" and lose weight--these are just some of the many arenas Wiseman explores. The data from current research proves that by clenching your jaw, you develop more willpower, and by standing up straight, you become far more confident. By flipping current psychology theories upside down and putting motion before emotion, one can have better relationships, fight depression and anxiety, lose weight and stop smoking (or curb other addictive behaviors), grow more confident and slow down the effects of aging. Throughout the book, Wiseman includes exercises that will "encourage you to actually experience these phenomena rather than just read about them." For those seeking quick change, the appendix includes a list of simple actions with the appropriate positive reaction or expected change stated. For seekers of self-betterment, a mostly intriguing new slant to personal transformation.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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