The Origin of Minds: Evolution, Uniqueness, and the New Science of the Self

by Peggy La Cerra

The Origin of Minds is a landmark book that presents for the first time a provocative model of the principles guiding the evolution of all life intelligence systems, from plants to bacteria to the human mind itself.

In contrast to the static model suggested by evolutionary psychologists, The Origin of Minds describes a mind that is dynamic and ever-changing, redesigning itself with each life experience. Authors Peggy La Cerra and Roger Bingham explain how individuals are made and describe the mechanism that gives rise to six billion unique human minds. They explain how (and why) we construct our various selves and personalities; shed light on the day-to-day differences we see in our children as they navigate the complex dynamics of family and move into the world at large; and offer a new, more hopeful interpretation of depression, mania, and the so-called personality disorders. Thoughtful and illuminating, The Origin of Minds presents a groundbreaking scientific model of the self, taking you on a journey from the laws of the universe to the creation of your own unique mind.

Genres: Psychology

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 26, 2002

Reviews

[SDAntoNia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting in terms of the analysis of depression, it's use of diagnosis from the DSM in a fairly novel way, and discussion of Virginia Woolf in particular and her perspective from her own point of view of her so-called success. A great writer, but also very tormented and frighteningly familiar.

[Jrobertus]

coauthor: bingham, roger. an evolutionary approach to the development of minds. not terribly new ideas, but readable. the big deal is 'adaptive representational networks' as the building blocks of remembered or learned experience.