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The Emotionally Agile Brain: Mastering the 12 Emotional Needs that Drive Us
A revolution has been quietly taking place in academic psychology, economics, neuroscience, marketing, and business. In study after study, emotional forces massively outweigh human rationality in determining our actual choices and actions. This insight has reshaped both science and industry as its power is harnessed for commercial ends. Those of us who are engaged in the nexus of neuroscience, psychology, and human potential have an obligation to raise awareness of these discoveries, and, more importantly, to use them to actually improve people’s lives.
AgileBrain is based on decades of psychological research conducted by the author, and others, published in peer-reviewed academic journals. It begins with the discovery of the first principles of all human motivation. Motivation is fundamentally about change. These principles can be phrased as two
“Where in your life do you wish to make a change?”
To answer this question, we can choose from four life the Self, the Social, the Material, and the Spiritual. Note that these represent pairs of Self vs. Social, Material vs. Spiritual.
“What kind of change do you wish to make?”
To answer this question, we can choose from Aristotle’s three levels of foundational (being), experiential (doing), and aspirational (having).
The answers to these two questions form a “Periodic Table of the Elements” for human motivations in the form of a three-by-four matrix. Because there are no other possible life domains or levels of aspiration, the reader can have confidence that every possible human motivation is accounted for.
A key takeaway is that all twelve emotional needs are operating and directing us all the time, and that a key to a happy, actualized life is to pursue fulfillment of needs in a balanced way, which avoids serious problems associated with unbalanced need fulfillment. A recurring theme in The Emotionally Agile Brain is the value of distinguishing between authentic need fulfillment and the superficial, inauthentic substitutes offered by our consumer culture.
After analyzing motivational data from hundreds of thousands of individuals (and consulting to scores of Fortune 500 clients), author J. D. Pincus explains it this “Everyone has a unique ‘fingerprint’ of emotional needs at any given moment in time. Becoming aware of that motivational state is a profound revelation for most people. It cuts right through the noise and distractions of life, and frees them to pursue what they really want.”
AgileBrain is based on decades of psychological research conducted by the author, and others, published in peer-reviewed academic journals. It begins with the discovery of the first principles of all human motivation. Motivation is fundamentally about change. These principles can be phrased as two
“Where in your life do you wish to make a change?”
To answer this question, we can choose from four life the Self, the Social, the Material, and the Spiritual. Note that these represent pairs of Self vs. Social, Material vs. Spiritual.
“What kind of change do you wish to make?”
To answer this question, we can choose from Aristotle’s three levels of foundational (being), experiential (doing), and aspirational (having).
The answers to these two questions form a “Periodic Table of the Elements” for human motivations in the form of a three-by-four matrix. Because there are no other possible life domains or levels of aspiration, the reader can have confidence that every possible human motivation is accounted for.
A key takeaway is that all twelve emotional needs are operating and directing us all the time, and that a key to a happy, actualized life is to pursue fulfillment of needs in a balanced way, which avoids serious problems associated with unbalanced need fulfillment. A recurring theme in The Emotionally Agile Brain is the value of distinguishing between authentic need fulfillment and the superficial, inauthentic substitutes offered by our consumer culture.
After analyzing motivational data from hundreds of thousands of individuals (and consulting to scores of Fortune 500 clients), author J. D. Pincus explains it this “Everyone has a unique ‘fingerprint’ of emotional needs at any given moment in time. Becoming aware of that motivational state is a profound revelation for most people. It cuts right through the noise and distractions of life, and frees them to pursue what they really want.”
376 pages, Hardcover
Published December 17, 2024
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February 26, 2025
The Emotionally Agile Brain is a fascinating deep dive into the neuroscience of emotional flexibility, offering both sharp insights and real-world applications. Pincus has a gift for making complex research accessible and relevant, especially for those of us in clinical practice. The book is packed with practical guidance that challenges and enriches traditional approaches to emotional regulation and resilience. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of neuroscience, emotional well-being, and personal growth.
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