Book review: "Foundations of Affirmative Psychology"
Title: "Foundations of Affirmative Psychology: An Integrative Approach"
Author: Ira Banks, Ph.D.
Publisher: Juicergy™ University Press; First edition (December 1, 2007)
Hardcover: 613 pages
Society is in peril as never before. Climate change, the resurgence of global terrorism and the cutthroat consequences of globalization have all left a distinct imprint in our collective consciousness. People of all cultures have during the recent decades been using different offshoots of folk psychology to try to take control over their chaotic everyday lives. The arguably most popular of these branches have been the school of so-called affirmative psychology.
Because of the widespread use of affirmative psychology, its proponents have long been under attack by the psychiatric establishment, who among other things claims that the method, as it is being used today, is "unscientific, childish, and ultimately sprung out of superstition."
In the first book aimed both at the general public and academia, leading research psychiatrist Ira Banks presents the latest groundbreaking research of the young discipline. No stranger to controversy, Banks does not pull his punches: In the opening paragraph of the book, he fiercely attacks the "New Age snake oil salesmen" whom he claims have "hijacked and distorted the burgeoning science of affirmative thought to further their own dubious, often monetary, goals."
The first part of the book is wholly dedicated to razing to the ground the prevailing notions of how affirmative thought ought to be applied to everyday experience. The theories of Rhonda Byrne, author of the best-selling novel The Secret, among other woo, get a devastating beating. While rebutting the most prevalent ideas of affirmative psychology Banks successively lays a new, solid foundation by presenting much of the clinical research conducted by him and his team during the past three decades.
Chapter 5 presents, and vindicates the Banksian Law of Attraction, the fundamental idea of the field. Though in recent years subject to much academic criticism, the law has been shown to stand up to heavy scrutiny, which in turn has propelled the theory to new heights. Experts have drawn parallels to the establishment of Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, saying that the Banksian law also may have merit in psychology and conjectures that its impact in social psychology will cause Festinger's theory to pale in comparison.
The second part of the book presents an "integrative approach" to applying the research findings to your life. This is where it gets really interesting. Beating a dead horse, Banks eloquently and repeatedly ridicules his New Age forbears' "simplistic and amazingly stupid" notions of affirmative thought, claiming that one cannot possibly produce tangible results if one does not take the limitations of affirmation into account. He then proceeds to state these limitations. In large, they can be said to be:
1. You can not wish something into, or out of, existence.
2. Positive though alone is not enough, you also need to act positively (affirmatively).
3. Guard heart from stone.
The bulk of the affirmation program is made up of different physical exercises (illustrations included, VHS tape available by order online) in combination with affirmatory gestures and thoughts. This reviewer has found these exercises extremely effective and helpful.
Throughout the book, the reader is encouraged to send money to an organization called "The Juicergy™ Corporation". Banks openly states that most of his research has been funded by this organization, and convincingly argues why his research not possibly could be biased in favor of the multinational conglomerate and their many rich products.
If you take a closer look at the seemingly shady Juicergy™ Corporation you will immediately realize that their cause is just and worth supporting. Therefore, this reviewer would also request the reader to send money to that very organization.
Summed up, Banks can be said to have made a fundamentally important contribution to science in general and psychology in particular, not to mention to humanity as a whole. Believe me, this book will turn the tide of your miserable life and help your integrative transformation into greatness. Buy it now. Success guaranteed!
This article was brought to you by the friendly people at the Juicergy™ Corporation. "It makes people rich!"
Juicergy™ - Empowering you through affirmative psychology since 2007.
Author: Ira Banks, Ph.D.
Publisher: Juicergy™ University Press; First edition (December 1, 2007)
Hardcover: 613 pages
Society is in peril as never before. Climate change, the resurgence of global terrorism and the cutthroat consequences of globalization have all left a distinct imprint in our collective consciousness. People of all cultures have during the recent decades been using different offshoots of folk psychology to try to take control over their chaotic everyday lives. The arguably most popular of these branches have been the school of so-called affirmative psychology.
Because of the widespread use of affirmative psychology, its proponents have long been under attack by the psychiatric establishment, who among other things claims that the method, as it is being used today, is "unscientific, childish, and ultimately sprung out of superstition."
In the first book aimed both at the general public and academia, leading research psychiatrist Ira Banks presents the latest groundbreaking research of the young discipline. No stranger to controversy, Banks does not pull his punches: In the opening paragraph of the book, he fiercely attacks the "New Age snake oil salesmen" whom he claims have "hijacked and distorted the burgeoning science of affirmative thought to further their own dubious, often monetary, goals."
The first part of the book is wholly dedicated to razing to the ground the prevailing notions of how affirmative thought ought to be applied to everyday experience. The theories of Rhonda Byrne, author of the best-selling novel The Secret, among other woo, get a devastating beating. While rebutting the most prevalent ideas of affirmative psychology Banks successively lays a new, solid foundation by presenting much of the clinical research conducted by him and his team during the past three decades.
Chapter 5 presents, and vindicates the Banksian Law of Attraction, the fundamental idea of the field. Though in recent years subject to much academic criticism, the law has been shown to stand up to heavy scrutiny, which in turn has propelled the theory to new heights. Experts have drawn parallels to the establishment of Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, saying that the Banksian law also may have merit in psychology and conjectures that its impact in social psychology will cause Festinger's theory to pale in comparison.
The second part of the book presents an "integrative approach" to applying the research findings to your life. This is where it gets really interesting. Beating a dead horse, Banks eloquently and repeatedly ridicules his New Age forbears' "simplistic and amazingly stupid" notions of affirmative thought, claiming that one cannot possibly produce tangible results if one does not take the limitations of affirmation into account. He then proceeds to state these limitations. In large, they can be said to be:
1. You can not wish something into, or out of, existence.
2. Positive though alone is not enough, you also need to act positively (affirmatively).
3. Guard heart from stone.
The bulk of the affirmation program is made up of different physical exercises (illustrations included, VHS tape available by order online) in combination with affirmatory gestures and thoughts. This reviewer has found these exercises extremely effective and helpful.
Throughout the book, the reader is encouraged to send money to an organization called "The Juicergy™ Corporation". Banks openly states that most of his research has been funded by this organization, and convincingly argues why his research not possibly could be biased in favor of the multinational conglomerate and their many rich products.
If you take a closer look at the seemingly shady Juicergy™ Corporation you will immediately realize that their cause is just and worth supporting. Therefore, this reviewer would also request the reader to send money to that very organization.
Summed up, Banks can be said to have made a fundamentally important contribution to science in general and psychology in particular, not to mention to humanity as a whole. Believe me, this book will turn the tide of your miserable life and help your integrative transformation into greatness. Buy it now. Success guaranteed!
This article was brought to you by the friendly people at the Juicergy™ Corporation. "It makes people rich!"
Juicergy™ - Empowering you through affirmative psychology since 2007.
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