Review of How You Think and Feel Changes Your Body: Dynamic Body Psychology

[John Judah]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "How You Think and Feel Changes Your Body: Dynamic Body Psychology" by Douglas Peterson.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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How You Think and Feel Changes Your Body: Dynamic Body Psychology by Douglas Peterson is a book that introduces the core concept of dynamic body psychology, which explores the interconnectedness of thoughts, emotions, and physical body changes. It argues that the way we think and feel influences our body’s structure both immediately (like depression) and over time (such as postural changes from prolonged emotions). The body, acting as a container for our mental and emotional experiences, reflects these influences outwardly, forming visible markers on our physical form. The book connects ancient and modern understandings of this mind-body connection, referencing historical models from philosophers like Plato and Aristotle as well as theories from Hindu and scientific traditions. It presents a triune concept of the human body that combines psychological processes with physiological changes, showing how mental states can physically alter body tissues and how the body adapts to its social and physical environments.

I liked the fact that the book encourages awareness of the mind-body link, empowering us to make choices that benefit both our mental state and physical condition. It points out that while trauma can affect the body and mind, there are methods for healing, such as talking, acting out, and dreaming. This highlights the potential for recovery and personal growth, even in difficult circumstances.

The book also draws attention to the strong relationship between emotions, habits, and the body’s physical form. This connection emphasizes the importance of mental and emotional well-being, showing that addressing these areas can lead to positive physical outcomes. Additionally, it mentions how professionals like athletic trainers and therapists use body type classifications to assist people, showing that this knowledge can be applied to improve physical health and performance.

These aspects focus on body diversity, resilience, and the potential for healing, which promotes a holistic view of physical and mental well-being. Moreover, the book acknowledges that while genetics play a role in shaping our bodies, environmental factors such as lifestyle, work, and experiences contribute significantly. This suggests that individuals have some control over how their bodies adapt through choices in activities, habits, and emotional health. as well as it emphasizes the importance of positive emotional expression, linking healthy emotional states to open, non-blocked energy flow in the body, which enhances well-being.

One negative aspect of the book is the heavy emphasis on trauma and its long-lasting, often unavoidable impact on the body and mind. While it is important to acknowledge the effects of trauma, the passage may come across as overly deterministic, suggesting that early trauma almost inevitably leads to long-term negative consequences, without fully balancing this with the potential for healing, resilience, or recovery. This could feel disheartening to some readers who are looking for a more hopeful or empowering message. I did not encounter any grammar errors, which means the book is exceptionally edited. Given this, i rate How You Think and Feel Changes Your Body: Dynamic Body Psychology by Douglas Peterson 5 out of 5 stars. I give it a perfect rating due to the positive aspect mentioned. I recommend it to people who want to understand the psychology of their body.

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How You Think and Feel Changes Your Body: Dynamic Body Psychology
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[Cheryll Sharan]

Sounds like a good book to read to understand the body-mind dynamic. Thanks for the review and the heads up for the more negative vibe that the book might bring by emphasizing more on the trauma part than the healing part.

[Lene Lena]

When I read Douglas Peterson's book title "How You Think and Feel Changes Your Body," I immediately thought about healing our bodies through our minds. Your review highlights the book’s focus, which is offering an engaging examination of dynamic body psychology, highlighting the close relationship between our emotional and physical well-being. The book does a good job of showing how ideas and feelings may cause both short-term physical changes, like how sadness affects posture, and long-term ones, like chronic tension or structural changes in the body. This is a must read for me as it includes both contemporary scientific theories and ancient philosophies, such as those of Plato and Aristotle. The author offers a comprehensive viewpoint that emphasises the significance of comprehending the mind-body connection by combining these viewpoints. I would like to learn more about how this triple idea emphasises how psychological processes actively determine physiological responses in addition to being influenced by them.