The conflicted mind and why psychology has failed to deal with it (1 Edition.)

One of the greatest paradoxes of human behaviour is our tendency to say one thing and do something completely different.

We think of ourselves as positive and fair-minded, caring about other people and our environment, yet our behaviour lets us down time and time again.

Part of the reason for this is that we may have two separate 'selves': two separate and dissociated mental systems - one conscious, reflective and rational, and one whose motives and instincts are rooted in the unconscious and whose operation resists reflection, no matter how hard we try.

In all kinds of areas of our life - love, politics, race, smoking, survival - one system seems to make very different sorts of judgements to the other, and is subject to distinct, hidden biases.

This book explores how and why this system operates as it does and how we may use that knowledge to promote positive behaviour change.