Synopses & Reviews
Review
"...brilliant....It should probably not be read at one sitting, but sifted slowly as you would a 20 year old port....This is not just a book for bright psychiatric residents or child fellows, but child psychiatrists young and old, over-worked or under-paid. It offers a glimpse of new horizons in the profession, and may be the harbinger of a fresh archetype for child psychiatry as it enters the next millennium."--
The Canadian Child Psychiatry Review"...fulfilled my wildest expectations. Instead of laboriously struggling to learn about neurobiology, I found myself fairly effortlessly assimilating information because 1) the author is able to present his material in the context of interpersonal relationships in general and the treatment dyad in particular, and 2) the author is a master of lucidity, avoids pedantry, and succeeds in making his data clinically useful."--American Journal of Psychiatry
"Readable, thoughtful, and informative."--Educational Leadership
"I knew that this book was one I should keep handy when I wanted to improve my understanding of information on which the future science of psychiatry will be based."--Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
"This is just the right book, on a very hot topic, at just the right time, by just the right author....The story Siegel tells is indeed fascinating, essentially describing the transactional processes that happen at the interface between developmental neurobiology and the environment of an individual. He links every level of the system from cell chemistry to brain architecture, to caregiver-infant attachments, to interpersonal relationships in adulthood. Siegel presents his synthesis of these rapidly developing fields in a readable style aimed at those professionally involved clinically in the field, but which could...also be read by the interested layperson....This is a book to stimulate, illuminate, and drive our understanding of human developmental processes forwards and I suspect that The Developing Mind will be seen as a milestone work in the future."--Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
"This is a remarkable book....Most impressively, [Siegel] weaves a complex, plausible and compelling theoretical synthesis on the bidirectional influences of interpersonal experience and brain development and functioning....The Developing Mind boldly transcends the reductionism that characterizes so much of contemporary psychiatry."--Psychiatric Times
"The author has succeeded in integrating knowledge from several disciplines about interpersonal experience, human mental processes, and neurobiology to construct a conceptual foundation for an "interpersonal neurobiology" of the developing mind....No other book has addressed this subject so comprehensively, and it is sure to prove a valuable resource for those with primary neurophysiological knowledge and interests, especially students, scholars, and professionals in such associated areas as psychiatry, neuropsychology, developmental and professional psychology, and cognitive science."--Readings
"...[A] current, thorough, closely argued text....One of Siegel's major gifts is for presenting anatomical, neurological, research, and clinical information while still pointing out what remains unknown. He explores infant-parent relationships, emotions, states of mind, and how knowing about them can help one improve one's relationships and capabilities for developing successfully."--Booklist
"Why can't we remember what we did at age three? Why are some children unusually shy? What is the biochemistry of humiliation , and how can it be 'toxic to the developing child's brain'? New and plausible answers to these questions emerge from Siegel's synthesis of neurobiology, research psychology and cognitive science....his subject--how we become the people we are--deserves to hold many readers spellbound."--Publishers Weekly
"This amazing synthesis of neurobiological research and clinical expertise should forever lay to rest the mind-brain dichotomy. The book is beautifully constructed, including highly readable descriptions of brain development, information processing, models of memory and narrative, and the importance of attachment in human development. Siegel also shows how healthy relationships and psychotherapeutic interventions can offer us a 'second chance' to undo maladaptive patterns and insecure early attachments. This book is suitable for anyone working in the fields of mental health or neuroscience, and will be a superb guide for medical students and psychiatric residents."--Clarice J. Kestenbaum, MD, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
"This beautifully written book achieves many things at once. It provides a much-needed, user-friendly description of the latest knowledge about brain development and function. It helps us to understand crucial links between neurobiology, subjective experience, and human relationships. It places the findings of attachment theory research in a solid biological context that explains the lifelong impact of early experience. It shows how trauma affects biological, emotional, and interpersonal functioning. And it does all of this with such clarity, compassion, and even humor, that the reader is left with a feeling of gratitude for having learned so much so effortlessly. This book is important and timely, and should serve as a standard reference for anybody interested in the mind--which is to say, anybody interested in the human experience."--Alicia F. Lieberman, PhD, Professor of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco
"In this extraordinary book, Siegel creatively integrates state-of-the-art knowledge of emotional development, neurobiology, cognitive science, attachment research, and and complexity theory. The resulting model cogently describes how a developing brain/mind organizes itself in the context of an emotional relationship with other brain/minds. This cutting-edge volume is essential reading for clinicians, researchers, and anyone who is intrigued by one of science's fundamental problems--the psychobiological origins of the human mind."--Allan N. Schore, PhD, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
"Siegel's brilliant, concise synthesis of cutting-edge research in cognitive neuroscience and attachment theory provides the family therapist with a powerful way of understanding the origins of our behaviors in relationships. When I have shared these ideas with the families, couples, and students I see in clinical practice and in teaching, their response has been overwhelmingly positive. Siegel helps us make sense of mysteries of experience with which we all wrestle."--Gillian Walker, MSW, Senior Faculty, Ackerman Institute for the Family, New York
"This book offers an invaluable analysis and synthesis of the research and theory on the brain development of children. In a field where the volume and complexity of the research can be daunting, Siegel provides a real service. For professionals who want to understand the field, for practitioners who want to be well-grounded in research and theory, and for anyone who wants a truly deep understanding of human relationships, this book is one of the best places to turn."--Ellen Galinsky, MS, President, Families and Work Institute, New York
"For mind scientists, these are exciting but humbling times. As we learn more about the brain, we see how one-sided our abstract models of mental life have been. Focusing on what single heads can perceive, think, and learn, neuropsychology has disregarded our inborn ability to imitate, imagine, and sympathize with the feelings of others. This clear and straightforward book sets forth a new understanding of how communicated emotions influence the regulation of brain circuit growth and the consolidation of cognitive systems. Siegel demonstrates an impressive grasp of how the brain is believed to know and remember, a deep sensitivity to the joys and sorrows of human relationships, and a child psychiatrist's will to bridge the gap between scientific and clinical knowledge. This book will be of interest to clinicians, clinicians-in-training, and all those wishing to stay abreast of the new, more natural science of communicating minds."--Colwyn Trevarthen, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK
Review
"Siegel describes his book as 'a journey into the developing mind,' and no one is better equipped to invite psychotherapists and other students of human impulses to share this remarkable adventure. In clear and inspired prose, he reviews facts and theories about the human brain that can be difficult to grasp. He explains how the brain differentiates and enables the creative and passionate mind of a child to share meaningful intentions, experiences, imaginative beliefs, relationships, community, culture, and language. He puts this understanding in the service of a humane and respectful psychotherapy that can give integrity to young lives that have become anxious, chaotic, and rigid."--Colwyn Trevarthen, PhD, FRSE, Professor Emeritus of Child Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
"A tour de force of synthesis and integration. Siegel has woven a rich tapestry that provides a compelling account of how our interpersonal worlds and neural systems form two important pillars of the mind. The second edition brings the latest neuroscientific evidence to the fore; it is a 'must read' for any student or professional interested in mental health, child development, and the brain."--Richard J. Davidson, PhD, William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry; Founder and Chair, Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison
"When I first read The Developing Mind, I thought it was an amazing and unique book that provided enormous insight into children and their development. I had no idea why a second edition would be needed. But now that I have read this second edition, I realize that the book has reached perfection. Its conceptual integration of mind, brain, and relationships is magnificent. The second edition will provide every teacher, therapist, and parent with a rich understanding of how our interactions with kids shape their brains, their minds, and their entire future. Everyone will want to read this book again and again."--John M. Gottman, PhD, author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
"The seamless integration of scientific knowledge with a profound understanding of subjective experience and human relationships is a rare gift that this book bestows with effortless grace. Siegel continues to excel in his ability to describe the latest findings of neuroscience in accessible language that weaves a masterful tapestry of the synergy linking brain, mind, and experience."--Alicia F. Lieberman, PhD, Irving B. Harris Endowed Chair in Infant Mental Health, University of California, San Francisco; Director, Child Trauma Research Program, San Francisco General Hospital
"The Developing Mind, Second Edition, is a compelling, thoughtful, and immensely readable account of the fascinating ways the brain, mind, and relationships co-evolve and interact throughout development. Rigorously updated, this volume captures the enormous and diverse progress within the field of interpersonal neurobiology over the course of the last decade. Siegel is a wonderful storyteller and teacher with a real gift for bringing the complex to life in such a way that it seems almost simple."--Arietta Slade, PhD, Professor, Clinical and Developmental Psychology, The City College and City University of New York
"When The Developing Mind was first published, Siegel's proposal that mind, brain, and relationships represented 'three aspects of one reality' essential to human well-being still seemed closer to inspired speculation than teachable scientific knowledge. Just over a decade later, the neurobiology of interpersonal experience has grown into one of the hottest areas of psychological research. Over two thousand new references surveyed for the second edition testify to just how far neuroscientists, developmental psychologists, and clinicians have brought the field as they begin to more fully chart the interplay of mind, body, and relationships. This splendid second edition--at once accessibly written and meticulously documented--provides a comprehensive guide to this emerging science."--Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, PhD, Professor Emerita of Anthropology, University of California, Davis
"With the original publication of The Developing Mind, the field of interpersonal neurobiology was born. Siegel's genius for synthesizing and humanizing neuroscience, attachment, and developmental theory made the book a bestseller and attracted thousands to this new field. The second edition benefits from over a decade's worth of additional findings, reflections, ideas, and insights. I encourage you to take Siegel up on his offer to share this fascinating journey, whether for the first time or for a return trip. You won’t be disappointed."--Louis Cozolino, PhD, Department of Psychology, Pepperdine University
"Siegel presents very complex neurological material in a style and manner that my students are able to follow and integrate into practice. They consistently report they are challenged by the material and that it validates the work that they do. In my opinion, Siegel's work is moving the profession of counseling in the direction that it has needed to go for a very long time."--Ryan Melton, PhD, LPC, ACS, Regional Research Institute for Human Services, Portland State University; Clinical Training Director, Early Assessment and Support Alliance
Review
"Fulfilled my wildest expectations. Instead of laboriously struggling to learn about neurobiology, I found myself fairly effortlessly assimilating information because 1) the author is able to present his material in the context of interpersonal relationships in general and the treatment dyad in particular, and 2) the author is a master of lucidity, avoids pedantry, and succeeds in making his data clinically useful."--American Journal of Psychiatry (on the first edition)
Review
"I knew that this book was one I should keep handy when I wanted to improve my understanding of information on which the future science of psychiatry will be based."--Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (on the first edition)
Review
"A remarkable book....The Developing Mind boldly transcends the reductionism that characterizes so much of contemporary psychiatry."--Psychiatric Times (on the first edition)
Review
"The story Siegel tells is indeed fascinating, essentially describing the transactional processes that happen at the interface between developmental neurobiology and the environment of an individual. He links every level of the system from cell chemistry to brain architecture, to caregiver-infant attachments, to interpersonal relationships in adulthood....This is a book to stimulate, illuminate, and drive our understanding of human developmental processes forwards and I suspect that The Developing Mind will be seen as a milestone work in the future."--Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (on the first edition)
Review
"Why can't we remember what we did at age three? Why are some children unusually shy? What is the biochemistry of humiliation , and how can it be 'toxic to the developing child's brain'? New and plausible answers to these questions emerge from Siegel's synthesis of neurobiology, research psychology and cognitive science....His subject--how we become the people we are--deserves to hold many readers spellbound."--Publishers Weekly (on the first edition)
Review
"Brilliant....It should probably not be read at one sitting, but sifted slowly as you would a 20 year old port....This is not just a book for bright psychiatric residents or child fellows, but child psychiatrists young and old, overworked or underpaid. It offers a glimpse of new horizons in the profession."--Canadian Child Psychiatry Review (on the first edition)
Review
"Current, thorough, closely argued....One of Siegel's major gifts is for presenting anatomical, neurological, research, and clinical information while still pointing out what remains unknown. He explores infant-parent relationships, emotions, states of mind, and how knowing about them can help one improve one's relationships and capabilities for developing successfully."--Booklist (on the first edition)
Review
"Readable, thoughtful, and informative."--Educational Leadership (on the first edition)
Review
"Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, professionals; knowledgeable general readers."--Choice Reviews
Review
"Daniel Siegel skillfully navigates readers through the disquiet of fatalism and destiny toward hope and understanding of how our neurobiology is shaped by our society and how we in turn shape our society….Siegel provides a well-integrated thesis on the developing mind and leads the reader from an understanding of the neuron and neuronal networks to the development of social meaning and the social experience within the context of neurobiology. He summarizes and synthesizes contemporary research and knowledge on the development of the mind in a manner that encourages further exploration. In-depth exploration is encouraged by the excellent citations. The Developing Mind is an outstanding addition to the library of those who are interested in how the mind develops, and it is likely to become a well-thumbed reference over the years."--PsycCRITIQUES
Synopsis
This book goes beyond the nature and nurture divisions that traditionally have constrained much of our thinking about development, exploring the role of interpersonal relationships in forging key connections in the brain. Daniel J. Siegel presents a groundbreaking new way of thinking about the emergence of the human mind and the process by which each of us becomes a feeling, thinking, remembering individual. Illuminating how and why neurobiology matters, this book is essential reading for clinicians, educators, researchers, and students interested in human experience and development across the life span
Synopsis
This bestselling book put the field of interpersonal neurobiology on the map for over 100,000 readers. Daniel J. Siegel goes beyond the nature and nurture divisions that traditionally have constrained much of our thinking about development, exploring the role of interpersonal relationships in forging key connections in the brain. He presents a groundbreaking new way of thinking about the emergence of the human mind and the process by which each of us becomes a feeling, thinking, remembering individual. Illuminating how and why neurobiology matters, this book is essential reading for clinicians, educators, researchers, and students interested in promoting healthy development and resilience. Professors praise the book’s utility in courses from developmental psychology and child development to neuroscience and counseling.
New to This Edition
*Incorporates significant scientific and technical advances.
*Expanded discussions of cutting-edge topics, including neuroplasticity, epigenetics, mindfulness, and the neural correlates of consciousness.
*Useful pedagogical features: pull-outs, diagrams, and a glossary.
*Epilogue on domains of integration--specific pathways to well-being and therapeutic change.
About the Author
Daniel J. Siegel received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at the University of California, Los Angeles, with training in pediatrics, general adult psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. He has served as a National Institute of Mental Health Research Fellow at UCLA, where he studied family interactions, with an emphasis on how attachment experiences influence emotions, behavioral regulation, autobiographical memory and narrative processes.
Dr. Siegel's clinical activities include work as a child, adolescent, adult, and family psychiatrist. An award-winning educator, he formerly directed the UCLA training program in child psychiatry and is the recipient of the departmental teaching award and several honorary fellowships. He is currently Director of the Center for Human Development in Los Angeles, and Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine. He also serves as Director of Interdisciplinary Studies for the international nonprofit Children's Mental Health Alliance in New York.
Dr. Siegel's integrated developmental approach has led him to be invited to local, national and international organizations to address audiences of educators, lawmakers, parents, public administrators, medical and mental health practitioners, and neuroscientists. His work focuses on how the emotional development of the child and adult can be understood by examining the interface between human relationships and basic biological processes. The overall goal of these educational efforts is to provide a scientifically grounded view of human experience that can help facilitate the development of emotional well-being and psychological resilience across the lifespan.
Table of Contents
1. Mind, Brain, and Relationships: The Interpersonal Neurobiology Perspective
2. Memory
3. Attachment
4. Emotion
5. States of Mind: Cohesion, Subjective Experience, and Complex Systems
6. Representations: Modes of Processing and the Construction of Reality
7. Self-Regulation
8. Interpersonal Connection
9. Integration
Epilogue: A Framework for Cultivating Integration
Glossary