The Conflicted Mind

One of the greatest paradoxes of human behavior 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 behavior lets us down time and time again. Part of the reason for this is because we really do 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, survival - one system seems to make very different sorts of judgements to the other, and is subject to distinct, hidden biases. The Divided Self explores how and why this system operates as it does and how we can use that knowledge to promote positive behaviour change.

Chapter 1: Introduction