Dark Hearts

by Loren E. Pederson

Book Overview

A fresh and intriguing perspective on men's behavior, attitudes, and psychological difficulties by tracing the development of masculinity within the context of concept of the anima, C. G. Jung's term... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877734917
• ISBN13: 9780877734918
• Release Date: February 1991
• Publisher: Shambhala Publications
• Length: 247 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Fine book on the unconscious with noteworthy observations

This is a fine book addressing the unconscious that has far more effect on our lives than we readily admit. As Sigmund Freud said: "The mind is an iceberg-it floats with only 1/7 of its bulk above water." [quoted in Leo Rosten's Carnival of Wit Dutton NY 1994, page 402]. Most of us have hidden, unconscious compulsions that control our lives in strange ways. This book addresses many aspects of these forces, however, it is more Jungian than Freudian (with explanations of the anima/animus archetypes that greatly effect our relationships with the opposite sex). Dr. Pederson tries to be impartial because as he states on pages 225-6: "Most behavioral research, however, is biased by the fact that the experimenters are interested, covertly or overtly, in establishing a particular point of view." He also addresses the process of projection in which we project our inner feelings, orientations, problems, desires, etc. onto other individuals who are then said to carry these projections. He states that these are stored in the body on page 220 (note 27): "A man's physical body and its various organs often carry the unconscious projections of emotional issues he needs to integrate into his awareness. These symptoms can lead him to a deeper level of communication with himself if he takes the symptoms as signs of a need to sacrifice the rigidities and narrowness of his conscious attitudes." Most interesting are his observations about the development of projection over time such as on page 87: "Early belief systems were undoubtedly so intertwined with projection that there was little, if any, separation between myth and reality. In this sense, consciousness of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods was a mythic consciousness." He also addresses love, parenting, etc. such as his observation on page 185 that: "We could say that the mother is more instrumental in the development of a man's capacity to receive love, and the father is more instrumental in his capacity to give love." For additional reading on unconscious forces, see: George Weinberg "Invisible Masters: Compulsions and the Fear that Drives Them" Plume NY 1993 and John A. Sanford "The Invisible Partners" Paulist Press NY 1980.

This book changed my life!

I had the privilege of being a client of Dr. Pedersen manyyears ago. (More than 30!). When I read this book about 10 years ago, one exercise inparticular was profoundly useful. Although the book is writtenmostly for men, I just adapted the exercise to my own needs. I did a dialogue with my "inner male" ....and discovered thathe was only about 12 years old and afraid of women! (No wonderI was having problems finding a mature relationship!). Ifollowed the instructions in the exercise and worked for severaldays and was amazed to watch a transformation in this "guy" andhis maturing etc. I became more comfortable with myself, andmy life started to open up too. I even designed and led a workshop for women that used this exercise as its core element.All of the women loved it. I have recently celebrated mysixth anniversary with a spendid, loving and mature partner. Ifeel this book was very helpful in teaching me a system thatbridged a major hole in my own psyche. Dr. Pedersen is a brilliant, caring and intuitive therapist and the book containsequal doses of his wisdom. I urge you to give it a try!