Imaginary Crimes: Why We Punish Ourselves and How to Stop

By Lewis B. Engel

Book Overview

This liberating and important book shows us how to break out of the self-defeating behavior patterns that have been keeping us from attaining our most cherished goals. Many of our most serious... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395465567
• ISBN13: 9780395465561
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Length: 295 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 5.8" x 1.0"

Customer Reviews

easy to read for a foreigner too!

This book has been a big help! It goes into details of childhood/young adult experiences with parents without getting too technical. If you somehow suffer from guilty feelings unconsciously as adults, and are trying to overcome those and become a happier person, this book can give you a new perspective in life. Recommended by therapist!!

Imaginary?? NOT!

A masterful little book that serves as a fabulous introduction to Control Mastery Theory. I could NOT put this one down - facinating. For those with some skepticism, hang in there. It is understandable some concepts in this little gem of a book (and learning about CMT generally), might be difficult to see initially: how our beliefs and thoughts, by which we live our life could be so deeply hidden from consciousness. But it is true!! It will be easier for some to accept, harder for others. That's OK. Believe me, if you are open, once you really get into control mastery theory and understand it's tenets, there will no doubt; especially if you ever have the chance to work with a CMT trained clinicial. I was fortunate enough to do just that. Intellectually I understood what I was being told, and initially had a hard time really "getting" it on an emotional level, (entertaining the idea that these unconscious beliefs could be such powerful influences in my life). So unconscious, and then, at some point subsequently, having them enter into consciousness to a level that I Knew what I could only intellectualize about before. Once I made this transition, unbelievable clarity regarding certain dynamics in my life became crystal clear. And trust me I am not a gullible person, unfamiliar with therapy and the concept of "leading." I am not taken in by a slick clinician with a hidden agenda. (I am also studying to be a therapist.) These authors and the founders and practitioners of CMT are on to something truly amazing. The best kept secret in psychotherapy today!! Follow this up with a read of How Psychotherapy Really Works (wonderful) by Joseph Weiss, (from the founder of CMT himself) and I doubt anyone will wonder whether these crimes are imaginary. They are only imaginary if you can cannot open your mind up to insight and imagine the possibility. I suspect almost everyone has some of these "imaginary crimes" floating deep in their psyche. Discovering these is part of knowing who you truly are, how your life has been influenced and how you became who you are (psychically). This book will help you discover why you may have dynamics in your life that you'd like to change, as well as giving you an empathic and crucially important understanding of those who influenced your development. This book helps lead the reader to a centered, grounded, place of mind. In the process, making peace with the past. Intended for those interested in individual development and growth; a remarkable find for those of this persuation.

Excellent Read!

This book is a great introduction to Control Mastery Theory. It is easy to read for people who are not familiar with theories in psychoanalysis and also understandable. The book provides many case examples to illustrate ideas and concepts. Excellent book and a must read for anyone interested in learning more about this theory.

A very useful book for people shamed as children

Imaginary Crimes refers to unconscious motivations such as the fear of doing better than a parent or of being disloyal to a parent which can damage people's lives. Without accepting everything the book says I think it is liberating for people stuck in their lives and a very good guide to finding patterns in one's life. If you have been subjected to guilt, embarrassment or shame in your childhood, I recommend this book, if you can get it