The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology)

I read the first edition of this book a while back and I ignored this book for some time because I didn't pick up that it's a second edition of a previous book. It took some thinking and research before I finally decided that this second edition was sufficiently different to warrant the purchase price. I can tell you now that it is well worth it. This second edition is quite a different book. Cozolino gets much more into the physical aspects of the brain in describing what the mind/brain does and how it does it. Several new (to me) ideas came across in this second edition. For the first two or three years of life the brain's left hemisphere is not operational and thus the right hemisphere operates without the cognitive controls of the more mature brain. Because this right hemisphere is mainly interested in detecting danger, escaping, and keeping the individual safe, in situations of abuse and neglect at these young ages, the brain can run amok without cognitive control from the left hemisphere. These fears become embedded in the brain's "fear circuits" and life long fear/anxiety can be the unfortunate result. Thus the importance of making the 2-3 year-old feel safe, secure, and trusting always. At age 4 to 6 the left hemisphere brain kicks in and helps keep things more under control. (Margaret Wilkinson also discusses this in Changing Minds) The other idea which helped me a lot was that in order for the "self" to develop, the caregiver must treat the child as a unique individual who needs help figuring out what and who he/she is from day one. Interested questions and listening are essential for the child's self to develop. Otherwise the resulting individual will not know where or how he/she fits into society and will not know how to utilize the relationships necessary for performing in said society. The resulting adult person will outwardly be responsive in relationships but an empty shell inwardly without understanding a personal direction to follow in life, thus an "empty shell". These two ideas explain some personalities I have known. To summarize these ideas: the human child needs brain/mind psychological help and support to get started in life perhaps just as much or more than he/she needs physical/security help. The brain at birth has a ways to grow just the same as the whole body does. These are wonderful ideas to have explained in an understandable manner. I think Prof. Cozolino is a national treasure. He writes like "everyman", covering physical, psychological, and therapy in a systems manner. I've never read an author quite like him before. He's intellectual, articulate, and down-to-earth.

This is the 2014 version of Dr. Cozolino's work - still as well written and easy to read as its 2006 predecessor. The big difference is more data driven material and up to date neuroscience and neurobiology. So how he was able to improve on it. This is an excellent read for graduate students and anyone who wants to have a thorough understanding of why we think therapy works and why people do what they do.

The Neuroscience of Human Relationships is an in-depth book that sends a reader into the world of interpersonal neurobiology. Cozolino does an amazing job a huge amount of facts and even some well-founded theories to explain the ways people connect and the underlying "mechanics" of the brain that allow for successful connection. The book goes into great detail and connects ideas for a very solid experience of the information. The examples integrated throughout the text helped to provide an understanding and an application for a subject, a chance to see it in action. Some of the stories were touching, and all of them helped me to develop an understanding of what I was reading. I got the Kindle version, and it was very helpful to highlight important sections and to write down my thoughts on any given part. The writing style was engaging and kept me coming back to the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in human psychology. Not only do you learn about psychology, you also learn about the neuroscience behind it and how the two subjects are really connected, an apparently new revelation. I will admit that some of the parts were kind of dry. I personally enjoy the behavioral and psychological discussions in the book, and, while learning about the parts of the brain that contribute to it was interesting, there were times when I decided to just skim over those parts. Fortunately, this does not detract from the fact that Cozolino really is a great writer. I will definitely be buying and reading his other books.

Oh my absolute-freaking-holy-Moses! This book was mostly over my head. I consider myself pretty intelligent... master's degree and all that nonsense, and I read a fair bit. A friend who is well versed in Neuro-Linguistic Programming recommended this to me. Yes, very interesting about how we have a "SOCIAL BRAIN". Author makes the comparison of brain synapsis with "social synapsis", where one person's subconscious directly affects the other person's subconscious without a word being spoken. Very cool, very enlightening in many ways. But geeeeze, there were SO MANY medical terms I didn't understand. Usually I can read an unknown word "in context" .... not here. First time in decades I read a book that felt "over-my-head". Still an interesting, and very different, insight on how our inner-thoughts are formed.

If you are really interested in Neuroscience you have to purchase this book. The information that it contains and studies will blow your mind away.. A must read for every therapist, doctor, and patient that wants an in-depth understanding of what is going on inside your brain or patients dealing with issues of attachment.

I love how Louis can articulate and teach in such a way that its easy to grasp and understand.

A challenging but ground-breaking book and shows how we are interconnected even at a neurological level which is a profound message for our divided 21st Century existence.

This book is fantastic, it is easy to read and gives clear and concise explanations.

love it

A book I always needed to read in order to understand myself better. Mandatory reading to existing and future parents