Customer Reviews

The Biology of Love

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Speaking from someone who's done plenty of Primal Therapy, once again, Janov lays out, in glorious grandiosity, a beautiful and coherent theory of life, love, and neurosis. Janov's strength is in his ability to articulate with poetic brilliance the reasons, as he sees it, for all manner of psychological illnesses, and guess what? I think he's right. Everything he describes in his book I have either witnessed or experienced first hand during my own stint in Primal Therapy. There is one downfall, however, as I see it. Although this latest book definitely reflects a change with respect to how long it takes to really get down to those core feelings - I'm talking about the ones that really do change brain chemistry, and moves the biological system back toward "normalcy" - he doesn't go far enough in explaining how difficult and lengthy the process truly is. Let me tell you, it takes a very long time. It is not as easy as it reads in Janov's books, and I must add, that I am yet to see a Primal therapist that is still not, to some degree, a victim of his/her own repression. But the theory holds, and perhaps this is the most important thing to remember. Do just one month of Primal therapy, and I challenge you to ever go back into psychoanalysis again. It will seem like a complete waist of time, which in the end, as Janov explains in his book, it is. Even if Janov is 50% correct in his theory, he is still miles and miles ahead of the rest of the psychological community, which, as Janov explains, does nothing more than perpetuates the neurosis in its patients. Janov is nothing short of a revolutionary, no less important that Freud. That may be a dramatic statement, but this is a dramatic book. The only discrepancy I have found between Janov's theory in "The Biology Of Love" and the application of that theory is the time frame in which all those important childhood and birth feelings emerge. There also seems to be a change in the nature of repression itself, as Janov now describes it. Where once repression's existence was described as solely the result of an overload of pain from childhood, it is now described as a natural state which can be overwhelmed by too much pain, and which continues to exist even after that overload is "emptied," or re-lived. This book not only reflects the change in the climate of psychotherapy as a whole, but also reflects the change in Primal Therapy itself since its conception. As usual, it's a must read.

I think so. First, because I could not put it down. Dr. Janov has written a sophisticated and scientific book about the human psyche, how the brain can change as the result of lack of love.

Sophisticated and yet accessible to the lay person of which I am.

I was fascinated to read the latest available research in neurology; and how we treat our children affects their brain and who they are forever. So much of it makes total sense. It is brilliant to be able to understand how it all works. Of course, a child treated with respect and love through gestation, birth and childhood.

Dr. Janov says loving a child is making sure it doesn't suffer anoxia at birth (a common occurence in the way our children are born these days), making sure mothers treat themselves - their future baby - with respect, that they don't smoke, that they take care of themselves...while creating a new human being in this world.

Dr. Janov's book is all about love and how to love our children.

I read with amazement a professional review accusing THE BIOLOGY OF LOVE of laying guilt on poor mothers. What a pathetic way to read this book. But to deprive future children of the incredible data this book provides is doing great harm. Dr. Janov has put together in a powerful framework the first unifying theory that at last makes sense of the human sciences, neurology, biology and psychology.

Isn't it crucial to know how to become a fully integrated human being that won't be plagued by psychosomatic illness, will have no need to drink and take drugs? And of course the right definition of love for a child is to give them what they need, physiologically, as well as psychologically so that they don't suffer traumas at all stages of their development.

Dr. Janov is giving us the formidable tool to understand through research what we can do to make sure our children have all the chances for a life free of neurosis later on.

Witness research like:

"A MOTHER'S LOOK AT A CHILD CAN REGULATE BLOOD FLOW TO HIS BRAIN (CORTEX) AND IMPACT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT BRAIN."

"TOUCHING A CHILD ALLOWS FOR GREATER DENSITY OF SYNAPSES IN THE DEVELOPING BRAIN: THE MORE DENSE THE SYNAPSES THE MORE INFORMATION THE BRAIN CAN HANDLE."

"EARLY TOUCH AND A MOTHER'S LOVE PRODUCE ENDOGENOUS PAIN KILLERS THAT STAY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES AND HELP KEEP US COMFORTABLE AND FREE OF ANXIETY."

"STRESS AND ABUSE ALTER THE STRUCTURE OF A CHILD'S BRAIN (IMPAIRS CELLS IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS WHICH REGISTERS EMOTIONAL FACTS)."

"A FETUS REGISTERS PAIN AND MAKES CRYING MOTIONS IN THE WOMB."

"STRESS IN A CARRYING MOTHER CAN ALTER THE SEXUAL HORMONES OF THE OFFSPRING AND THEREBY ALTER LATER SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES."

"A hug or a kiss raises dopamine levels," says Dr. Janov, and on he goes blending psychology and neuro-science. Whether or not you "believe" in primal scream, so much of what he writes about just rings true to common sense. One reason what he writes is hard to take, I think, is that some things about birthing are so beyond our control, even if we're a caring parent, e.g., if you have to have a baby by c-section, you have to. But there's still all the time of infancy and onward -- "Touching a child allows for greater density of synapses in the developing brain," he writes, "the more dense the synapses the more information the brain can handle." Whether you agree with what he says, or you don't, he makes his point (and it's extremely well annotated) and you won't walk away untouched. Read the chapter called "The Gate-Control Theory." Wow!

In this book,Dr.Janov shows what love and -contrarily- lack of love means in the different phases (womblife,birth,infancy) of our early lives.
The experiences of our early lives affect our brains in a multi-
ple manner,and if these experiences are traumatic they will remain,with all their original power,in the subcortical networks
of our brains and determine the quality of our adult lives.

Janov offers a therapy enabling suffering people to return to the beginnings of their lives and resolve those early and deeply hidden pain which is responsible for a wide spectrum of symptoms
and will finally shorten life.
It is not easy to get there.So it is important to be put on the right track.And it is not easy to go through these traumata.So it is important to have somebody standing by us during the difficult phases of this process.
When the levels of consciousness (page 106 in this book) can com-
municate with each other without interference (see page 231 "The
Gate-Control Theory") we come to be feeling creatures again.

After all it is a completely natural process.We help the brain (which will find its own rhythm)get rid of something having in-
vaded like an alien force and keeping hidden.It is an ancient,
evolutionary phenomenon (see THE NEW PRIMAL SCREAM by Dr.Janov,
page 25,"The Nature of Emotional memory")

THE BIOLOGY OF LOVE comprises a fullness of technical informa-
tion.Janov presents a lot of material from scientific research
which substantiates his theory.The weight of evidence is over-
whelming.The paradigm of primal theory,the concept of the early
imprint and its lasting effects,stands as firmly as a rock.
Janov`s antagonists in the field of psychology having so far pre-
vented primal theory from being on offer in the curricula of most
universities will have increasing difficulties in ignoring or
discrediting this new paradigm.
HOW TO DISCREDIT A PHENOMENON THAT HAS ACCOMPANIED AND INFLU-
ENCED HUMAN EVOLUTION FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS ??? A scientist who
has lost the connection to his personal (ontogenetic) history ,
can no longer recognize the inner truths of our conditio humana.

Having understood the message of this book, we are able to spare
the following generations a tremendous lot of pain.As hard as it may be,we must understand now that womblife,birth and infancy are
the most crucial phases of our lives.In these phases,we are most
vulnerable and may be damaged worst of all.It is not all the same
if a pregnant woman is smoking and drinking or if she is not.It
is not all the same whether birth happens on conditions of anesthesia or not.
Janov says that heavy lack of oxygen (anoxia) is a central element of most birth traumata he has observed in his therapeutic
practice.On page 253 in his book he provides an exellent descrip-
tion and explanation of what happens to the mother and the baby
in the drugged birth.In the western world,the great majority of all birth processes goes under such circumstances.The conse-
quences for the psychophysical state of health of the adult pop-
ulation are anything but positive.
THE WAY WE GIVE BIRTH TO OUR CHILDREN IS THE WAY WE PERPETUATE
NEUROSIS TO THE END OF TIME !
I wonder whether the structures and institutions of neurotic
societies may be changed in the foreseeable future.However,I know
for sure that we can create microcosms making life a precious good.The smallest and yet most unsheakable of these microcosms
is our own deeply feeling self.
I have experienced the symptom-reducing,life-saving benefits of
primal therapy.A long,long journey along the chain of pain into
the deepest deposits of my history is coming to an end.I`m look-
ing forward to an entirely new consciousness and quality of life.

Janov`s book is well written like all of his former books. As a
lay person,I recommend it without reservation.

In just the first section of the book, Dr. Janov says so much of what needs to be said. As a Primal patient, I wish the world would heed what is in this book. He is the only professional to effectively unite the disciplines of psychology with the neurological sciences. If one is divorced from the other, the theory will be incomplete and any treatment will fail. Dr. Janov explains more about the nervous system than in his previous books. He also empahsizes how pre-natal experience affects a person's state of being, including his or her state of feeling, thought and behavior.He says what we as patients need the world to hear:"Feelings are not businesses to be 'managed.' They are meant to be felt.""We need access to our feelings to lead an intelligent life.""Feeling is what makes us human."Dr. Janov again assures us that to delve into the deepest levels of conciousness is not at all scary, but that it is necessary to connect to, release and resolve old imprinted pain. As a Primal person, I have enjoyed the benefits of doing this and look forward to delving ever deeper.

Whatever one may accept about the Primal Hypotheses (I've been adhering to the "Primal Reality" for 30 years) the important fact that emerges is that we are all historical beings, and once imprinted, experience stays with us. Most recently actress Sally Field talked about an aspect of herself where she (still) feels "little" (in relationships with men). She hopes one day to "overcome" this, but as Dr. Janov overwhelmingly demonstrates, to fully resolve established patterns of behavior, reliving early experiences --accessing the "early brain" is the necessity.

All I (mostly) learn from Janov is more "pieces" of the WHOLE. Little truly surprises me, but how significant womb experiences can be is a new revelation.

First he writes the awesome The Primal Scream. How is progress possible after he's achieved this high a level? Maybe the following books are not "better," but 'only' "different." They don't have to reach the level The Primal Scream reached, because The Primal Scream already reached it. What he writes now is "more." Having learned the new, having longer to have studied the old, Janov is able to make his lines maybe more direct, and more imaginative. I don't know, my memory isn't good enough to remember all i need to remember to be objective. Janov's been accused of being repetitive. I think its inevitable and even necessary when dealing with feelings. When have we felt a feeling enough? When do we no longer need to look at a place? When have we memorized the lessons of reality, and don't need to be reminded again? Reading Janov, you become part of a community of the caring. Yes, its possible to care without reading him, but its quite probable that one's sophistication of sensuality will be goodly improved by exploring the world Janov has both discovered and helped create. Its a question of style. Shall your life include the primal style?

Janov's discovery and development of Primal Therapy could transform the world. He should have been awarded the Nobel Prize in several categories long ago. It is the greatest discovery our world has ever seen, and over the years, with much research, Janov has honed his therapy into a precise and predictable science. It is too bad that self interest has caused his peers (as if he really has any) to ignore or deny the work Janov has done. I'm afraid that it still may be many years before Arthur Janov receives the recognition he deserves. In the meantime, only an elite few will discover the benefits of this wonderful, life saving tool.

Frank Dale Robinette

Psychotherapist Janov, author of The Primal Scream, here provides the first unified theory of psychology and brain chemistry, with chapters exploring how love affects health, personality development, and biology. From prenatal experience to early imprinting and later experiences, this examines both causes and cures of mental afflictions in the world of chemistry.

I saw some great reviews of this book on Amazon. A few more words need to be said. I discovered Janov in 87, reading the Primal Scream, 1970. I was amazed and hooked. I read about 5 of his early books, his complete collection of Newletters. I am a big fan of his theories and experience. I have never had Primal Therapy but absolutely believe in it. Why it has not swept the psychological field away and revolutionized it after so long is a marvel to wonder. I have my own suspicious theories on that.

The Primal Scream 1970, is still a book to read. But the best since then is this one, The Biology of Love. Janov created his own terminology in 1970 which he used for years. But in this book, he dumps the lingo and attempts neutral clinical medical psychological terms. Although I think it is a good move for Primal Therapy and Theory, it took some getting used to after years of the original Janov lingo, which was kind of fun in its own way.

Janov get into the nuts and bolt science of brain chemicals and brain processes and function as well as clinical experience with his patients. He wants to prove this is real physiological science, which it definitely is by my measure. Janov makes it easy reading, despite its very scientific nature, which is a commendable accomplishment. Then again, you're reading from a fan.

This is not vague theory. It is pure science, that like so much science today, is suffering from a lack of credibility as evidence pours in to make one wonder how modern practice could lag so far behind as it has in fields of psychology, medical practice, nutrition, geology, archaeology, physics/astronomy as compared to plasma physics,and more.

Psychology is obsolete. This is the real current paradigm/truth for those looking for it. Now I grant that Janov might do better to make it clear just how long and difficult this process can be as some have mentioned. But even so, this is the only solution that seems to work and produce true and profound changes in people and personalities, as well as even health.

And if you are a Christian, I believe if you really want to understand the human being that God created, then you might find the scales fall out of your eyes by reading this book. When the Bible says God is Love, you will know what that really means after this book. I have not yet read Primal Healing 2006, which I have bought but have yet to read due to other books being in line first, but this book might also be on a par with the one in review here as Healing looked very promising.