The Psychobiology of Gene Expression [Hardcover]

Ernest L. Rossi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0393703436 | ISBN-13: 978-0393703436 | Publication Date: September 1, 2002 | Edition: 1

The new understanding of the relationships between gene expression and human experience emerging from the Human Genome Project is setting the stage for a profound expansion of our understanding of life.

The new neuroscience discoveries about enriching life experiences, neurogenesis, and gene expression are poised to profoundly expand our understanding of psychotherapy and the holistic healing arts. We are just beginning to learn how the brain, the body, and our genes interact in ordinary everyday life to create our lives. Here, acclaimed author and pioneer of new approaches to mindbody communication Ernest Rossi introduces the new science of psychosocial genomics and explores how it will profoundly change our understanding of the pathways of communication among mind, body, and spirit. Integrating modern molecular medicine with traditional holistic healing art and spiritual rites, Rossi documents dramatically new approaches to optimize creativity in psychotherapy and therapeutic hypnosis with both individuals and groups.

Part I reviews significant leading-edge neuroscience research on the psychobiology of gene expression and neurogenesis that leads to a new vision of the role of consciousness and creativity in the humanities and the healing arts. Part II explores how to creatively facilitate the psychodynamics of gene expression, neurogenesis, and healing in therapeutic hypnosis, psychotherapy, and human relationships in general.

The Psychobiology of Gene Expression illustrates, step-by-step, how to facilitate the natural four-stage creative process on all levels from mind to molecule in our daily work of building a better brain. The book demonstrates how we can use our consciousness and our perception of free will to co-create ourselves in cooperation with nature. Rossi proposes practical approaches to optimize the natural cycles of gene expression in normal consciousness, sleep, dreaming, meditation, and the arts of daily living that are experienced by everyone. A case study spanning two chapters, containing dialog and explanatory commentary, brings the author's work to life and gives readers a deeper appreciation of its clinical application. Rossi's lucid writing style and vivid illustrations inspire this text with a new vision of the creative arts, humanities, and culture in facilitating the optimal development of health, performance, and consciousness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This remarkable book is truly thought-provoking and ground-breaking...Rossi's work opens you to a new dimension of body-mind-health-arts concepts. -- European Journal of Clinical Hypnosis

About the Author

Ernest L. Rossi, Ph.D., is Diplomate in Clinical Psychology and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Psychotherapy by the Milton H. Erickson Foundation. He is also the science editor of Psychological Perspectives and the author, coauthor, and editor of numerous professional books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393703436
• ISBN-13: 978-0393703436
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sourcebook for Therapy in the 21st Century, January 28, 2004

By 

Tony Stanton M.D. (Poulsbo, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychobiology of Gene Expression (Hardcover)

Dr. Rossi has again written a "trail blazing" book. Those familiar with his previous publications know the breadth of his work - a work spanning Ericksonian Hypnosis, Jungian Psychology, Mind-Body Healing, Biological rhythms, and the psychology of Dreaming. He has not written a book on mathematical models of healing but it is clear that he has also studied this area in considerable depth. All the subjects listed above are revisited and taken to new levels in this book.

In addition to these sections Dr. Rossi also shares some very clear and vivid descriptions of actual therapuetic work. In one section he gives an entire transcription of a therapy he did with a woman during a workshop. In another section he lists a series of therapeutic exercises that can be used to access each person's deeper capacities for self healing.

This latest book also places Dr. Rossi in the ranks of the great detectives. He has been systematically tracking down all of the current research relating experience to gene expression. He regularly scans the internet for all sources that may have new findings related to this subject. He asks us to remember that this is "work in progress." Investigators all over the world are unlocking how specific genes are "turned on" by different experiences. Dr. Rossi is the only person I know who is making an attempt to synthesize this information within in a larger psychological context.

Currently both our medical culture and our larger culture continues to propagate extremely primitive models of human development. According to one of the most popular we inherit certain "tendencies" or diseases that are expressed in a nervous system that is essentially fixed after birth. Thus, our best therapeutic efforts will be directed towards modifying the brains that have genetically predestined defects. With these assumptions pharmacology will be the main (often only) ingredient of help.

At the beginning of the book Dr Rossi points out that recent findings have overturned many of our old theories about how the nervous system is linked to experience. We now know that novelty, life-enriching experiences and physical exercise can activate neurogenesis. Such experiences can turn on gene expression within minutes throughout the body and brain. As a result, "every memory is a reframe." We can actually reconstruct ourselves from a genetic level on up when we are experiencing a healing environment.

Taken as a whole Dr. Rossi has written one of the great sourcebooks for healing to guide us into the 21st Century.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peak of a brilliant career?, September 9, 2003

By 

Paul Jerry (Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Psychobiology of Gene Expression (Hardcover)

I mean this review to be brief so I'll state my conclusion at the start: this is an excellent book covering biochemistry up to psychotherapy. It is a must for any Rossi fan, if only because it has that 'culmination-of-a-brilliant-career' feel to it.

I discovered Rossi in the early 1980's and took one of his "64 questions in search of a graduate student" as my master's thesis. Since then I have digested his work and watched, sometimes in amazement, as clients changed and as I changed. Rossi's view of the mind-body in therapy works and is workable.

I had the pleasure of seeing him in Texas this summer (2003) and was mesmerized (pardon the pun) by the obvious skill of a master therapist. Between his demo to our group and reading this book with a view to integrate it into my work, I have found a revitalizing of my therapy practice that has pulled me out of a 2-year slump... enough said.

Thanks Dr. Rossi.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent integration of biology and mind, May 1, 2003

By 

Wong Chi Kin (Hong Kong, nil China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychobiology of Gene Expression (Hardcover)

As a clinical psychologist with a background in biochemistry, I am very thrilled to see the author to integrate the gene expression, environment and mind into a coherent and scientifically-based picture. The book offers a solid foundation for the biological bases for psychotherapy and provides a holistic viewpoint upon human activities. It is highly recommended !