The Caveman Rules for Survival

Most readers will be familiar with the triune brain and its implications for human behaviour. It is unfortunate that this basic information about our operating system is not part of the education system, so we can go through life without any understanding of the impulses that move us. In this informative and entertaining book, the author explains how the subconscious runs 90% of our lives and tries in its own way to protect us. It has three fundamental rules, which form the kernel the book: react first or you will die, if your parents don't love you, you will die, and if you are not part of the pack, you will die. Our childhood experience gives the subconscious certain rules to apply in dangerous situations and the author explains how a presenting problem like shying away from confrontation is interpreted by the subconscious. Sometimes parents can unwittingly trigger the formulation of a rule by snapping at children because they themselves are tired. Therapeutically, the author helps clients remove the triggers of these patterns. Trauma, however, is an exception to the rule and must be taken very seriously. At the end of the book, there are practical suggestions about how we can increase our willpower and self-control so as to move beyond survival techniques. It is clear that self-awareness is essential if we are really going to change and have more freedom to make real choices.