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A Compelling Idea: How We Become the Persons We Are
A Compelling Idea is an autobiographical window into the personal
and professional journey of a “superstar psychologist.”
Alan Sroufe and his team at the University of Minnesota Institute
of Child Development conducted the longest running study of
human psychological development, establishing the reasons why
we each behave as we do and see the world as we do. Sroufe’s
groundbreaking theoretical and empirical contributions to the fields
of developmental psychology and developmental psychopathology
have been reported to the academic world in over 150 papers and
journal articles and seven books.
From the beginning of his academic career, Alan’s motivation to
pursue the study of human development was personal. Having been
raised in a dysfunctional family, he wanted to know why he had the
problems he did and how his mental health could be improved.
A Compelling Idea is his personal story of this road to discovery.
As one reviewer observed, “It is hard to imagine a person with any
curiosity regarding who they are and how they developed who
would not be fascinated by this book.”
“This book is brilliant! Alan Sroufe is one of the most thoughtful and
inspiring social scientists in the world. This compelling memoir should
be read by everyone.”
—JOHANN HARI, “Best-selling author of Lost Connections and Chasing the Scream
and professional journey of a “superstar psychologist.”
Alan Sroufe and his team at the University of Minnesota Institute
of Child Development conducted the longest running study of
human psychological development, establishing the reasons why
we each behave as we do and see the world as we do. Sroufe’s
groundbreaking theoretical and empirical contributions to the fields
of developmental psychology and developmental psychopathology
have been reported to the academic world in over 150 papers and
journal articles and seven books.
From the beginning of his academic career, Alan’s motivation to
pursue the study of human development was personal. Having been
raised in a dysfunctional family, he wanted to know why he had the
problems he did and how his mental health could be improved.
A Compelling Idea is his personal story of this road to discovery.
As one reviewer observed, “It is hard to imagine a person with any
curiosity regarding who they are and how they developed who
would not be fascinated by this book.”
“This book is brilliant! Alan Sroufe is one of the most thoughtful and
inspiring social scientists in the world. This compelling memoir should
be read by everyone.”
—JOHANN HARI, “Best-selling author of Lost Connections and Chasing the Scream
184 pages
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 1, 2022
One of the books which have had the biggest impact on me, ever. It brings together so many fields of the knowledge we have gained over the past 60 years about human behaviour. Easy read but packed with really valuable and intense information. A must-read for anyone even slightly curious about human behaviour, relationships and Attachment theory.
Sroufe uses strands of his personal story to refer to observations made in their team's more than 4 decades' longitudinal study in Minnesota. He explains everything in a manner which makes you feel like he is having a chat with you. He points out how infants relate to parents, how infants rely on, hopefully, competent parents, to decode their signals and help the infants enough in an age-appropriate way to maintain safety, but also encourage curious exploring and delight in accomplishment. Also about the importance of the adults being playful with their infants (I get goosebumps).
And then of course it continues, with the same subjects but with different researchers, into their toddler years, early school years, into adolescence, young adulthood and the same subjects as young parents.
He also explains how all of this relates to development and how important timing is in this process. Fabulous stuff!
Thank you, Alan Sroufe.
Sroufe uses strands of his personal story to refer to observations made in their team's more than 4 decades' longitudinal study in Minnesota. He explains everything in a manner which makes you feel like he is having a chat with you. He points out how infants relate to parents, how infants rely on, hopefully, competent parents, to decode their signals and help the infants enough in an age-appropriate way to maintain safety, but also encourage curious exploring and delight in accomplishment. Also about the importance of the adults being playful with their infants (I get goosebumps).
And then of course it continues, with the same subjects but with different researchers, into their toddler years, early school years, into adolescence, young adulthood and the same subjects as young parents.
He also explains how all of this relates to development and how important timing is in this process. Fabulous stuff!
Thank you, Alan Sroufe.
September 10, 2023
I read this book for class, but actually really enjoyed it! Sroufe does a beautiful job explaining the research from the Minnesota study in simple language, while intertwining parts of his own story that influenced his research. It portrays the development of a person and explains such important parts of why we are the way we are! I definitely would recommend this book.
May 22, 2023
Its scientific therapy in a book. Super cool to learn about yourself through your type of development.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews