On Second Thought How Ambivalence Shapes Your Life

The rich inner world of a human being is far more complex than either/or. You can love and hate, want to go and want to stay, feel both joy and sadness. Psychologist William Miller--one of the world's leading experts on the science of change--offers a fresh perspective on ambivalence and its transformative potential in this revealing book. Rather than trying to overcome indecision by force of will, Dr. Miller explores what happens when people allow opposing arguments from their inner committee members to converse freely with each other. Learning to tolerate and even welcome feelings of ambivalence can help you get unstuck from unwanted habits, clarify your desires and values, explore the pros and cons of tough decisions, and open doorways to change. Vivid examples from everyday life, literature, and history illustrate why we are so often "of two minds," and how to work through it.

I. The Nature of Ambivalence 1. I Want It and I Dont 2. Four Flavors of Ambivalence 3. The Language of Ambivalence II. How It Works 4. Sources of Ambivalence 5. Social Influences 6. Out of the Depths 7. Consequences of Ambivalence 8. Individual Differences 9. Responding to Ambivalence III. Working Through Ambivalence 10. Getting Clear on Your Values 11. Getting the Big Picture 12. Getting Out of the Woods 13. Embracing Ambivalence Notes Index

William R. Miller, PhD, is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. Fundamentally interested in the psychology of change, he is a cofounder of motivational interviewing and has focused particularly on developing and testing more effective treatments for people with alcohol and drug problems. Dr. Miller has published over 400 scientific articles and chapters and 50 books, including the groundbreaking work for professionals Motivational Interviewing, Third Edition. He is a recipient of the international Jellinek Memorial Award, two career achievement awards from the American Psychological Association, and an Innovators in Combating Substance Abuse Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, among many other honors. The Institute for Scientific Information has listed him as one of the worlds most highly cited researchers.