Stan Gooch
Encyclopedia
Stan Gooch was a British psychologist
and author who is probably best known as the proponent of a "hybrid-origin theory" of human evolution.
and Neanderthal
lineage, respectively. These could be roughly equated to Freud's Ego and Id, and in some ways Carl Jung
's Male and Female principles.
In these books, Gooch develops what would become known as the "hybrid-origin theory". The theory as represented in
Guardians of the Ancient Wisdom (1979) can be outlined as follows:
Gooch continued to develop the theory during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s in Cities of Dreams (1989, 1995),
and The Neanderthal Legacy (2008).
. The book in a first part deals with his own paranormal
experiences and those of his acquaintances and in a second part presents a theoretical examination of the paranormal.
.
Gooch develops the theory that the cerebellum
, rather than the right hemisphere of the brain, is responsible for dreaming, creativity and paranormal experience.
, has described Stan Gooch's ideas about the origins of left-handedness as "myths" and stated that they lack any supporting evidence, although this conclusion was based on one paragraph of Gooch's work. Colin Wilson
has said Gooch's work forms "one of the most impressive and exciting intellectual structures of the second half of the twentieth century."
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and author who is probably best known as the proponent of a "hybrid-origin theory" of human evolution.
Total Man
Gooch's first book Total Man (1972) was an attempt to examine all fields of interest relevant to man today. On the back cover of the American print of Total Man Stan Gooch states:- "Essentially, the view I have taken of other 'theories of personality', such as those of Marx, ChristianityChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Freud, PavlovPavlov-People:*Pavlov *Ivan Pavlov, a psychologist famous for his experiment in classical conditioning.-Places:*in the Czech Republic:**Pavlov **Pavlov **Pavlov **Pavlov...
, Nietzsche and many others, is not that all, or all but one, are wrong, but on the contrary that all are correct. I was, and am still, unable to escape the implications of the fact that each of the theorists in question was, after all, concerned with one and the same human being. Instead of rejecting all such views, I found myself essentially rejecting none. This shift of emphasis is, I believe, crucial. The task is changed from one of selection to one of assembly."
Theory of polarities
In various chapters of Total Man Gooch outlined what would become the basis of his theories when he showed that phenomena can be divided into two columns, which he titled System A and System B, later asssociated with Cro-MagnonCro-Magnon
The Cro-Magnon were the first early modern humans of the European Upper Paleolithic. The earliest known remains of Cro-Magnon-like humans are radiometrically dated to 35,000 years before present....
and Neanderthal
Neanderthal
The Neanderthal is an extinct member of the Homo genus known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia...
lineage, respectively. These could be roughly equated to Freud's Ego and Id, and in some ways Carl Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
's Male and Female principles.
| System A | System B |
|---|---|
| Sun | Moon |
| Psychosis | Neurosis |
| Logic | Intuition |
| Science | Religion |
| Awake | Dreaming |
| Adult | Child |
| Day | Night |
| God | Devil |
| Male | Female |
| Yang | Yin |
| Fascism | Communism |
Hybrid-origin theory
Total Man was followed by Personality and Evolution (1973) and The Neanderthal Question (1977).In these books, Gooch develops what would become known as the "hybrid-origin theory". The theory as represented in
Guardians of the Ancient Wisdom (1979) can be outlined as follows:
- From other human species, Cro-Magnon man evolves in Northern India during a long period of isolation, develops and practices sun worship and hunting magicHunting magicHunting magic is a term for practices of magic associated with hunting in hunter-gatherer cultures, both contemporary and prehistoric.Walter Burkert in Homo Necans suggested that rituals associated with hunting magic are at the origin of religion....
; the culture is patriarchal. - Elsewhere during the same period, different forms of Neanderthal man evolve in Europe and the Middle East, while moon worship and earth magic is developed and practiced; the culture is matriarchal.
- Around 35,000 years ago, Cro-Magnon abandons India and heads west through the Middle East into Europe, overrunning Neanderthal. By 25,000 years ago, the predominant type in Europe is Cro-Magnon.
- In the Middle East a hybrid population, a cross between the Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal types, emerges. Pure Neanderthal has largely ceased to exist either here or in Europe.
- By 15,000 years ago, pure Cro-Magnon man has also ceased to exist, driven out of north and west Europe, into southern Europe, by renewed glaciation, absorbed by the hybrid type (that is, modern Homo sapiens).
Gooch continued to develop the theory during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s in Cities of Dreams (1989, 1995),
and The Neanderthal Legacy (2008).
The Paranormal
In The Paranormal (1978), Gooch reveals that prior to obtaining a degree in psychology, in his mid-twenties, he had been trained as a mediumMediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
. The book in a first part deals with his own paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
experiences and those of his acquaintances and in a second part presents a theoretical examination of the paranormal.
The Double Helix of the Mind
In The Double Helix of the Mind (1980), Gooch criticizes the hemisphere model of the human brainHuman brain
The human brain has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times larger than the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size. Estimates for the number of neurons in the human brain range from 80 to 120 billion...
.
Gooch develops the theory that the cerebellum
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...
, rather than the right hemisphere of the brain, is responsible for dreaming, creativity and paranormal experience.
Reception
In his book Right Hand, Left Hand: The Origins of Asymmetry in Brains, Bodies, Atoms and Cultures Chris McManus, a psychologist at University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, has described Stan Gooch's ideas about the origins of left-handedness as "myths" and stated that they lack any supporting evidence, although this conclusion was based on one paragraph of Gooch's work. Colin Wilson
Colin Wilson
Colin Henry Wilson is a prolific English writer who first came to prominence as a philosopher and novelist. Wilson has since written widely on true crime, mysticism and other topics. He prefers calling his philosophy new existentialism or phenomenological existentialism.- Early biography:Born and...
has said Gooch's work forms "one of the most impressive and exciting intellectual structures of the second half of the twentieth century."
External links
- bibliography
- Psychology Wiki entry
- http://www.kheper.net/topics/Gooch/index.html A discussion on Stan Gooch's theory of brain polarity.
- http://www.aulis.com/twothirds_colin_wilson.htm An essay by Colin WilsonColin WilsonColin Henry Wilson is a prolific English writer who first came to prominence as a philosopher and novelist. Wilson has since written widely on true crime, mysticism and other topics. He prefers calling his philosophy new existentialism or phenomenological existentialism.- Early biography:Born and...
on Stan Gooch.