The Chimp Paradox summary

So the human brain is comprised of two different parts and it’s key to be able to manage them. Here’s how:

First, in any given interaction, you should begin by determining which section of your brain is directing your behavior: Is it the human or the chimp? To figure this out, you can ask yourself simple questions that begin with, “Do I want…?” By answering them, you’ll learn which part of the brain you’re following.

Now that you know about the human and chimp parts of your brain, it’s time to learn about another part. It’s called the computer and it’s responsible for automatic functions based on learned patterns.

This is essential since autopilot plays a major role in the lives of most humans. Such automatic behavior is based on patterns you’ve learned, beliefs you’ve absorbed and programs you’ve established.

So goblins are real and they can cause some serious trouble. To handle them, you’ll need to get your computer into shape, and that means implanting positive patterns. Here’s how to do it:

First, you need to identify which goblins actually reside within your computer. This initial step is essential since both the chimp and the human parts of your brain look to the computer when they don’t know how to act. And if there’s a goblin in the computer – say, a negative behavioral pattern – the result will be unsettling for both the emotional chimp and the rational human.

Being able to hear where other people are coming from is essential to navigating the world, and if you want to do this well, you need to calm down your chimp. Once you do, you’ll realize that different people have different brains. This might come as a surprise since people tend to assume that the brains of others work just like theirs. But this assumption inevitably leads to misunderstandings, which in turn anger the chimp.

When you quiet down the chimp by using the methods you’ve now learned, however, you’ll be able to discern different perspectives on life. Just take an extreme example that the author encountered in his work. One of his clients was the father of an 18-year-old boy with some unusual traits caused by autism. For instance, he would use an entire bottle of shampoo every time he took a shower. Another issue was that, every night when his father returned from work, the son would greet him with an endless stream of questions until the father couldn’t take it any more.

You just learned how easy it is to misunderstand others. Now think of how frustrating it can be trying to communicate with different people. It’s no secret that communication, or a lack thereof, can cause all kinds of problems, but the good news is that it’s a skill you can practice.

But before we get there, let’s take a look at the four basic ways that people communicate, all of which involve your chimp and human brains.

By now you’ve seen how the brain and its different parts affect human behavior. Now it’s time to learn how the chimp and human brains can impact your health. It’s true, the brain even affects your physical well-being, so it’s easy to improve your health by bringing your attention to solutions rather than problems.

In fact, the dilemma of physical health is quintessential to the human-vs-chimp debate; the human wants to exercise and lose weight while the chimp just wants to plop down in front of the television with a huge tub of ice cream.

Did you know that happiness is actually a choice? That doesn’t mean that you get to be happy whenever you want, but, rather, that life has its ups and downs, and that you can actively work to have more good times and fewer bad ones.

So how does this work?