Health Realization
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Three Principles Psychology (TPP), previously known as Health Realization (HR), is a resiliency approach to personal and
community psychology Community psychology is concerned with the community as the unit of study. This contrasts with most psychology, which focuses on the individual. Community psychology also studies the community as a context for the individuals within it,Jim Orf ...
first developed in the 1980s by Roger C. Mills and George Pransky, who were influenced by the teachings of philosopher and author Sydney Banks. The approach first gained recognition for its application in economically and socially marginalized communities experiencing high levels of stress. (see ''Community Applications'' below). The foundational concepts of TPP are the Three Principles of Mind, Consciousness, and Thought, which were originally articulated by Sydney Banks in the early 1970s. Banks, a Scottish welder with a ninth-grade education who lived in British Columbia, Canada, provided the philosophical basis for TPP, emphasizing how these principles underlie all human psychological experiences. The core of TPP lies in the understanding that an individual's psychological experience is shaped by their
thought In their most common sense, the terms thought and thinking refer to cognitive processes that can happen independently of sensory stimulation. Their most paradigmatic forms are judging, reasoning, concept formation, problem solving, and de ...
processes. TPP teaches that by recognizing the role of Thought in shaping one's experience, individuals can transform their responses to situations. This transformation is achieved by accessing what TPP refers to as "innate health" and "inner wisdom." TPP is also known by other names, including Psychology of Mind, Neo-cognitive Psychology, Innate Health, the Inside-Out Understanding and colloquially, the 3Ps.


Discovery of the Three Principles

According to verbal accounts provided by Banks in his recorded lectures, he realised the Three Principles during a marriage seminar on
Cortes Island Cortes Island is an island in the Discovery Islands archipelago on the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The island is long, wide, and in area. It has a population of 1,035 permanent residents (2016 census). Cortes Island lies within Electo ...
, British Columbia, Canada in 1973. As they were preparing to depart, Banks engaged in a conversation with a therapist who was also attending the seminar. At the time, Banks described himself as "an insecure mess" and began listing the various ways in which he felt insecure. The therapist responded, "I've never heard such nonsense in all my life. You're not insecure, Syd; you just think you are." This statement profoundly impacted Banks. He realized that insecurity was not a real, inherent condition but merely a product of his thoughts. Reflecting on the experience, Banks described it as a revelatory moment:
What I heard was: there's no such thing as insecurity, it's only Thought. All my insecurity was only my own thoughts! It was like a bomb going off in my head … It was so enlightening! It was unbelievable … nd after that,there was such beauty coming into my life.
The specific terms "Mind," "Consciousness," and "Thought" were not immediately clear to Banks during this initial experience. Over time, through his talks and lectures, these terms became more clearly defined, and Banks referred to them collectively as the "psychological trinity." Banks, who passed away from metastatic
cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...
in May 2009, challenged many traditional notions and practices of psychotherapy. He asserted that mental well-being does not require processing the past or analyzing the content of personal thought systems.
Everyone in mental institutions is sitting in the middle of mental health and they don't know it.
Banks was also against using techniques or developing concepts to convey his understanding to others.


Three Principles Psychology model

In Three Principles Psychology (TPP), all psychological phenomena—from severe disorders to optimal mental health—are understood as manifestations of three operative "principles" first articulated by Sydney Banks as the basis of human experience and feeling states.: * Mind - The energy and intelligence that animates all life, both in its physical form and in the formless. The Universal Mind, often referred to as "wisdom" or the "impersonal" mind, is constant and unchanging, acting as the source of innate health and well-being. In contrast, the personal mind is in a continuous state of flux. * Consciousness - The capacity to be aware of one's life and experiences. Consciousness is the gift of awareness that enables the recognition of form, with form being an expression of Thought. * Thought - The ability to think, which allows individuals to create their personal experience of reality. Thought is a divine gift, not self-created, that is present from birth. It serves as the creative agent through which individuals navigate and direct their lives. In the TPP model, "Mind" is often compared to the electricity powering a movie projector, while "Thought" is likened to the images on the film. "Consciousness" is analogous to the light from the projector that casts the images onto the screen, making them appear real.Mills, R: ''Realizing Mental Health: Toward a New Psychology of Resiliency'', p. 57. Sulberger & Graham Publishing, Ltd. 1995. According to TPP, individuals experience reality and their circumstances through the continual filter of their thoughts. Consciousness gives this filtered reality the appearance of being "the way it really is," leading people to react to it as if it were absolute truth. However, when their thinking changes, their perception of reality shifts, and their reactions change accordingly. Thus, TPP posits that people are constantly creating their own experience of reality through their thoughts. Also according to TPP, people tend to perceive their reality as stressful when they are engaged in insecure or negative thoughts. However, TPP suggests that these thoughts do not need to be taken seriously. By choosing to take such thoughts more lightly, the mind can quiet down, allowing positive feelings to emerge naturally. TPP teaches that everyone has an inherent capacity for health and well-being, referred to as "innate health," which surfaces when troubled thinking subsides. When this occurs, individuals also gain access to
common sense Common sense () is "knowledge, judgement, and taste which is more or less universal and which is held more or less without reflection or argument". As such, it is often considered to represent the basic level of sound practical judgement or know ...
and can tap into a universal capacity for creative
problem-solving Problem solving is the process of achieving a goal by overcoming obstacles, a frequent part of most activities. Problems in need of solutions range from simple personal tasks (e.g. how to turn on an appliance) to complex issues in business an ...
, known as "inner wisdom." Both peer-reviewed and anecdotal evidence indicates that when someone deeply understands the principles behind TPP, they may experience a profound sense of emotional freedom and well-being.


Three Principles Psychology as therapy

In contrast to
psychotherapies Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome prob ...
that focus on the content of the clients' dysfunctional thinking, TPP focuses on "innate health" and the role of "Mind, Consciousness and Thought" in creating the clients' experience of life.Pransky, J: ''Prevention from the Inside-Out'', p. 243. Authorhouse, 2003 The TPP counselor does not suggest to clients that they attempt to change their thoughts, "
think positive “Think Positive” is a Lebanese association (registration number 958) established in 2009. It started its activities with fighting HIV/AIDS, Drug Use, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Stigma and Discrimination. Vision Think Positive aims a ...
", or "
reframe ReFrame (also known as ReFrame Project; formerly known as the Systemic Change Project) is an American non-profit organization founded by Women in Film LA and the Sundance Institute together with over 50 leaders and influencers in Hollywood, with ...
" negative thoughts to positive ones. According to TPP, one's ability to control one's thoughts is limited and the effort to do so can itself be a source of
stress Stress may refer to: Science and medicine * Stress (biology), an organism's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition * Stress (linguistics), relative emphasis or prominence given to a syllable in a word, or to a word in a phra ...
. Instead, clients are encouraged to consider that their "minds are using thought continuously to determine their subjective, personal reality in each moment." In the TPP model, feelings and
emotions Emotions are physical and mental states brought on by neurophysiology, neurophysiological changes, variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavior, behavioral responses, and a degree of pleasure or suffering, displeasure. There is ...
are seen as indicators of the quality of one's thinking. Unpleasant or stressful emotions, suggest that an individual's thinking is influenced by
insecurity Insecure may refer to: * Lack of security, in an objective sense: ** Risk ** Data security ** Computer security * Food insecurity * Insecurity (emotion), lack of confidence or self esteem Media * ''Insecure'' (TV series), a television series ...
, negative
beliefs A belief is a subjective Attitude (psychology), attitude that something is truth, true or a State of affairs (philosophy), state of affairs is the case. A subjective attitude is a mental state of having some Life stance, stance, take, or opinion ...
,
conditioning Conditioning may refer to: Science, computing, and technology * Air conditioning, the removal of heat from indoor air for thermal comfort ** Automobile air conditioning, air conditioning in a vehicle ** Ice storage air conditioning, air conditio ...
, or learned patterns that may be irrelevant to, and thereby distort, the present moment. These emotions also indicate a temporary lapse in recognizing one's role in shaping their own experience. Conversely, pleasant emotions—such as well-being, gratitude, compassion, or peace—indicate that one's thinking is aligned with what TPP considers optimal for the current situation. TPP holds that the therapeutic "working through" of personal issues from the past to achieve wholeness is unnecessary. According to the TPP model, people are already whole and healthy. The traumas of the past are only important to the extent that the individual lets them influence his or her thoughts in the present. According to TPP, one's "issues" and memories are simply thoughts, and the individual can react to them or not. The more clients recognize that they are creating their own painful feelings through their "power of Thought," the less these feelings tend to bother them.. Sedgeman compares this to making scary faces in the mirror: because we know it's just us, it's impossible to scare ourselves that way. Thus TPP addresses personal insecurities and dysfunctional patterns ''en masse'', aiming for an understanding of the "key role of thought", an understanding that ideally allows the individual to step free at once from a large number of different patterns all connected by insecure thinking. With this approach, it is rare for the practitioner to delve into specific content When specific thoughts are recognized as limiting or based on insecurity or conditioning, they often come with an uncomfortable feeling. The counselor points out that this understanding activates the body's homeostatic system, which naturally prefers feeling good over feeling bad. As a result, the individual has the capacity to let go of these thoughts if they choose to.


Relationships

From the perspective of TPP, relationship problems stem from a low awareness of each partner's role in creating their own experience through thought and consciousness. Partners who embrace TPP reportedly stop blaming and recriminating, leading to a different way of interacting. TPP counselors encourage couples to recognize that their feelings are not determined by their partner, and that most issues that previously disrupted their relationship were based on insecure, negative, and conditioned thinking. Counselors also emphasize that everyone experiences emotional ups and downs, and that thinking during a "down" mood is likely to be distorted. TPP teaches that it is generally counterproductive to "talk through" relationship problems when partners are in a bad mood. Instead, TPP suggests waiting until both have calmed down and can discuss things from a place of inner comfort and security.


Chemical dependency and addiction

TPP views
chemical dependency Substance dependence, also known as drug dependence, is a biopsychological situation whereby an individual's functionality is dependent on the necessitated re-consumption of a psychoactive substance because of an adaptive state that has develope ...
and related behaviors as a response to a lack of
self-efficacy In psychology, self-efficacy is an individual's belief in their capacity to act in the ways necessary to reach specific goals. The concept was originally proposed by the psychologist Albert Bandura in 1977. Self-efficacy affects every area of hum ...
, rather than the result of disease. According to TPP, individuals who are "unaware" of their own "innate health" and their role in creating stress through their thoughts may turn to
alcohol Alcohol may refer to: Common uses * Alcohol (chemistry), a class of compounds * Ethanol, one of several alcohols, commonly known as alcohol in everyday life ** Alcohol (drug), intoxicant found in alcoholic beverages ** Alcoholic beverage, an alco ...
, drugs, or other compulsive behaviors in an attempt to quell their stressful feelings and regain a temporary sense of control. TPP seeks to provide deeper relief by demonstrating that negative and stressful feelings are self-generated and can be self-quieted, offering a pathway to well-being that does not rely on external circumstances or substances.


Application

Over the past forty years, Sydney Banks' "insight" has been applied in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, correctional institutions, social services, individual and couples therapy, community housing, drug and alcohol prevention and treatment programmes, schools and multi-national corporations.Kelley, T: "Preventing Youth Violence through Health Realization", ''
Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice ''Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal that covers the field of criminology and juvenile law. Its Co-editors are Chad R. Trulson (University of North Texas) and Jonathan W. Caudill ( University of Col ...
'', p. 378-80, Vol. 1(4) Oct. 2003.
Pransky, J: ''Prevention from the Inside-Out'', p. 125-32. Authorhouse, 2003 The Three Principles of Mind, Consciousness, and Thought have gained global recognition and are now implemented in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
,
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
,
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
,
Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
,
Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
,
The Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
,
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
,
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
,
Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
,
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
,
Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
,
Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
,
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
,
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
,
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
,
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
,
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
,
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
,
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
,
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
and
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
.


Community applications

The Three Principles Psychology (TPP) model has been applied in a variety of challenging settings. An early project, which garnered national publicity under the leadership of Roger Mills, introduced TPP (then known as Health Realization (HR) to residents of two low-income housing developments in Miami known as Modello and Homestead Gardens. After three years, there were major documented reductions in
crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...
,
illegal drug trade The illegal drug trade, drug trafficking, or narcotrafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of drug prohibition, prohibited drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibitionism, prohibit trade, exce ...
,
teenage pregnancy Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female under the age of 20. Worldwide, pregnancy complications are the leading cause of death for women and girls 15 to 19 years old. The definition of teenage pregnancy i ...
,
child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical abuse, physical, child sexual abuse, sexual, emotional and/or psychological abuse, psychological maltreatment or Child neglect, neglect of a child, especially by a p ...
,
child neglect Child neglect is an act of caregivers (e.g., parents) that results in depriving a child of their basic needs, such as the failure to provide adequate supervision, health care, clothing, or housing, as well as other physical, emotional, social, ...
, school absenteeism,
unemployment Unemployment, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), is the proportion of people above a specified age (usually 15) not being in paid employment or self-employment but currently available for work du ...
, and families on
public assistance Welfare spending is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specifically to social insurance pr ...
. Jack Pransky has chronicled the transformations that unfolded in his book ''Modello, A Story of Hope for the Inner City and Beyond''. Later projects in some of the most violence-affected housing developments in New York, Minnesota, and California, as well as in other communities in California, Hawaii, and Colorado, expanded on the foundational work done in Modello and Homestead Gardens. The Coliseum Gardens housing complex in Oakland, California, once had the fourth highest homicide rate among similar complexes in the U.S. However, after the introduction of HR classes, the homicide rate began to decrease significantly.
Gang A gang is a social group, group or secret society, society of associates, friends, or members of a family with a defined leadership and internal organization that identifies with or claims control over Wiktionary:territory#Noun, territory in a ...
warfare and ethnic clashes between Cambodian and African-American youth ceased. In 1997, Sargeant Jerry Williams was awarded the California Wellness Foundation Peace Prize on behalf of the Health Realization Community Empowerment Project at Coliseum Gardens. By the year 2006, there had been no homicides in the Complex for nine straight years. The TPP model has also found application in police departments, prisons, mental health clinics, community health clinics and nursing, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, services for the homeless, schools, and a variety of state and local government programs. The County of Santa Clara, California, for example, has established
Health Realization Services Division
which provides HR training to County employees and the public. The Services Division "seeks to enhance the life of the individual by teaching the understanding of the psychological principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought, and how these principles function to create our life experience... enabling them to live healthier and more productive lives so that the community becomes a model of health and wellness." The Department of Alcohol and Drug Services introduced HR in Santa Clara County in 1994. The Health Realization Services Division has an approved budget of over $800,000 (gross expenditure) for FY 2008, a 41% increase over 2007, at a time when a number of programs within the Alcohol and Drug Services Department have sustained budget cuts. HR (TPP) community projects have received grant funding from a variety of sources. For example, grant partners for the Visitacion Valley Community Resiliency Project, a five-year, multimillion-dollar community revitalization project, have included
Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with a significant global presence. The company operates in 35 countries and serves over 70 million customers worldwide. It is a systemically important fi ...
Bank,
Charles Schwab Corporation The Charles Schwab Corporation is an American multinational Financial institution, financial services company. It offers banking, commercial banking, investing and related services including consulting, and wealth management advisory services ...
Foundation, Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, Isabel Allende Foundation, Pottruck Family Foundation, McKesson Foundation, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, S.H. Cowell Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr. Fund, Milagro Foundation, and Dresdner RCM Global Investors. Other projects based upon the HR (TPP) approach have been funded by the
National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH, in turn, is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is the primar ...
, the
U.S. Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the U.S. government that oversees the domestic enforcement of federal laws and the administration of justice. It is equi ...
, the
National Institute on Drug Abuse The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a United States federal government research institute whose mission is to "advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual ...
, the California Wellness Foundation, and the Shinnyo-en Foundation. Ongoing community projects organized by the Center for Sustainable Change, a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Roger Mills and Ami Chen Mills-Naim, are funded by the
W.K. Kellogg Foundation The W. K. Kellogg Foundation was founded in June 1930 as the W. K. Kellogg Child Welfare Foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer Will Keith Kellogg. In 1934, Kellogg donated more than $66 million in Kellogg Company stock and other investments to t ...
. The Center for Sustainable Change works in partnership with grassroots organizations in Des Moines, Iowa; Charlotte, North Carolina; and the Mississippi Delta to bring Three Principles training to at-risk communities under the umbrella of the National Community Resiliency Project. The center also works with schools, agencies and corporations.


Organizational applications

In the course of their exposure to Health Realization (HR), or the foundational concept referred to as Three Principles Psychology, individuals within the business realm have incorporated these principles into their respective professional domains. This assimilation has manifested as a discernible trend wherein practitioners, having grasped the core tenets, integrate and apply these ideas within their organizational contexts. The approach has been introduced to people in medicine, law,XcellDynamics
Previous Clients
2006. Retrieved Oct. 22, 2007.
investment and financial services, technology, marketing, manufacturing, publishing, and a variety of other commercial and financial roles. It has been reported anecdotally to have had significant impact in the areas of individual
performance A performance is an act or process of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function. Performance has evolved glo ...
and development,
teamwork Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in an effective and efficient way. Teamwork is seen within the framework of a team, which is a group of interdependent individuals who work toge ...
,
leadership Leadership, is defined as the ability of an individual, group, or organization to "", influence, or guide other individuals, teams, or organizations. "Leadership" is a contested term. Specialist literature debates various viewpoints on the co ...
, change and
diversity Diversity, diversify, or diverse may refer to: Business *Diversity (business), the inclusion of people of different identities (ethnicity, gender, age) in the workforce *Diversity marketing, marketing communication targeting diverse customers * ...
. According to HR/Three Principles adherents, these results flow naturally as the ''individuals exposed to the ideas learn how their thoughts have been creating barriers to others and barriers to their own innate creativity, common sense, and well-being.'' As people learn how to access their full potential more consistently, HR adherents say, they get better results with less effort and less stress in less time. Two peer-reviewed articles on effectiveness with leadership development were published in professional journals in 2008 (ADHR) and 2009 (ODJ). See "Organizations and Business" section below (Polsfuss & Ardichvili).


Philosophical context

The Three Principles rests on the non-academic philosophy of Sydney Banks, which Mr. Banks has expounded upon in several books. Mr. Banks was a day laborer with no education beyond ninth grade (age 14) in Scotland who, in 1973, reportedly had a profound insight into the nature of human experience. Mr. Banks does not particularly attempt to position his ideas within the larger traditions of
philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
or
religion Religion is a range of social system, social-cultural systems, including designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics in religion, ethics, or ...
; he is neither academically trained nor well read. His philosophy focuses on the illusory, thought-created nature of reality, the Three Principles of "Mind", "Thought", and "Consciousness", the potential relief of human suffering that can come from a fundamental shift in personal awareness and understanding and the importance of a direct, experiential grasp of these matters, as opposed to a mere intellectual comprehension or analysis. Mr. Banks suggests that his philosophy is best understood not intellectually but by "listening for a positive feeling;" and a grasp of the Three Principles is said to come through a series of "insights," that is, shifts in experiential understanding.


Teaching of The Three Principles

Three Principles Psychology (TPP), much like Sydney Banks's philosophy, is not presented as a collection of 'techniques.' Instead, it's an experiential 'understanding' that transcends the mere transfer of information. There are no steps, no uniformly appropriate internal attitudes, and no techniques within it. The "health of the helper" is considered crucial; that is, trainers or counselors ideally will "live in the understanding that allows them to enjoy life," and thereby continuously model their understanding of TPP by staying calm and relaxed, not taking things personally, assuming the potential in others, displaying
common sense Common sense () is "knowledge, judgement, and taste which is more or less universal and which is held more or less without reflection or argument". As such, it is often considered to represent the basic level of sound practical judgement or know ...
, and listening respectfully to all. Facilitators ideally teach in the moment, from "what they know" (e.g. their own experience), trusting that they will find the right words to say and the right approach to use in the immediate situation to stimulate the students' understanding of the "Three Principles".
Rapport Rapport ( ; ) is a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned are "in sync" with each other, understand each other's feelings or ideas, and communicate smoothly. The word derives from the French language, French ve ...
with students and a positive mood in the session or class are more important than the specific content of the facilitator's presentation.


Evaluations of Health Realization

A 2007
peer-reviewed Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work ( peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...
article evaluating the effectiveness of HR suggests that the results of residential
substance abuse Substance misuse, also known as drug misuse or, in older vernacular, substance abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods that are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder, differing definition ...
treatment structured around the teaching of HR are equivalent to those of treatment structured around
12-step Twelve-step programs are international mutual aid programs supporting recovery from substance addictions, behavioral addictions and compulsions. Developed in the 1930s, the first twelve-step program, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), founded by Bill ...
programs. The authors note that "these results are consistent with the general findings in the substance abuse literature, which suggests that treatment generally yields benefits, irrespective of approach." A small peer-reviewed study in preparation for a planned larger study evaluated the teaching of HR/Innate Health via a one-and-a-half-day seminar, as a stress and anxiety reduction intervention for HIV-positive patients. All but one of the eight volunteer participants in the study showed improved scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory after the seminar, and those participants who scored in the "psychiatric outpatient" range at the beginning of the seminar all showed improvement that was sustained upon follow-up one month later. The study's authors concluded that "The HR/IH psychoeducational approach deserves further study as a brief intervention for stress-reduction in HIV-positive patients." A 2007 pilot study funded by the
National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It was founded in 1887 and is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Service ...
evaluated HR in lowering
stress Stress may refer to: Science and medicine * Stress (biology), an organism's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition * Stress (linguistics), relative emphasis or prominence given to a syllable in a word, or to a word in a phra ...
among Somali and
Oromo Oromo may refer to: * Oromo people, an ethnic group of Ethiopia and Kenya * Oromo language, an Afroasiatic language See also * *Orma (clan), Oromo tribe *Oromia Oromia (, ) is a Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in Ethiopia and the homelan ...
refugee women who had experienced violence and
torture Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person for reasons including corporal punishment, punishment, forced confession, extracting a confession, interrogational torture, interrogation for information, or intimid ...
in their homelands, but for whom Western-style psychotherapeutic treatment of
trauma Trauma most often refers to: *Psychological trauma, in psychology and psychiatric medicine, refers to severe mental and emotional injury caused by distressing events *Traumatic injury, sudden physical injury caused by an external force, which doe ...
was not culturally appropriate. The pilot study showed that "the use of HR with refugee trauma survivors was feasible, culturally acceptable, and relevant to the participants." In a post-intervention focus group, "many women reported using new strategies to calm down, quiet their minds and make healthier decisions." Co-investigator Cheryl Robertson, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the
University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...
, was quoted as saying, "This is a promising intervention that doesn't involve the use of highly trained personnel. And it can be done in the community." The Visitacion Valley Community Resiliency Project (VVCRP) was reviewed by an independent evaluator hired by the Pottruck Foundation. Her final report notes that "Early program evaluation...found that the VVCRP was successful in reducing individuals’ feelings of depression and isolation, and increasing their sense of happiness and self-control. The cumulative evaluation research conducted on the VVCRP and the HR model in general concludes that HR is a powerful tool for changing individuals’ beliefs and behaviors." In the Summary of Case Studies, the report goes on to state, "The VVCRP was effective over a period of five years of sustained involvement in two major neighborhood institutions... at influencing not just individuals, but also organizational policies, practices, and culture. This level of organizational influence is impressive when the relatively modest level of VVCRP staff time and resources invested into making these changes is taken into account. The pivotal levers of change at each organization were individual leaders who were moved by the HR principles to make major changes in their own beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, and then took the initiative to inspire, enable, and mandate similar changes within their organizations. This method of reaching "critical mass" of HR awareness within these organizations appears to be both efficient and effective when the leadership conditions are right. However, this pathway to change is vulnerable to the loss of the key individual leader."


Research efforts on effectiveness

Published peer review research has demonstrated that peer-mentored three principles based programs can be highly effective in improving mental health and wellbeing. For example, Catherine-Gray and Denkers conducted a waitlist controlled trails with 127 volunteers from a prison located in the UK. All participants received normal prison programming (N=127), while the intervention group (n=66) received an additional 3-day intensive called Insight to Wellbeing. This study found higher levels of innate health, self-control, well-being, and prosocial behavior and lower levels of aggression within the intervention group and as compared with the control group. This study also conducted a mediation analysis to test if innate health, self-control, and/or social desirability bias could explain these positive changes. Importantly, innate health did play a mediating role equivalent to and/or partnering with self-control, whereas social desirability bias did not. Previously, Pransky reviewed the research on HR (through 2001) in relation to its results for
prevention Prevention may refer to: Health and medicine * Preventive healthcare, measures to prevent diseases or injuries rather than curing them or treating their symptoms General safety * Crime prevention, the attempt to reduce deter crime and crimin ...
and education, citing 20 manuscripts, most of which were conference papers, and none
peer-reviewed Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work ( peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...
journal articles, although two were unpublished doctoral dissertations. (Kelley (2003) cites two more unpublished doctoral dissertations.) Pransky concludes, "Every study of Health Realization and its various incarnations, however weak or strong the design, has shown a decrease in problem behaviors and internally experienced problems. This approach appears to reduce problem behaviors and to improve mental health and well-being. At the very least, this suggests the field of prevention should further examine the efficacy of this... approach by conducting independent, rigorous, controlled, longitudinal studies." Practitioners of the Three Principles believe that feeling states (and all experience) are created (through mental activity i.e., thought). Scientific research by
Lisa Feldman Barrett Lisa Feldman Barrett is a Canadian-American psychologist. She is a University Distinguished Professor of psychology at Northeastern University, where she focuses on affective science and co-directs the Interdisciplinary Affective Science Labora ...
supports this notion that mental states (i.e. emotions) are indeed constructed from within the human mind. Practitioners believe that beyond each person's limited, conscious, and personal thought system lies a vast reservoir of wisdom, insight and spiritual intelligence. No one person has greater access to wisdom than any other. Mental health is the resting state, or "default" setting of the mind, which brings with it non-contingent feelings of love, compassion, resilience, creativity and unity, both with others and with life itself. Research by George Bonnano, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, supports this notion that resilience, not recovery, is a common response to difficult life events such as trauma and loss.


Criticism

In a criticism of the philosophy of Sydney Banks and, by implication, the HR approach, Bonelle Strickling, a psychotherapist and Professor of Philosophy, is quoted in an article in the ''Vancouver Sun'' as objecting that "it makes it appear as if people can, through straightforward positive thinking, 'choose' to transcend their troubled upbringings and begin leading a contented life." She goes on to say that, "it can be depressing for people to hear it's supposed to be that easy. It hasn't been my experience that people can simply choose not to be negatively influenced by their past." Referring to Banks's own experience, she says, "Most people are not blessed with such a life-changing experience.... When most people change, it usually happens in a much more gradual way." Th
West Virginia Initiative for Innate Health
(at
West Virginia University West Virginia University (WVU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Ins ...
Health Sciences Center), which promotes HR/Innate Health and the philosophy of Sydney Banks through teaching, writing, and research, was the center of controversy soon after its inception in 2000 as the Sydney Banks Institute for Innate Health. Initiated by Robert M. D'Alessandri, the Dean of the medical school there, the institute was reportedly criticized as pushing "junk science," and Banks's philosophy was characterized as "a kind of bastardized Buddhism" and "New Age." William Post, an orthopedic surgeon who quit the medical school because of the institute, was reported, along with other unnamed professors, to have accused the Sydney Banks Institute of promoting religion in a state-funded institution. Harvey Silvergate, a civil-liberties lawyer, was quoted as agreeing that "essentially he instituteseems like a cover for a religious-type belief system which has been prettified in order to be secular and even scientific.” A Dr. Blaha, who resigned as chairman of Orthopedics at WVU, was quoted as criticizing the institute as being part of a culture at the Health Sciences Center that, in his view, places too much emphasis on agreement, consensus, and getting along. Other professors reportedly supported the institute. In contrast, Anthony DiBartolomeo, chief of the rheumatology section, was quoted as calling it, "a valuable addition" to the health-sciences center, saying its greatest value was in helping students, residents, and patients deal with stress. Reportedly in response to the controversy, the WVIIH changed its name from The Sydney Banks Institute to the West Virginia Initiative for Innate Health, although its mission remains unchanged.


Support for specific tenets of TPP from other philosophies and approaches

Some of the tenets of TPP are consistent with the theories of philosophers, authors and researchers independently developing other approaches to change and psychotherapy. A large body of
peer-reviewed Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work ( peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...
case literature in psychotherapy by
Milton Erickson Milton Hyland Erickson (5 December 1901 – 25 March 1980) was an American psychiatrist and psychologist specializing in medical hypnosis and family therapy. He was the founding president of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis. He is not ...
, M.D., founding president of the
American Society for Clinical Hypnosis The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) is a professional organization based in Bloomingdale, Illinois, dedicated to the use of hypnosis in clinical settings. Founded by Milton H. Erickson in 1957, ASCH is a U.S. based organization for ...
, and others working in the field of Ericksonian psychotherapy, supports the notion that lasting change in psychotherapy can occur rapidly without directly addressing clients' past problematic experiences. Many case examples, and a modest body of controlled outcome research in
solution focused brief therapy Solution-focused (brief) therapy (SFBT) is a goal-directed collaborative approach to psychotherapeutic change that is conducted through direct observation of clients' responses to a series of precisely constructed questions. Based upon social con ...
(SFBT), have likewise supported the notion that change in psychotherapy can occur rapidly, without delving into the clients' past negative experiences. Proponents of SFBT suggest that such change often occurs when the therapist assists clients to step out of their usual problem-oriented thinking. The philosophy of
social constructionism Social constructionism is a term used in sociology, social ontology, and communication theory. The term can serve somewhat different functions in each field; however, the foundation of this Conceptual framework, theoretical framework suggests ...
, which is echoed in SFBT, asserts that reality is reproduced by people acting on their interpretations and their knowledge of it. (Likewise, TPP asserts that our experience of the world is shaped by thought.) A major body of peer-reviewed research on " focusing", a change process developed by philosopher
Eugene Gendlin Eugene Tovio Gendlin (born Eugen Gendelin; 25 December 1926 – 1 May 2017) was an American philosopher who developed ways of thinking about and working with living process, the bodily felt sense and the "philosophy of the implicit". Though he had ...
, supports the theory that progress in psychotherapy is dependent on something clients do inside themselves during pauses in the therapy process, and that a particular internal activity "focusing" can be taught to help clients improve their progress. The first step of the six-step process used to teach focusing involves setting aside one's current worries and concerns to create a "cleared space" for effective inner reflection. Gendlin has called this first step by itself "a superior stress-reduction method". (Correspondingly, TPP emphasizes the importance of quieting one's insecure and negative thinking to reduce stress and gain access to "inner wisdom," "common sense," and well-being.)
Positive psychology Positive psychology is the scientific study of conditions and processes that contribute to positive psychological states (e.g., contentment, joy), well-being, Positive psychology of relationships, positive relationships, and positive institutio ...
emphasizes the human capacity for health and well-being, asserts the poor correlation between social circumstances and individual happiness, and insists on the importance of one's thinking in determining one's feelings. Work by
Herbert Benson Herbert Benson (April 24, 1935 – February 3, 2022) was an American medical doctor, cardiologist, and founder of the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston. He was a professor of mind/body medicine at Harva ...
argues that humans have an innate 'breakout principle' providing creative solutions and peak experiences, which allow the restoration of a 'new-normal' state of higher functioning. This breakout principle is activated by severing connections with current circular or repetitive thinking. This is heavily reminiscent of Health Realization discussion of the Principle of Mind and how it is activated. Finally, resilience research, such as that by
Emmy Werner Emmy E. Werner (1929 – October 12, 2017) was an American developmental psychologist known for her research on risk and resilience in children. Early life She received her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska and was a '' professor emerita'' in ...
, has demonstrated that many high-risk children display resilience and develop into normal, happy adults despite problematic developmental histories.Werner, E.: The children of Kauai: Resiliency and recovery in adolescence and adulthood. ''Journal of Adolescent Health'', Jun, 13, p. 262-268. 1992. See also National Resilience Resource Center LLC additional discussion of resilience research and complementary science found on the Research page at http://www.nationalresilienceresource.com .


See also

*
Psychoneuroimmunology Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), also referred to as psychoendoneuroimmunology (PENI) or psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology (PNEI), is the study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body. It is ...


References


Further reading


Community applications

*S.G. Wartel, A Strengths-Based Practice Model: Psychology of Mind and Health Realization, ''Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services'', pp. 185 – 191, 84(2) 2003; *Center for Sustainable Change, '' Awakening the Beloved Community: Report on Year 2 of the National Community Resiliency Project'', 2010. Available onlin
PDF version
*C. L. Robertson, L. Halcon, S. J. Hoffman, N. Osman, A. Mohamed, E. Areba, K. Savik, & M. A. Mathiason. Health Realization Community Coping Intervention for Somali Refugee Women. ''
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health A journal, from the Old French ''journal'' (meaning "daily"), may refer to: *Bullet journal, a method of personal organization *Diary, a record of personal secretive thoughts and as open book to personal therapy or used to feel connected to onesel ...
'', 21, 2019, pp. 1077–1084

*L. L. Halcón, C. L. Robertson, K. A. Monson, & C. C. Claypatch A Theoretical Framework for Using Health Realization to Reduce Stress and Improve Coping in Refugee Communities. ''
Journal of Holistic Nursing The ''Journal of Holistic Nursing'', or JHN for short, is a peer-reviewed nursing journal, published by SAGE Publications. The journal was established in 1983 and aims to facilitate integration of holistic perspectives of holistic nursing with trad ...
'', 25(3), 2007, pp. 186–194. *R.C. Mills and E. Spittle, ''The Health Realization Primer'', Lone Pine Publishing. 2003. , *J. Pransky, ''Modello: A Story of Hope for the Inner City and Beyond: An Inside-Out Model of Prevention and Resiliency in Action through Health Realization'', NEHRI Publications 1998. , *Thomas M. Kelley, William F. Pettit Jr., Judith A. Sedgeman & Jack B. Pransky (2021)
''Psychiatry's pursuit of euthymia: another wild goose chase or an opportunity for principle-based facilitation?''
International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 25:4, 333–335,


Books

* S. Banks, ''Dear Liza'', Lone Pine Publishing 2004. , * S. Banks, ''The Enlightened Gardener'', Lone Pine Publishing 2001. , * S. Banks, ''The Enlightened Gardener Revisited'', Lone Pine Publishing 2006. , * S. Banks, ''In Quest of the Pearl'', Duvall-Bibb Publishing 1989. , * S. Banks, ''The Missing Link: Reflections on Philosophy and Spirit'', Lone Pine Publishing 1998. , * S. Banks, ''Second Chance'', Duvall-Bibb Publishing 1983. , *M. Neill, ''The Inside-Out Revolution'', Hay House Inc, 2013, , *J. Bailey, ''Slowing Down to the Speed of Love'', McGraw-Hill, 2004. , *R. Carlson, ''You Can be Happy No Matter What'', 2nd ed., New World Library 1997. , *R. Carlson and J. Bailey, ''Slowing Down to the Speed of Life'', HarperSanFrancisco 1998. , *T.M. Kelley, ''Falling in Love with Life'', Bookman 2004. , *R.C. Mills, ''Realizing Mental Health: Toward a new Psychology of Resiliency'', Sulberger & Graham Publishing, Ltd. 1995. *R.C. Mills and E. Spittle, ''The Wisdom Within'', Lone Pine Publishing. 2001. , * *J. Pransky, ''Somebody Should Have Told Us'', Airleaf Publishing 2006. , *E. Spittle, ''Wisdom for Life'', Lone Pine Publishing. 2005. ,


Organizations and business

*R.C. Kausen, ''We've Got to Start Meeting Like This'', Life Education 2003. , *R.C. Kausen, ''Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed'', Life Education 1989. , *C.L. Polsfuss & A.Ardichvili, "Three Principles Psychology: Applications in Leadership Development & Coaching",
Advances in Developing Human Resources ''Advances in Developing Human Resources'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal that covers research on human resources, including areas such as performance, learning, and integrity within an organizational context. The editor-in-chief i ...
Journal, 2008; 10; 671 . Online article at: http://adh.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/10/5/671. *C.L. Polsfuss & A.Ardichvili, "State of Mind as the Master Competency for High-Performance Leadership", Organizational Development Journal, Volume 27, Number 3, Fall 2009.


Parenting

*J. Pransky, ''Parenting from the Heart: A Guide to the Essence of Parenting'', Authorhouse 2001 ,


Prevention

*J. Pransky, ''Prevention from the Inside Out'', Authorhouse 2003. , *J. Pransky and L. Carpenos, ''Healthy Feeling/Thinking/Doing from the Inside Out: A Middle School Curriculum and Guide for the Prevention of Violence and Other Problem Behaviors'', SaferSocietyPress 2000. , *K. Marshall
Resilience in our Schools: Discovering Mental Health and Hope from the Inside-Out.
in ''Persistently Safe Schools 2005: The National Conference of the Hamilton Fish Institute on School and Community Violence.'' Retrieved on October 31, 2007.


Recovery/substance abuse

*J. Bailey, ''The Serenity Principle: Finding Inner Peace in Recovery'', HarperSanFrancisco, 1990. ,


Relationships

*G. Pransky, ''The Relationship Handbook'', Pransky and Associates, 2001. ,


Youth

* A. Chen Mills-Naim, ''The Spark Inside: A Special Book for Youth'', Lone Pine Publishing. 2005. , {{ISBN, 978-1-55105-556-5 * T.M.Kelley, A critique of social bonding and control theory of delinquency using the principles of psychology, ''Adolescence'' Vol. 31 Issue 122, 1996, pp. 321–38. * T. M. Kelley, Health Realization: A Principle-Based Psychology of Positive Youth Development, ''Child & Youth Care Forum'', Vol. 32, Issue 1, 2003, pp. 47–72. * T.M. Kelley, Positive Psychology and Adolescent Mental Health: False Promise or True Breakthrough? ''Adolescence'', June 22, 2004 * T.M. Kelley, & S.A. Stack, Thought Recognition, Locus of Control, and Adolescent Well-being, ''Adolescence'', Vol. 35 Issue 139, 2000, pp. 531–51.


Audio

* Attitude! — CD * Great Spirit, The — CD & Audio Cassette * Hawaii Lectures - 2-CD set * In Quest of the Pearl — CD * Long Beach Lectures - 2-CD set * One Thought Away — CD (CD-Audio) * Second Chance — CD & Audio Cassette * Washington Lectures - CD * What is Truth? — CD & Audio Cassette


Video

* Hawaii Lecture #1 - Secret to the Mind — DVD * Hawaii Lecture #2 - Oneness of Life — DVD & VHS * Hawaii Lecture #3 - The Power of Thought — DVD & VHS * Hawaii Lecture #4 - Going Home — DVD & VHS * Long Beach Lecture #1 - The Great Illusion — DVD * Long Beach Lecture #2 - Truth Lies Within — DVD & VHS * Long Beach Lecture #3 - The Experience — DVD & VHS * Long Beach Lecture #4 - Jumping the Boundaries of Time — DVD & VHS * Long Beach Lectures - 4 video set — VHS


External links


Sydney Banks

Coaching from the Inside Out

Michael Neill

George Pransky

Center for Sustainable Change

One Thought

Heartfelt Presence
Psychological theories