Truthought focuses on fostering responsible and prosocial ways of living by internalizing principles for living instead of relying solely on outwardly following rules. We have a dual approach:
1. Identifying and replacing thinking patterns that lead to problems in living.
2. Cultivating positive character traits for a better way of life.
Character, whether good or bad, is deeply rooted in one’s ways of thinking and believing. When a foundation for responsible thinking is absent, habits for prosocial behavior and character development are often lacking. Truthought focuses on nurturing responsible thinking to enhance decision-making skills, character formation, and fostering prosocial community living.
Different settings and cultures often have distinct thinking and behavior styles. For example, academic settings may prioritize certain thinking styles that facilitate progress within an academic culture, while societal lifestyle thinking may differ. As an example, some academically successful students may lack skills for making societal lifestyle decisions outside of an academic culture, while some others with limited academic experience may have been raised to excel in making beneficial emotional, social, and community cultural progress.
While intellectual strength and academic achievements can exist independently from an individual’s character, overall character cannot be separated from one’s habits in thinking. Truthought’s process effectively bridges the gap between thinking that builds academic, professional, or social skills and thinking that shapes one’s lifestyle and character, regardless of a person’s background, culture, or life experience.
Acknowledgments:
We are indebted to the insights and ongoing research of numerous sources that have shaped our program. Special recognition goes to Dr. Stanton E. Samenow for his groundbreaking work on understanding irresponsible and criminal minds. Additionally, we are grateful for the decades of pioneering research by Dr. Peter R. Breggin, who is known as the conscience of psychiatry.
