# Bodymind

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bodymind
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bodymind.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodymind
> Source revision: 1315384905
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Academic concept

This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Bodymind" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

**Bodymind** is an approach to understanding the relationship between the human [body](/source/Human_body) and [mind](/source/Mind) in which they are seen as a single integrated unit. It attempts to address the [mind–body problem](/source/Mind%E2%80%93body_problem) and resists the Western traditions of [mind–body dualism](/source/Mind%E2%80%93body_dualism).

## In philosophy

In the field of [philosophy](/source/Philosophy), dualism is the view that human minds and bodies are different entities that can be understood separately.[1] This paradigm solidified in the Western world during the [Enlightenment](/source/Age_of_Enlightenment), and is associated with the work of [René Descartes](/source/Ren%C3%A9_Descartes), among others.[2] Despite the influence of the dualist model, empirical support for the relationship between [mental illness](/source/Mental_illness) and physical changes in the brain has been documented since the 17th century.[2]

[Holism](/source/Holism) is the position that the body and mind are one integrated [system](/source/System). As a term for that system, bodymind emphasizes the inextricability of [consciousness](/source/Consciousness), [cognition](/source/Cognition), and the body's physical processes.

## In neuroscience

The emergence of neural imaging techniques has reframed the mind-body debate to incorporate theories from both philosophy and neuroscience.[3] Researchers such as [Candace Pert](/source/Candace_Pert) have posited a [neurophysiological](/source/Neurophysiology) basis for [emotions](/source/Emotion) and their foundation in human [meaning-making](/source/Meaning-making) and mental function.[4]

## Relevance to alternative medicine

In the field of [alternative medicine](/source/Alternative_medicine), bodymind implies that

- The body, mind, emotions, and spirit are dynamically interrelated.[5]

- Experience, including physical stress, emotional injury, and pleasures are stored in the body's cells which in turn affects one's reactions to stimuli.[6]

The term can be a number of disciplines, including:

- [Psychoneuroimmunology](/source/Psychoneuroimmunology), the study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body.[7]

- [Body psychotherapy](/source/Body_psychotherapy),[8][9][10][11] a branch of [psychotherapy](/source/Psychotherapy)[12] which applies basic principles of [somatic psychology](/source/Somatic_psychology). It originated in the work of [Pierre Janet](/source/Pierre_Janet) and particularly [Wilhelm Reich](/source/Wilhelm_Reich).

- [Neurobiology](/source/Neurobiology), the study of the nervous system[13]

- [Psychosomatic medicine](/source/Psychosomatic_medicine), an [interdisciplinary](/source/Interdisciplinary) medical field exploring the relationships among social, psychological, and behavioral factors on bodily processes and [quality of life](/source/Quality_of_life) in humans and animals. Clinical situations where mental processes act as a major factor affecting medical outcomes are areas where psychosomatic medicine excels.[14]

- [Postural Integration](/source/Postural_Integration), a process-oriented [body psychotherapy](/source/Body_psychotherapy) originally developed in the late 1960s by Jack Painter[15] (1933–2010) in California, US, after exploration in the fields of [humanistic psychology](/source/Humanistic_psychology) and the [human potential movement](/source/Human_potential_movement).[16] The method aims to support [personal change](/source/Self-efficacy) and [self development](/source/Personal_Development),[17] through a particular form of [manipulative](/source/Manual_therapy) [holistic](/source/Holistic_health) [bodywork](/source/Bodywork_(alternative_medicine)).[18]

## See also

- [Ableism](/source/Ableism)

- [Binding problem](/source/Binding_problem)

- [Bodymind (disability studies)](/source/Bodymind_(disability_studies))

- [Developmental disability](/source/Developmental_disability)

- [Disability](/source/Disability)

- [Disability and religion](/source/Disability_and_religion)

- [Disability culture](/source/Disability_culture)

- [Disability in the United States](/source/Disability_in_the_United_States)

- [Disability rights](/source/Disability_rights_movement)

- [Disability studies](/source/Disability_studies)

- [Emotional or behavioral disability](/source/Emotional_or_behavioral_disability)

- [Inclusion (disability rights)](/source/Inclusion_(disability_rights))

- [Invisible disability](/source/Invisible_disability)

- [List of disability studies journals](/source/List_of_disability_studies_journals)

- [Medical model of disability](/source/Medical_model_of_disability)

- [Services for the disabled](/source/Services_and_supports_for_people_with_disabilities)

- [Sexuality and disability](/source/Sexuality_and_disability)

- [Social model of disability](/source/Social_model_of_disability)

- [Society for Disability Studies](/source/Society_for_Disability_Studies)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Robinson, Howard (2017), ["Dualism"](https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2017/entries/dualism/), in Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), *The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy* (Fall 2017 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved 2020-04-10

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) Berrios, German E. (2018-03-31). ["Historical epistemology of the body-mind interaction in psychiatry"](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.1/gberrios). *Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience*. **20** (1): 5–13. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.1/gberrios](https://doi.org/10.31887%2FDCNS.2018.20.1%2Fgberrios). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1958-5969](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1958-5969). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [6016044](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6016044).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Singer, Wolf (May 2025). ["The Mind–Matter Dichotomy: A Persistent Challenge for Neuroscientific and Philosophical Theories"](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ejn.70143). *European Journal of Neuroscience*. **61** (10). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/ejn.70143](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fejn.70143). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0953-816X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0953-816X). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [12086611](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12086611). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [40384323](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40384323).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Pert, Candace (2012). [*Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel*](https://books.google.com/books?id=gPDRP9DV8twC). Simon & Schuster UK. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0671033972](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0671033972).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Damasio, Antonio (2000). [*The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness*](https://archive.org/details/feelingofwhathap00dama_0). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0156010757](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0156010757).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Keleman, Stanley: *Your Body speaks its Mind*, Center Press (US) (1989) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0934320016](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0934320016)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Michael Irwin, Kavita Vedhara (2005). *Human Psychoneuroimmunology*. Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-856884-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-856884-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Totton, N. (2003) *Body Psychotherapy: An Introduction* Open University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-335-21038-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-335-21038-4) (pb); 0-335-21039-2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Staunton, T. (Ed.) (2002) *Body Psychotherapy* Brunner Routledge. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-58391-115-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-58391-115-4) PB0; 1-58391-116-2 (pb)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Macnaughton, I. (2004) *Body, Breath and Consciousness: A Somatics Anthology*, ed. Macnaughton, North Atlantic Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-55643-496-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-55643-496-0) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-55643-496-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-55643-496-9)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Courtenay Young (2010) article [The Science of Body Psychotherapy Today](http://www.courtenay-young.co.uk/courtenay/articles/The_Science_of_Body_Psych_Part_1.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Sharf, R. S. (2011) *Theories of Psychotherapy and Counselling* p. 600

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Hill, Daniel (2015) *Affect Regulation Theory. A Clinical Model* W. W. Norton.& Co [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-393-70726-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-393-70726-7)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Levenson, James L. (2006). *Essentials of Psychosomatic Medicine*. American Psychiatric Press Inc. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-58562-246-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-58562-246-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Ziehl, Silke. ["Jack Painter - Obituary"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063443/http://www.icpit.info/documents/Jack%20Painter-Obituary.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.icpit.info/documents/Jack%20Painter-Obituary.pdf) (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-08-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Erken, Rita and Schlage, Bernhard: Editors: *Transformation of the Self with Bodymind Integration.* Postural Integration – Energetic Integration – Psychotherapeutic Postural Integration; Articles by 14 international authors; Hubert W. Holzinger Verlag, Berlin (2012) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-926396-67-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-926396-67-9)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Painter, Jack: *Postural Integration, Transformation of the Whole Self* (1985)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002824/http://www.icpit.info/articles/J_Painter_PosturalIntegration1985_.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.icpit.info/articles/J_Painter_PosturalIntegration1985_.pdf) (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Painter, Jack: *Technical Manual of Deep Wholistic Bodywork*, Postural Integration; published by The International Centre for Release and Integration, Mill Valley, Calif. USA (1984) (2nd edit. 1990)

## Further reading

- Benson MD, Herbert; ( 2000) (1975), *The Relaxation Response*, Harper [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-380-81595-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-380-81595-8)

- Bracken, Patrick & Philip Thomas; (2002), [*"Time to move beyond the mind-body split"*](http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/325/7378/1433), editorial, [British Medical Journal](/source/British_Medical_Journal) 2002;325:1433–1434 (21 December)

- [Dychtwald, Ken](/source/Ken_Dychtwald); (1986), *Bodymind* Penguin Putman Inc. NY, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87477-375-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87477-375-X)

- Gallagher, Shaun; (2005) ‚ *How the Body Shapes the Mind* Oxford: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-920416-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-920416-0)

- Hill, Daniel (2015) *Affect Regulation Theory. A Clinical Model* W. W. Norton.& Co [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-393-70726-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-393-70726-7).

- Keinänen, Matti; (2005), *Psychosemiosis as a Key to Body-Mind Continuum: The Reinforcement of Symbolization-Reflectiveness in Psychotherapy*. Nova Science Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-59454-381-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-59454-381-X).

- Mayer, Emeran A. 2003. *The Neurobiology Basis of Mind Body Medicine: Convergent Traditional and Scientific Approaches to Health, Disease, and Healing*. Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070403123225/http://www.aboutibs.org/Publications/MindBody.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20070403123225/http://www.aboutibs.org/Publications/MindBody.html) (accessed: Sunday January 14, 2007).

- [Money, John](/source/Money%2C_John); (1988) *Gay, Straight, and In-Between: The Sexology of Erotic Orientation*. New York: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-505407-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-505407-5)

- Rothschild, Babette; ( 2000) *The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment*. W W Norton & Co Inc.

- Scheper-Hughes, Nancy, and Margaret M. Lock; (1987) [*The Mindful Body: A Prolegomenon to Future Work in Medical Anthropology*](https://archive.today/20120722103133/http://www.anthrosource.net/doi/abs/10.1525/maq.1987.1.1.02a00020) with Margaret Lock. Medical Anthropology Quarterly. (1): 6–41.

- Seem, Mark & Kaplan, Joan; (1987) *Bodymind Energetics, Towards a Dynamic Model of Health* Healing Arts Press, Rochester VT, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-89281-246-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-89281-246-X)

- Clare, Eli. "Brilliant Imperfection: Grappling with Cure"

- Schalk, Sami. "Bodyminds Reimagined: (Dis)ability, Race, and Gender in Black Women's Speculative Fiction"

- Patsavas, Alyson. "Recovering a Cripistemology of Pain: Leaky Bodies, Connective Tissue, and Feeling Discourse"

- Price, Margaret. "The Bodymind Problem and the Possibilities of Pain"

- Kafer, Alison. "Feminist, Queer, Crip"

- Hall, Kim. "Gender" chapter from "Keywords for Disability Studies".[1]

- McRuer, Robert, and Johnson, Merri Lisa. "Proliferating Cripistemologies: A Virtual Roundtable".[2]

- Garland-Thomson, Rosemarie. "Extraordinary Bodies: Figuring Physical Disability in American Culture and Literature".[3]

- Garland-Thomson, Rosemarie. "Becoming Disabled".[4]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Hall, Kim (2015). *Keywords for Disability Studies*. NYU Press. pp. 89–91. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781479839520](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781479839520).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** McRuer, Robert; Johnson, Merri (2014). ["Proliferating Cripistemologies: A Virtual Roundtable"](http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A375817483/LitRC?sid=LitRC&xid=017e06ab). *Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies*. **8** (2): 149–170. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3828/jlcds.2014.13](https://doi.org/10.3828%2Fjlcds.2014.13). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1757-6458](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1757-6458). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [144682086](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:144682086).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Garland-Thomson, Rosemarie (1996). *Extraordinary Bodies: Figuring Physical Disability in American Culture and Literature*. Columbia University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780231105170](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780231105170).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Garland-Thomson, Rosemarie (2016-08-19). ["Opinion | Becoming Disabled"](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/opinion/sunday/becoming-disabled.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2019-04-25.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bodymind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodymind) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodymind?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.