Psycho-Cybernetics
by Maxwell Maltz
About This Book
When I first began my career as a plastic surgeon, my focus was purely physical. I believed that altering a person’s appearance would naturally free them from insecurity and unhappiness. Yet, what I saw in my patients told a far deeper story. Some individuals, after even the most successful surgeries, continued to see themselves as disfigured, unworthy, or inadequate. Others, with only minor changes, seemed to come alive—gaining confidence, clarity, and true self-belief. This observation led me to a life-long pursuit: what truly determines the way we experience life is not our physical form, but the mental image we hold of ourselves. The promise of *Psycho-Cybernetics* is simple yet profound—transform your self-image, and you transform your entire world. Think of your mind as a servo-mechanism, an automatic guidance system programmed to achieve whatever goals you set. Your success or failure is largely determined by the pictures, beliefs, and emotional patterns you install into this system. Just as a pilot relies on accurate instruments to navigate toward a destination, you rely on your inner sense of self to guide your actions, decisions, and responses. When that internal picture is distorted—when you see yourself as incapable, limited, or unloved—you continually steer yourself into situations that reinforce those beliefs. But when you deliberately build a new, positive self-image through imagination, rational thought, and forgiveness, your mind automatically begins to seek out success and satisfaction. You don’t need to become a different person to live a happier and more fulfilled life; you simply need to adjust the blueprint of yourself that lives within your subconscious. The pages that follow are a journey through the science and art of this process. I’ll show you how your brain’s built-in success mechanism works, how imagination can reprogram your internal compass, and how habits of thought—such as relaxation, rational evaluation, and forgiveness—liberate you from negative conditioning. This book is not about moral perfection or endless positive thinking. It’s about creating a realistic, dynamic, and healthy self-image—a psychological foundation on which every genuine success and happiness rests. Whether you’re seeking professional achievement, inner peace, stronger relationships, or freedom from self-doubt, the principle remains the same: you are guided by the picture you hold of yourself. Change that picture, and your entire life will reorganize itself accordingly. The transformation begins not with effort or struggle, but with understanding and mental rehearsal—a new way of seeing yourself, your possibilities, and your purpose. That is what *Psycho-Cybernetics* offers you: the science of self-direction and the art of inner freedom.
Psycho-Cybernetics
When I first began my career as a plastic surgeon, my focus was purely physical. I believed that altering a person’s appearance would naturally free them from insecurity and unhappiness. Yet, what I saw in my patients told a far deeper story. Some individuals, after even the most successful surgeries, continued to see themselves as disfigured, unworthy, or inadequate. Others, with only minor changes, seemed to come alive—gaining confidence, clarity, and true self-belief. This observation led me to a life-long pursuit: what truly determines the way we experience life is not our physical form, but the mental image we hold of ourselves. The promise of *Psycho-Cybernetics* is simple yet profound—transform your self-image, and you transform your entire world.
Think of your mind as a servo-mechanism, an automatic guidance system programmed to achieve whatever goals you set. Your success or failure is largely determined by the pictures, beliefs, and emotional patterns you install into this system. Just as a pilot relies on accurate instruments to navigate toward a destination, you rely on your inner sense of self to guide your actions, decisions, and responses. When that internal picture is distorted—when you see yourself as incapable, limited, or unloved—you continually steer yourself into situations that reinforce those beliefs. But when you deliberately build a new, positive self-image through imagination, rational thought, and forgiveness, your mind automatically begins to seek out success and satisfaction.
You don’t need to become a different person to live a happier and more fulfilled life; you simply need to adjust the blueprint of yourself that lives within your subconscious. The pages that follow are a journey through the science and art of this process. I’ll show you how your brain’s built-in success mechanism works, how imagination can reprogram your internal compass, and how habits of thought—such as relaxation, rational evaluation, and forgiveness—liberate you from negative conditioning. This book is not about moral perfection or endless positive thinking. It’s about creating a realistic, dynamic, and healthy self-image—a psychological foundation on which every genuine success and happiness rests.
Whether you’re seeking professional achievement, inner peace, stronger relationships, or freedom from self-doubt, the principle remains the same: you are guided by the picture you hold of yourself. Change that picture, and your entire life will reorganize itself accordingly. The transformation begins not with effort or struggle, but with understanding and mental rehearsal—a new way of seeing yourself, your possibilities, and your purpose. That is what *Psycho-Cybernetics* offers you: the science of self-direction and the art of inner freedom.
Want the full summary?
Get instant access to this book summary and 500K+ more with Fizz Moment.
Get Free SummaryAvailable on App Store • Free to download
Key Chapters
The Self-Image
Every human action springs from the mental picture we hold of ourselves. If you see yourself as inferior, awkward, or unlucky, the body obediently follows that command. But when you conceive of yourself as capable, deserving, and creative, your responses naturally begin to match that image. In my surgical practice, I observed that real healing occurred not on the operating table but in the mind. One woman’s scar removal released years of shame because it allowed her to envision herself anew; another, despite perfect cosmetic results, continued to feel unattractive because her inner portrait remained unchanged.
Your self-image acts as the control center for personality. It shapes how you think, feel, and perform. This picture isn’t fixed—it can be edited and redefined. Yet most people live inside outdated photographs of themselves, holding on to labels given by parents, teachers, or early mistakes. The first step toward true change is recognizing that this inner portrait is not who you are, but a learned construct. You can replace it. Through visualization, emotional rehearsal, and rational thought you create a fresher, more accurate and empowering picture. Once this new self-image takes hold, confidence and competence flow with ease because your nervous system now acts on a new directive—one of success rather than failure.
The Cybernetic Mechanism
Your brain and nervous system are goal-oriented servo-mechanisms. Just like the automatic controls on a missile or guided torpedo, your mind continually adjusts its actions according to the feedback it receives. When you set a clear goal—an image of success—your system computes ways to reach it. If you miss the target, it doesn’t condemn you; it simply recalibrates, using that miss as information. The problem is not failure itself, but the stories we attach to it. When you perceive every error as proof of inadequacy, you effectively jam your own guidance system. When you treat mistakes as corrections, your mechanism resumes its natural course toward success.
This is the secret many high performers intuitively grasp. A golfer doesn’t imagine the slice; he sees the perfect trajectory. A public speaker doesn’t dwell on nervousness; she visualizes the audience responding warmly. The mind’s servo-mechanism aligns itself with dominant mental pictures, not with wishful affirmations or vague hopes. Your job is to feed it clear, emotionally charged goals. Once you do, the mechanism will supply the necessary behaviors, decisions, and insights to move toward that end. The magic lies in consistency—keep your mental image steady, and your subconscious mechanism will work tirelessly to make it reality.
Imagination and Visualization
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
Dehypnotizing Yourself from False Beliefs
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
Relaxation and Mental Rehearsal
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
The Power of Rational Thinking
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
The Role of Success and Failure Mechanisms
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
Forgiveness and Emotional Freedom
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
Setting and Achieving Goals
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
The Habit of Happiness
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
Self-Image and Interpersonal Relationships
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
Creative Living
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
Summary and Integration
Explore this chapter in the FizzRead app.
All Chapters in Psycho-Cybernetics
About the Author
Maxwell Maltz
Maxwell Maltz is the author of Psycho-Cybernetics.
Frequently Asked Questions about Psycho-Cybernetics
When I first began my career as a plastic surgeon, my focus was purely physical. I believed that altering a person’s appearance would naturally free them from insecurity and unhappiness. Yet, what I saw in my patients told a far deeper story. Some individuals, after even the most successful surgeries, continued to see themselves as disfigured, unworthy, or inadequate. Others, with only minor changes, seemed to come alive—gaining confidence, clarity, and true self-belief. This observation led me to a life-long pursuit: what truly determines the way we experience life is not our physical form, but the mental image we hold of ourselves. The promise of *Psycho-Cybernetics* is simple yet profound—transform your self-image, and you transform your entire world. Think of your mind as a servo-mechanism, an automatic guidance system programmed to achieve whatever goals you set. Your success or failure is largely determined by the pictures, beliefs, and emotional patterns you install into this system. Just as a pilot relies on accurate instruments to navigate toward a destination, you rely on your inner sense of self to guide your actions, decisions, and responses. When that internal picture is distorted—when you see yourself as incapable, limited, or unloved—you continually steer yourself into situations that reinforce those beliefs. But when you deliberately build a new, positive self-image through imagination, rational thought, and forgiveness, your mind automatically begins to seek out success and satisfaction. You don’t need to become a different person to live a happier and more fulfilled life; you simply need to adjust the blueprint of yourself that lives within your subconscious. The pages that follow are a journey through the science and art of this process. I’ll show you how your brain’s built-in success mechanism works, how imagination can reprogram your internal compass, and how habits of thought—such as relaxation, rational evaluation, and forgiveness—liberate you from negative conditioning. This book is not about moral perfection or endless positive thinking. It’s about creating a realistic, dynamic, and healthy self-image—a psychological foundation on which every genuine success and happiness rests. Whether you’re seeking professional achievement, inner peace, stronger relationships, or freedom from self-doubt, the principle remains the same: you are guided by the picture you hold of yourself. Change that picture, and your entire life will reorganize itself accordingly. The transformation begins not with effort or struggle, but with understanding and mental rehearsal—a new way of seeing yourself, your possibilities, and your purpose. That is what *Psycho-Cybernetics* offers you: the science of self-direction and the art of inner freedom.
You Might Also Like
Ready to read Psycho-Cybernetics?
Get the full summary and 500K+ more books with Fizz Moment.