Psychology

Psychology is part of everyone's experience: it influences the way we think about everything from education and intelligence, to relationships and emotions, advertising and criminality. People readily behave as amateur psychologists, offering explanations for what people think, feel, and do. But what exactly are psychologists trying to do? What scientific grounding do they have for their approach? This Very Short Introduction explores some of psychology's leading ideas and their practical relevance. In this new edition, Gillian Butler and Freda McManus explore a variety of new topics and ways of studying the brain. Until recently it was not possible to study the living human brain directly, so psychologists studied our behaviour, and used their observations to derive hypotheses about what was going on inside. Now - through neuroscience - our knowledge of the workings of the brain has increased and improved technology provides us with a scientific basis on which to understand the structure and workings of the brain, and allows brain activity to be observed and measured. Exploring some of the most important advances and developments in psychology - from evolutionary psychology and issues surrounding adolescence and aggression to cognitive psychology - this is a stimulating introduction for anyone interested in understanding the human mind. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Psychology is part of everyone's experience: it influences the way we think about everything from education and intelligence, to relationships and emotions, advertising and criminality. People readily behave as amateur psychologists, offering explanations for what people think, feel, and do. But what exactly are psychologists trying to do? What scientific grounding do they have for their approach? This Very Short Introduction explores some of psychology's leading ideas and their practical relevance. In this new edition, Gillian Butler and Freda McManus explore a variety of new topics and ways of studying the brain. Until recently it was not possible to study the living human brain directly, so psychologists studied our behaviour, and used their observations to derive hypotheses about what was going on inside. Now - through neuroscience - our knowledge of the workings of the brain has increased and improved technology provides us with a scientific basis on which to understand the structure and workings of the brain, and allows brain activity to be observed and measured. Exploring some of the most important advances and developments in psychology - from evolutionary psychology and issues surrounding adolescence and aggression to cognitive psychology - this is a stimulating introduction for anyone interested in understanding the human mind. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The fifth edition of Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour continues to build on its strong biopsychosocial approach and balancing of classical and contemporary theory. The celebrated pedagogical design has been reinforced with additional pedagogical features and real world issues to offer an exciting and engaging introduction to the study of psychology. The fifth edition has been fully updated to reflect new developments in the field and the scientific approach brings together international research and practical application to encourage critical thinking about psychology and its impact on our societies and daily lives. Key features : • Brand New! The Bigger Picture takes a step back and reflects on how a subject can be interpreted from different angles. Replacing the Levels of Analysis feature, the Bigger Picture explores not only the biological, psychological and environmental levels, but also cultural and developmental aspects as well. • Brand New! Learning Goals and Review Questions encourage students to consider the core learnings of each chapter and critically assess their real world implications. • New and Updated! Psychology at Work interviews from Psychologists in the field are now included in every chapter. They provide a glimpse into their day-to-day work and the career path they have taken since completing a psychology degree. •Research Close Ups reflect new research and literature as well as updated critical thinking questions to encourage analysis and evaluation of the findings. •Current issues and hot topics such as, Covid-19, fake news, workplace psychology, social media, prosociality and critical perspectives of positive psychology prompt debates on the questions facing psychologists today. Nigel Holt is Head of Department of Psychology at Aberystwyth University, Wales Andy Bremner is Professor of Developmental Psychology and Head of Education at the University of Birmingham, UK Michael Vliek is an affiliate of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands and lectures at the University of Leiden, Germany Ed Sutherland is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Director of Learning and Teaching at the University of Leeds, UK Michael W. Passer is an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Washington, USA Ronald E. Smith is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Washington, USA

Explore all the key fields of Psychology in one essential textbook Psychology is the internationally best-selling introduction to one of the world's most exciting sciences. This invaluable, accessible text covers every major branch in the field and will help you discover and engage with classic and contemporary topics, theories and applications. The 7th edition has been extensively revised and updated with over 1,000 new references, a major new section on replication in psychology and a new interview feature offering insights into the work of 14 leading researchers and practitioners. Richly illustrated throughout with examples from across the globe, each chapter is packed with a range of features, connecting the diverse strands of the subject and bringing it to life. These include: An Interview with: an exciting new feature for the 7 th edition, providing a fascinating insight into the life and work of researchers and practitioners working in a broad range of roles and fields including clinical, health and educational psychology Spotlight on : 56 recent studies highlighting significant or unusual research from across the field, such as whether using a laptop to take notes in lectures is effective, the limits of neuroimaging, mate choice and eye colour, using Twitter language to predict the risk of heart disease and how do you get people to eat insects? Controversies in Psychological Science : encouraging you to question and reflect upon the complex nature of topics within the field, promoting critical thinking and debate on questions such as: Can you tell a liar from a truth-teller? Are there universally attractive body types? Do learning styles exist? Is fMRI research reliable? Do Davids and Denices die sooner? Can personality predict health? Is there a gene for depression? Psychology in Action : highlighting the link between theory and application, considering a range of real-world examples, such as the use of face-recognition technology; jury decision-making; understanding bullying; how terrorists are made; how people react during emergencies; maintaining weight loss; how to protect yourself against fake news and the advantages of swearing. International Perspectives : providing a comparative global perspective on topics such as psychological responses to COVID-19, conspiracies, attraction, the perception of scents, face processing, exercise and healthy eating, age of onset of mental disorder and many others.

Explore all the key fields of Psychology in one essential textbook Psychology is the internationally best-selling introduction to one of the world's most exciting sciences. This invaluable, accessible text covers every major branch in the field and will help you discover and engage with classic and contemporary topics, theories and applications. The 7th edition has been extensively revised and updated with over 1,000 new references, a major new section on replication in psychology and a new interview feature offering insights into the work of 14 leading researchers and practitioners. Richly illustrated throughout with examples from across the globe, each chapter is packed with a range of features, connecting the diverse strands of the subject and bringing it to life. These include: An Interview with: an exciting new feature for the 7 th edition, providing a fascinating insight into the life and work of researchers and practitioners working in a broad range of roles and fields including clinical, health and educational psychology Spotlight on : 56 recent studies highlighting significant or unusual research from across the field, such as whether using a laptop to take notes in lectures is effective, the limits of neuroimaging, mate choice and eye colour, using Twitter language to predict the risk of heart disease and how do you get people to eat insects? Controversies in Psychological Science : encouraging you to question and reflect upon the complex nature of topics within the field, promoting critical thinking and debate on questions such as: Can you tell a liar from a truth-teller? Are there universally attractive body types? Do learning styles exist? Is fMRI research reliable? Do Davids and Denices die sooner? Can personality predict health? Is there a gene for depression? Psychology in Action : highlighting the link between theory and application, considering a range of real-world examples, such as the use of face-recognition technology; jury decision-making; understanding bullying; how terrorists are made; how people react during emergencies; maintaining weight loss; how to protect yourself against fake news and the advantages of swearing. International Perspectives : providing a comparative global perspective on topics such as psychological responses to COVID-19, conspiracies, attraction, the perception of scents, face processing, exercise and healthy eating, age of onset of mental disorder and many others.