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(Photo Credit: Peter Merholz) Great Psychology Books Welcome to The All About Psychology Book of The Month page. Only the best, most compelling and fascinating books will be featured here. Anybody looking for recommended psychology textbooks within specific fields of psychology should visit the appropriate branch of psychology listed on the types of psychology section of the website. Classic Articles All Psychology Students Should Read
This special Kindle collection consists of the most influential, infamous and iconic research articles ever published in the history of psychology. See following link for full details. The Psychology Classics Kindle Collection Thinking About Becoming A Psychology Student? Find A Psychology School Near YouJanuary 2012Graduate Study in Psychology 2012: American Psychological Association
Book Description Graduate Study in Psychology 2012 is the best source of information related to graduate programs in psychology and provides information related to approximately 600 graduate programs in psychology in the U.S. and Canada. This extremely useful resource contains information about See following link for more details: Graduate Study in Psychology 2012 December 2011The New Psychology of Leadership: Identity, Influence and Power By S. Alexander Haslam, Stephen D. Reicher and Michael J. Platow
Book Description Shortlisted for the British Psychological Society Book Award 2011! According to John Adair, the most important word in the leader's vocabulary is "we" and the least important word is "I". But if this is true, it raises one important question: why do psychological analyses of leadership always focus on the leader as an individual - as the great "I"? One answer is that theorists and practitioners have never properly understood the psychology of "we-ness". This book fills this gap by presenting a new psychology of leadership that is the result of two decades of research inspired by social identity and self-categorization theories. The book argues that to succeed, leaders need to create, champion, and embed a group identity in order to cultivate an understanding of 'us' of which they themselves are representative. It also shows how, by doing this, they can make a material difference to the groups, organizations, and societies that they lead. Written in an accessible and engaging style, the book examines a range of central theoretical and practical issues, including the nature of group identity, the basis of authority and legitimacy, the dynamics of justice and fairness, the determinants of followership and charisma, and the practice and politics of leadership. The book will appeal to academics, practitioners and students in social and organizational psychology, sociology, political science and anyone interested in leadership, influence and power. See following link for more details: The New Psychology of Leadership November 2011The Student’s Guide to Social Neuroscience By Jamie Ward
Book Description Social Neuroscience is an expanding field which, by investigating the neural mechanisms that inform our behaviour, explains our ability to recognize, understand, and interact with others. Concepts such as trust, revenge, empathy, prejudice and love are now being explored and unraveled by the methods of neuroscience. The first book of its kind, this engaging and cutting-edge text is an ideal introduction to the methods and concepts of Social Neuroscience for undergraduate and postgraduate students in fields such as psychology and neuroscience. Each chapter is richly illustrated in attractive full-color with figures, boxes and 'real-world' implications of research. Several pedagogical features help students engage with the material, including essay questions; summary and key points; further reading; and a website with glossary, practice multiple-choice questions and active reference links. See following link for more details: The Student's Guide to Social Neuroscience October 2011Personality Psychology: Foundations and Findings ByMarianne Miserandino
Book Description Personality Psychology is an undergraduate textbook for personality psychology: the study of individual differences, for identifying ways in which people are both similar and different and for explaining how they became that way. Written with an approachable, story-telling style, the author presents an evidence-based text with integrated culture references and the key building blocks of the subject matter: genetics, neuroscience, and cognition. The author Marianne Miserandino is an APA-award winning teacher and has placed learning tools such as self-assessments within each chapter that guide students into a complete understanding throughout the text. See following link for more details: Personality Psychology: Foundations and Findings September 2011The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us by James W. Pennebaker
Book Description In The Secret Life of Pronouns, social psychologist and language expert James W. Pennebaker uses his groundbreaking research in computational linguistics-in essence, counting the frequency of words we use-to show that our language carries secrets about our feelings, our self-concept, and our social intelligence. Our most forgettable words, such as pronouns and prepositions, can be the most revealing: their patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints. Using innovative analytic techniques, Pennebaker X-rays everything from Craigslist advertisements to the Federalist Papers-or your own writing, in quizzes you can take yourself-to yield unexpected insights. Who would have predicted that the high school student who uses too many verbs in her college admissions essay is likely to make lower grades in college? Or that a world leader's use of pronouns could reliably presage whether he led his country into war? You'll learn why it's bad when politicians use "we" instead of "I," what Lady Gaga and William Butler Yeats have in common, and how Ebenezer Scrooge's syntax hints at his self-deception and repressed emotion. Barack Obama, Sylvia Plath, and King Lear are among the figures who make cameo appearances in this sprightly, surprising tour of what our words are saying-whether we mean them to or not. See following link for more details: The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us August 2011Cultural Issues in Psychology by Andrew Stevenson
Book Description Does our cultural background influence the way we think and feel about ourselves and others? Does our culture affect how we choose our partners, how we define intelligence and abnormality and how we bring up our children? Psychologists have long pondered the relationship between culture and a range of psychological attributes. Cultural Issues In Psychology is an all round student guide to the key studies, theories and controversies which seek to explore human behaviour in a global context. The book explores key controversies in global psychology, such as: The book also includes detailed examinations of global research into mainstream areas of psychology, such as social, cognitive and developmental psychology, as well as abnormal psychology. With insightful classroom activities and helpful pedagogical features, this detailed, yet accessibly written book gives introductory-level psychology students access to a concise review of key research, issues, controversies and diverse approaches in the area of culture and psychology. See following link for more details: Cultural Issues in Psychology: A Student's Handbook July 2011Paranormality: Why We See What Isn't There by Richard Wiseman
Book Description Psychologist Richard Wiseman is clear about one thing, paranormal phenomena don't exist. But in the same way space travel yields technology that transforms our everyday lives, so research into telepathy, fortune-telling and out-of-body experiences produces remarkable insights into our brains, behaviour and beliefs. Paranormality explores this new science of the supernatural and is packed with activities that allow you to experience the impossible. Would you like to control your dreams and leave your body, convince strangers that you know all about them, and unleash the power of your unconscious mind? Then throw away your crystals and ditch your lucky charms. It is time to discover the real secrets of the paranormal. See following link for more details: Paranormality: Why We See What Isn't There June 2011Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman
Book Description If the conscious mind - the part you consider to be you - is just the tip of the iceberg, what is the rest doing? In this sparkling and provocative new book, the renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman navigates the depths of the subconscious brain to illuminate surprising mysteries: Why can your foot move halfway to the brake pedal before you become consciously aware of danger ahead? Why do you hear your name being mentioned in a conversation that you didn’t think you were listening to? What do Ulysses and the credit crunch have in common? Why did Thomas Edison electrocute an elephant in 1916? Why are people whose names begin with J more likely to marry other people whose names begin with J? Why is it so difficult to keep a secret? And how is it possible to get angry at yourself - who, exactly, is mad at whom? Taking in brain damage, plane spotting, dating, drugs, beauty, infidelity, synesthesia, criminal law, artificial intelligence, and visual illusions, Incognito is a thrilling subsurface exploration of the mind and all its contradictions. See following link for more details: Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain May 2011How To Think Straight About Psychology by Keith Stanovich
Book Description Keith Stanovich's widely used and highly acclaimed book helps students become more discriminating consumers of psychological information, helping them recognize pseudoscience and be able to distinguish it from true psychological research. How To Think Straight About Psychology also helps instructors teach critical thinking skills within the rich context of psychology. It is the leading text of its kind. See following link for more details: How To Think Straight About Psychology (9th Edition) April 2011The Rough Guide to Psychology by Dr Christian Jarrett
Book Description "The Rough Guide to Psychology" looks at the question psychologists have been asking for over a hundred years - why are we the way we are? It starts with you, your mind and brain, broadening out to look at your friends and other relationships, then finally on to crowds, mobs and religion. It explores the latest research relevant to crime, schooling, sport, politics, shopping and health, and what happens when the mind goes wrong, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and more unusual conditions. "The Rough Guide to Psychology" includes fascinating information on real-life psychology, testing your memory, intelligence, personality and much more, with advice on everything from chat-up lines to developing your creativity. "The Rough Guide to Psychology" is your ultimate guide to this fascinating subject. See following link for more details: March 2011Clinician's Thesaurus: The Guide to Conducting Interviews and Writing Psychological Reports by Edward L. Zuckerman
Book Description The Clinician's Thesaurus is an indispensable practitioner resource and course text. It presents thousands of standard words, phrases, clinical tips, and interview questions to help practitioners conduct thorough assessments, accurately describe nearly any clinical situation, and shape clinical observations into effective reports. Finding exactly the right terminology can save hours of paperwork time and improve the quality of documentation. Structured to follow the sequence of a mental health evaluation, the book includes report formats, treatment planning pointers, all DSM-IV-TR and ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes, and much more—all in a large-size format with convenient lay-flat binding. New To The 7th Edition See following link for more details: February 2011Most Underappreciated: 50 Prominent Social Psychologists Describe Their Most Unloved Work by Robert Arkin (editor)
Book Description Fifty of today's most prominent social psychologists describe their scholarship, focusing on the human and personal side of the "life of the mind." Each author spotlights his or her least appreciated work, and discusses theory, methods, findings, or application. The contributors also use this opportunity to provide the context behind their work. Some authors describe their mentors, the influential figures who led them to certain areas of research. Others offer advice to young researchers who are just entering the field and who can learn from their predecessors' mistakes and miscalculations. These contributors address issues like how to prepare for, and make the most of, a professorship in a liberal arts college context, and how to frame a research question, title an article, handle a controversy, pursue a passion, devise a method, think about a meta-analysis, and write persuasively. Still others discuss what makes their research important to them and to the field, describing the impact of their work on their own future research agendas. In fifty engaging and succinct essays, these eminent psychologists pull back the curtain on their professional lives. Their stories are personal and touch on relationships, passion for ideas, and the emotional highs and lows of academic life. This book is a truly unique glimpse behind scenes of social psychology and the people who have advanced the field. See following link for more details: Most Underappreciated: 50 Prominent Social Psychologists Describe Their Most Unloved Work January 2011Graduate Study in Psychology 2011: American Psychological Association
Book Description Graduate Study in Psychology 2011 is the best source of information related to graduate programs in psychology and provides information related to approximately 600 graduate programs in psychology in the U.S. and Canada. Graduate Study in Psychology 2011 contains information about: See following link for more details: Graduate Study in Psychology 2011 December 2010The Mind's Eye by Oliver Sacks
Book Description In The Mind’s Eye, Oliver Sacks tells the stories of people who are able to navigate the world and communicate with others despite losing what many of us consider indispensable senses and abilities: the power of speech, the capacity to recognize faces, the sense of three-dimensional space, the ability to read, the sense of sight. For all of these people, the challenge is to adapt to a radically new way of being in the world. There is Lilian, a concert pianist who becomes unable to read music and is eventually unable even to recognize everyday objects, and Sue, a neurobiologist who has never seen in three dimensions, until she suddenly acquires stereoscopic vision in her fifties. There is Pat, who reinvents herself as a loving grandmother and active member of her community, despite the fact that she has aphasia and cannot utter a sentence, and Howard, a prolific novelist who must find a way to continue his life as a writer even after a stroke destroys his ability to read. And there is Dr. Sacks himself, who tells the story of his own eye cancer and the bizarre and disconcerting effects of losing vision to one side. Sacks explores some very strange paradoxes—people who can see perfectly well but cannot recognize their own children, and blind people who become hyper-visual or who navigate by “tongue vision.” He also considers more fundamental questions: How do we see? How do we think? How important is internal imagery—or vision, for that matter? Why is it that, although writing is only five thousand years old, humans have a universal, seemingly innate, potential for reading? The Mind’s Eye is a testament to the complexity of vision and the brain and to the power of creativity and adaptation. And it provides a whole new perspective on the power of language and communication, as we try to imagine what it is to see with another person’s eyes, or another person’s mind. See following link for more details: November 2010The Psychologist's Companion: A Guide to Writing Scientific Papers for Students and Researchers by Robert J. Sternberg & Karin Sternberg
Book Description The Psychologist's Companion is intended for students as well as young professionals and writers at all stages of their careers seeking inspiration and guidelines for better scientific writing. This book is also a resource for researchers in related fields. It has been comprehensively updated, revised, and extended for its fifth edition and includes the latest style guidelines of the American Psychological Association's Publication Manual (sixth edition, 2009) as well as chapters encompassing the entire research process from doing literature research and planning an experiment to writing the paper. The book features new chapters on literature research; ethics; and generating, evaluating, and selling ideas. The Psychologist's Companion also provides information on writing book proposals, grant proposals, and lectures. See following link for more details: The Psychologist's Companion: A Guide to Writing Scientific Papers for Students and Researchers October 2010The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head: A Psychiatrist's Stories of His Most Bizarre Cases by Dr. Gary Small & Gigi Vorgan
Book Description True stories are more bizarre than any fiction, and Dr. Gary Small knows this best. After thirty distinguished years of psychiatry and groundbreaking research on the human brain, Dr. Small has seen it all - now he is ready to open his office doors for the first time and tell all about the most mysterious, intriguing, and bizarre patients of his career. The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head is a spellbinding record of the doctor's most bewildering cases, from naked headstands and hysterical blindness to fainting schoolgirls and self-amputations. It is an illuminating journey into the mind of a practicing psychiatrist and his life in medicine as it evolves over time—a behind-the-scenes look at the field and a variety of mental diseases as they've never been seen or diagnosed before. You'll find yourself exploring the puzzling eccentricities that make us human. Often funny, sometimes tragic, and always compelling, Dr. Small takes you on a tour of his career that moves from the halls of a crowded inner-city Boston emergency room to the multimillion-dollar ski lodges of the nation's elite. In between, Dr. Small introduces a strange cast of true-life characters and conditions, while dealing with mysterious hysterical blindness, a man convinced that his penis is shrinking, secret double lives, and frighteningly psychotic romantic desires. His career and personal life come full circle when his own mentor becomes his patient, making Small realize that no one is beyond mental exploration—not even himself. See following link for more details: The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head: A Psychiatrist's Stories of His Most Bizarre Cases September 2010Classic Case Studies in Psychology by Geoff Rolls
Book Description Have you heard about the man who lived with a hole in his head? Or the boy raised by his parents as a girl? From the woman with multiple personalities, to the man with no brain, this collection of case studies provides a compelling insight into the human mind. This is a fascinating collection of human stories. Some are well-known case studies that have informed clinical practice, others are relatively unknown. For this edition, Rolls has added recent research findings on each case study plus four brand new cases: the story of Washoe, the ape who could communicate; the much debated case of Holly Ramona and repressed memory; and Kim Peek, the real 'Rainman'. Classic Case Studies in Psychology is for everyone who has ever wondered about the stranger side of life. No prior knowledge of psychology is required, just an open mind. Prepare to be amazed. See following link for more details: Classic Case Studies in Psychology August 2010How The Mind Works by Steven Pinker
Book Description The Pulitzer Prize finalist and national bestseller How the Mind Works is a fascinating, provocative work exploring the mysteries of human thought and behavior. How do we see in three dimensions? How do we remember names and faces? How is it, indeed, that we ponder the nature of our own consciousness? Why do we fall in love? In this bold, extraordinary book, Pinker synthesizes the best of cognitive science and evolutionary biology to explain what the mind is, how it has evolved, and, ultimately, how it works. See following link for more details: July 2010How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like by Paul Bloom
Book Description In How Pleasure Works, Yale University psychologist Paul Bloom draws on groundbreaking research to unveil the deeper workings of why we desire what we desire. Refuting the longstanding explanation of pleasure as a simple sensory response, Bloom shows us that pleasure is grounded in our beliefs about the deeper nature or essence of a given thing. This is why we want the real Rolex and not the knockoff, the real Picasso and not the fake, the twin we have fallen in love with and not her identical sister. In this fascinating and witty account, Bloom draws on child development, philosophy, neuroscience, and behavioral economics in order to address pleasures noble and seamy, highbrow and lowbrow. Along the way, he gives us unprecedented insights into a realm of human psychology that until now has only been partially understood. See following link for more details: How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like June 2010Experiments With People: Revelations From Social Psychology by Robert P. Abelson, Kurt P. Frey & Aiden P. Gregg
Book Description Experiments With People showcases 28 intriguing studies that have significantly advanced our understanding of human thought and social behavior. These studies, mostly laboratory experiments, shed light on the irrationality of everyday thinking, the cruelty and indifference of 'ordinary' people, the operation of the unconscious mind, and the intimate bond between the self and others. This book tells the inside story of how social psychological research gets done and why it matters. Each chapter focuses on the details and implications of a single study, but cites related research and real-life examples. All chapters are self-contained, allowing them to be read in any order. Each chapter is divided into: See following link for more details: Experiments With People: Revelations From Social Psychology May 2010The Story of Psychology by Morton Hunt
Book Description Socrates, Plato, Descartes, Spinoza, Mesmer, William James, Pavlov, Freud, Piaget, Erikson, and Skinner. Each of these thinkers recognized that human beings could examine, comprehend, and eventually guide or influence their own thought processes, emotions, and resulting behavior. The lives and accomplishments of these pillars of psychology, expertly assembled by Morton Hunt, are set against the times in which the subjects lived. Hunt skillfully presents dramatic and lucid accounts of the techniques and validity of centuries of psychological research, and of the methods and effectiveness of major forms of psychotherapy. Fully revised, and incorporating the dramatic developments of the last fifteen years, The Story of Psychology is a graceful and absorbing chronicle of one of the great human inquiries - the search for the true causes of our behavior. See following link for more details: April 2010How To Do Research: A Psychologist's Guide by Jonathan St B T Evans
Book Description Despite the existence of a large number of research methods textbooks, until now there has not been one offering coherent discussion of or clearly outlining a 'strategy' for research. How to do Research is intended to decisively redress this imbalance. Offering practical advice on all methodological aspects of research from literature review and interpretation of findings - to development of theories, writing and publication, this book also provides a consideration of the major conceptual aspects of conducting research. The whole process of research, from philosophical underpinnings to key concepts in implementation, is critically examined and practical advice provided. This book will be a useful resource for post-graduate students, at both MA and PhD level, for anyone in the early years of an academic career and for those carrying out research for the first time. See following link for more details: How to Do Research: A Psychologist's Guide March 2010Public Speaking for Psychologists: A Lighthearted Guide to Research Presentations, Job Talks, and Other Opportunities to Embarrass Yourself by David B. Feldman & Paul J. Silvia
Book Description Public speaking is one of the most common fears. Few people look forward to talking in front of others and even fewer do it as effectively as they could. A career in psychology and its related fields involves extensive public speaking, so you will need to learn to do it well. With time and practice, you too can become a confident and effective presenter. "Public Speaking for Psychologists" is a practical and lighthearted guide to planning, designing, and delivering a presentation. The first half of the book covers the nuts-and-bolts of public speaking: preparing a talk, submitting an abstract, developing your slides, managing anxiety, handling questions, and preventing public-speaking disasters. The second half applies these tips to common presentations, such as research talks, poster presentations, job talks, and talks to lay audiences. Throughout the book, the authors - both experienced presenters - offer realistic advice, useful tips, and humorous stories of embarrassing mistakes they'll never make again. See following link for more details: February 201050 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: Shattering Widespread Misconceptions about Human Behavior by Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn, John Ruscio & Barry L. Beyerstein
Book Description 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology uses popular myths as a vehicle for helping students and laypersons to distinguish science from pseudoscience: See following link for more details: 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: Shattering Widespread Misconceptions about Human Behavior January 2010Graduate Study in Psychology 2010: American Psychological Association
Book Description Graduate Study in Psychology is the best source of information related to graduate programs in psychology and provides information related to approximately 600 graduate programs in psychology in the U.S. and Canada. Graduate Study in Psychology contains information about: See following link for more details: Graduate Study in Psychology 2010 December 2009Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind by V.S Ramachandran & Sandra Blakeslee
Book Description Neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran is internationally renowned for uncovering answers to the deep and quirky questions of human nature that few scientists have dared to address. His bold insights about the brain are matched only by the stunning simplicity of his experiments; using such low-tech tools as cotton swabs, glasses of water and dime-store mirrors. In Phantoms in the Brain, Dr. Ramachandran recounts how his work with patients who have bizarre neurological disorders has shed new light on the deep architecture of the brain, and what these findings tell us about who we are, how we construct our body image, why we laugh or become depressed, why we may believe in God, how we make decisions, deceive ourselves and dream, perhaps even why we're so clever at philosophy, music and art. Some of his most notable cases: A woman paralyzed on the left side of her body who believes she is lifting a tray of drinks with both hands offers a unique opportunity to test Freud's theory of denial. A man who insists he is talking with God challenges us to ask: Could we be "wired" for religious experience? A woman who hallucinates cartoon characters illustrates how, in a sense, we are all hallucinating, all the time. Dr. Ramachandran's inspired medical detective work pushes the boundaries of medicine's last great frontier - the human mind - yielding new and provocative insights into the "big questions" about consciousness and the self. See following link for more details: Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind November 2009The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View by Laura King
Book Description The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View by Laura King (University of Missouri at Columbia) is the first text to bring a truly appreciative view of psychology as a science and for exploring behavior to introductory students. It is built around the idea that students must study the discipline of psychology as a whole, that the sub-disciplines are intricately connected, and that human behavior is best understood by exploring its functioning state in addition to its potential dysfunctions. For example, imagine that you have been asked to create a science of "watchology." You have two watches that both have had the unfortunate "trauma" of being left in the pocket of someone's jeans through the washer and dryer. One watch has suffered the worst possible fate-it no longer tells time. The other has emerged from the traumatic event still ticking. Which watch would you use to develop your new science of watchology? Clearly, the working watch will help you understand watches better than the broken one. What does watchology have to do with psychology? Quite simply, in psychology as in watchology, it makes sense to start with what works: to gain a general understanding of human behavior and then apply that knowledge to those who have emerged from life's experiences in dysfunction. See following link for more details: The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View October 2009Your Career in Psychology: Putting Your Graduate Degree to Work by Stephen F. Davis, Peter J. Giordano & Carolyn A. Licht
Book Review by Kenneth D. Keith (University of San Diego ) Your Career in Psychology is the kind of book many, if not most, psychologists, whether teachers, researchers, or practitioners, might have wished for when they were setting out. The editors, experienced psychologists themselves, have assembled a wonderfully diverse group of authors who provide honest, witty, and practical advice to readers contemplating new careers or career changes within the field. They discuss the obvious topics, like teaching roles, private practice, and job finding; and they take on the less pleasant prospects, such as what to do about student loans. From working effectively with mentors to being a good campus citizen, there is something here for anyone serious about psychology as a career field. The advice and counsel comes from psychologists whose wide-ranging experience will prove useful, not only to those seeking or changing careers, but to those of us engaged in teaching the next generation. This is an excellent collection of interesting, successful authors who have ‘been there and done that.’ Readers will find a wealth of useful ideas and pointers. See following link for more details: Your Career in Psychology: Putting Your Graduate Degree to Work September 2009Classic Experiments in Psychology by Douglas Mook
Book Description The typical survey course in psychology has time for only limited presentation of the research on which our knowledge is based. This book presents, in more depth than textbook treatment permits, the background, conduct, and implications of a selection of classic experiments in psychology. The selection is designed to be diverse, showing that even for research in vastly different areas of study, the logic of research remains the same; as do its traps and pitfalls. See following link for more details: Classic Experiments in Psychology August 2009Getting In: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology by The American Psychological Association
Book Description Getting In: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology, Second Edition is an update of the American Psychological Association's essential resource for anyone considering graduate study in psychology. This handy, readable book simplifies the process for applicants and increases their chances of being accepted. Useful timelines, tips, and tools break the tasks into manageable steps and help readers define their goals, select programs, and navigate the application process. A monthly timetable and detailed worksheets for selecting the best program matches are included, and a resource section provides a list of publications and organizations that are useful in the various phases of applying. Readers will learn what criteria admissions committees use to evaluate applicants, how to improve their qualifications, and how to showcase their talents in personal essays, letters of recommendations, and preselection interviews. The costs of a graduate education and financial aid information specific to graduate students are also discussed. Members of special populations, such as women, ethnic minorities, gay and lesbian applicants, and applicants with disabilities will find resources and guidance particular to their needs. While applying to graduate school can be challenging, this book demystifies the process and allays students' concerns about how to tackle it. See following link for more details: Getting In: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology July 2009Critical Thinking in Psychology by Robert J. Sternberg, Henry L. Roediger & Diane F. Halpern
Book Description Good scientific research depends on critical thinking at least as much as factual knowledge; psychology is no exception to this rule. And yet, despite the importance of critical thinking, psychology students are rarely taught how to think critically about the theories, methods, and concepts they must use. This book shows students and researchers how to think critically about key topics such as experimental research, statistical inference, case studies, logical fallacies, and ethical judgments. See following link for more details: Critical Thinking in Psychology June 2009Fool's Paradise: The Unreal World of Pop Psychology by Stewart Justman
Book Review By Kenneth Siber From Scientific American The genre of psychological self-help books has grown tremendously, and authors such as Dr. Phil (McGraw), Wayne Dyer and John Gray are repeat visitors to the best-seller lists. Such popularity poses a paradox, though: If the books really worked, why would readers need to keep buying them? In the erudite yet lively Fool’s Paradise, literary scholar Stewart Justman argues that pop psychology texts are ineffective because, among other things, they encourage people to hyperfocus on their own emotional states. The literature is rife with supposed success stories about people overcoming negative emotions and behaviors, many of which are suspiciously sketchy and formulaic. Loose or out-of-context quotations from serious literary and philosophical works are another ill staple of the genre. Citing more than 40 guidebooks, he shows that the field’s problems are serious indeed. See following link for more details: Fool's Paradise: The Unreal World of Pop Psychology May 2009Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior with Concept Maps and Reviews by by Dennis Coon & John O. Mitterer
Book Description Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior attracts and holds the attention of even difficult-to-reach students. The Twelfth Edition's hallmark continues to be its pioneering integration of the proven-effective SQ4R learning system (Survey, Question, Read, Reflect, Review, Recite), which promotes critical thinking as it guides students step-by-step to an understanding of psychology's broad concepts and diversity of topics. Throughout every chapter, these active learning tools together with the book's example-laced writing style, discussions of positive psychology, cutting-edge coverage of the field's new research findings, and excellent media resources ensure that students find the study of psychology fascinating, relevant, and above all, accessible. See following link for more details: Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior with Concept Maps and Reviews April 2009Decoding the Ethics Code: A Practical Guide for Psychologists by Dr. Celia B. Fisher
Book Description Decoding the Ethics Code: A Practical Guide for Psychologists introduces those in psychology and related fields to the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. The book helps psychologists apply the Ethics Code to the constantly changing scientific, professional, and legal realities of the discipline. Author Celia B. Fisher addresses the revised format, choice of wording, aspirational rationale, and enforceability of the code and puts these changes into practical perspective for psychologists. Her book provides in-depth discussions of the foundation and application of each ethical standard to the broad spectrum of scientific, teaching, and professional roles of psychologists. This unique guide helps psychologists effectively utilize ethical principles and standards to morally conduct their work activities, avoid ethical violations, and, most importantly, preserve and protect the fundamental rights and welfare of those with whom they serve. This insider’s guide is an essential resource for new and established mental health practitioners. Graduate students of psychology will find this core text a valuable source of information on ethics in psychology. See following link for more details: Decoding the Ethics Code: A Practical Guide for Psychologists March 2009Essentials of Understanding Psychology by Robert Feldman
Book Description Essentials of Understanding Psychology guides students through Introductory Psychology concepts in an accessible manner, bringing comprehension of difficult material into the grasp of all students because when students understand psychology, they learn psychology. The thoroughly revised Eighth Edition integrates a variety of elements that foster students understanding of psychology and its impact on their everyday lives, including a new Neuroscience and Life feature, alerts to key topics, and study skills for specific concepts. This text also provides instructors with a fully integrated supplements package to objectively gauge their students mastery of psychologys key principles and concepts and to create dynamic lectures. See following link for more details: Essentials of Understanding Psychology February 2009The New Psychology of Love by Robert J. Sternberg & Karin Weis
Book Description Love. What is it? Can we define it? What is its role in our lives? What causes love, and what dooms it? No single theory adequately answers all our questions about the nature of love, yet there are many theories that can contribute to our understanding of it. This fascinating book presents the full range of psychological theories on love—biological, taxonomical, implicit, cultural—updated with the latest research in the field. Robert Sternberg and Karin Weis have here gathered more than a dozen expert contributors to address questions about defining love, the evidence for competing theories, and practical implications. Taken together, these essays offer a comprehensive and engaging comparison of contemporary data and theories. See following link for more details: January 2009Graduate Study in Psychology, 2009: by American Psychological Association
Book Description Graduate Study in Psychology 2009 is the best source of information related to graduate programs in psychology and provides information related to approximately 600 graduate programs in psychology in the U.S. and Canada. Graduate Study in Psychology contains information about: Number of applications received by a program. See following link for more details: Graduate Study in Psychology, 2009 December 2008Psychology by Daniel L. Schacter, Daniel T. Gilbert & Daniel M. Wegner
Book Description Psychology, the highly anticipated new introductory psychology textbook by Harvard professors Daniel L. Schacter, Daniel T. Gilbert, and Daniel M. Wegner, takes a fresh approach to the teaching of psychology by focusing on mindbugs: foibles of the mind that are intrinsically fascinating and provide fundamental insights into how the mind works. Believing an introduction to the field of psychology should be every bit as engaging as reading a popular science book, the authors have utilized the skills that made them successful trade authors to present a compelling case for psychological reasoning. Joined with the latest in psychological science and neuroscience, Psychology will provide students with an introduction to psychology that both educates and entices them See following link for more details: November 2008Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology by Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn & Jeffrey M. Lohr
Book Description This is the first major text designed to help professionals and students evaluate the merits of popular yet controversial practices in clinical psychology, differentiating those that can stand up to the rigors of science from those that cannot. Leading researchers review widely used therapies for alcoholism, infantile autism, ADHD, and posttraumatic stress disorder; herbal remedies for depression and anxiety; suggestive techniques for memory recovery; and self-help models. Other topics covered include issues surrounding psychological expert testimony, the uses of projective assessment techniques, and unanswered questions about dissociative identity disorder. Providing knowledge to guide truly accountable mental health practice, the volume also imparts critical skills for designing and evaluating psychological research programs. It is ideal for use in advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses in clinical psychology, psychotherapy, and evidence-based practice. See following link for more details: Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology October 2008Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman & Rom Brafman
Book Description A fascinating journey into the hidden psychological influences that derail our decision-making, Sway will change the way you think about the way you think. Why is it so difficult to sell a plummeting stock or end a doomed relationship? Why do we listen to advice just because it came from someone “important”? Why are we more likely to fall in love when there’s danger involved? In Sway, renowned organizational thinker Ori Brafman and his brother, psychologist Rom Brafman, answer all these questions and more. Drawing on cutting-edge research from the fields of social psychology, behavioral economics, and organizational behavior, Sway reveals dynamic forces that influence every aspect of our personal and business lives, including loss aversion (our tendency to go to great lengths to avoid perceived losses), the diagnosis bias (our inability to reevaluate our initial diagnosis of a person or situation), and the “chameleon effect” (our tendency to take on characteristics that have been arbitrarily assigned to us). Sway introduces us to the Harvard Business School professor who got his students to pay $204 for a $20 bill, the head of airline safety whose disregard for his years of training led to the transformation of an entire industry, and the football coach who turned conventional strategy on its head to lead his team to victory. We also learn the curse of the NBA draft, discover why interviews are a terrible way to gauge future job performance, and go inside a session with the Supreme Court to see how the world’s most powerful justices avoid the dangers of group dynamics. Every once in a while, a book comes along that not only challenges our views of the world but changes the way we think. In Sway, Ori and Rom Brafman not only uncover rational explanations for a wide variety of irrational behaviors but also point readers toward ways to avoid succumbing to their pull. See following link for more details: Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior September 200850 Psychology Classics: Who We Are, How We Think, What We Do; Insight and Inspiration from 50 Key Books by Tom Butler-Bowdon
Book Description We would all like to know the secrets of human nature - who we are, how we think, and what we do. 50 psychology classics explores writings from such iconic figures as Freud Adler, Jung, Skinner, James, Piaget, and Pavlov, and also highlights the work of contemporary psychologists such as Howard Gardner, Daniel Gilbert, and Martin Seligman. In addition, there are fascinating insights from writers and thinkers like Isabel Briggs Myers, Eric Hoffer, and William Styron. The focus is on 'psychology for non psychologists', books that everyone can read and be enlightened by, or that were expressly written for a general audience. We are in a new golden age of popular psychology writing, and 50 psychology classics reveals a diversity of ideas: Also exploring some of psychology's most famous experiments and research, such as Stanley Milgram's chilling demonstrations of the human willingness to obey authority, Harry Harlow's work with baby monkeys revealing the importance of physical contact to mental health, and Alfred Kinsey's pot-stirring revelations about people's real sex lives, 50 psychology classics highlights the often surprising scientific work that has changed what we believe about ourselves and what makes people tick. See following link for more details: August 2008The Psychologist as Detective: An Introduction to Conducting Research in Psychology by Randolph A. Smith & Stephen F. Davis
Book Description The Psychologist as Detective conveys the excitement of research methodology through a lively, conversational style. To make the study of the research process interactive and accessible for readers, pedagogical features and critical thinking activities are integrated throughout the volume. Actual student research appears in each chapter to increase relevance and heighten reader interest. This text evaluates the science of psychology, research ideas and hypotheses, ethics, nonexperimental methods and the basics of experimentation variables and control, statistics, designing-conducting-analyzing and interpreting experiments, as well as alternative research designs, external validity, critiquing experimental research and writing and assemblling an APA-format research report. For individuals involved with or interested in psychological research. See following link for more details: The Psychologist as Detective: An Introduction to Conducting Research in Psychology (4th Edition) July 2008The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature by Steven Pinker
Editorial Review From Publishers Weekly In his last outing, How the Mind Works, the author of the well-received The Language Instinct made a case for evolutionary psychology or the view that human beings have a hard-wired nature that evolved over time. This book returns to that still-controversial territory in order to shore it up in the public sphere. Drawing on decades of research in the "sciences of human nature," Pinker, a chaired professor of psychology at MIT, attacks the notion that an infant's mind is a blank slate, arguing instead that human beings have an inherited universal structure shaped by the demands made upon the species for survival, albeit with plenty of room for cultural and individual variation. For those who have been following the sciences in question including cognitive science, neuroscience, behavioral genetics and evolutionary psychology much of the evidence will be familiar, yet Pinker's clear and witty presentation, complete with comic strips and allusions to writers from Woody Allen to Emily Dickinson, keeps the material fresh. What might amaze is the persistent, often vitriolic resistance to these findings Pinker presents and systematically takes apart, decrying the hold of the "blank slate" and other orthodoxies on intellectual life. He goes on to tour what science currently claims to know about human nature, including its cognitive, intuitive and emotional faculties, and shows what light this research can shed on such thorny topics as gender inequality, child-rearing and modern art. See following link for more details: The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature June 2008The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil By Philip Zimbardo
Book Description What makes good people do bad things? How can moral people be seduced to act immorally? Where is the line separating good from evil, and who is in danger of crossing it? Renowned social psychologist Philip Zimbardo has the answers, and in The Lucifer Effect he explains how–and the myriad reasons why–we are all susceptible to the lure of “the dark side.” Drawing on examples from history as well as his own trailblazing research, Zimbardo details how situational forces and group dynamics can work in concert to make monsters out of decent men and women. Zimbardo is perhaps best known as the creator of the Stanford Prison Experiment. Here, for the first time and in detail, he tells the full story of this landmark study, in which a group of college-student volunteers was randomly divided into “guards” and “inmates” and then placed in a mock prison environment. Within a week the study was abandoned, as ordinary college students were transformed into either brutal, sadistic guards or emotionally broken prisoners. By illuminating the psychological causes behind such disturbing metamorphoses, Zimbardo enables us to better understand a variety of harrowing phenomena, from corporate malfeasance to organized genocide to how once upstanding American soldiers came to abuse and torture Iraqi detainees in Abu Ghraib. He replaces the long-held notion of the “bad apple” with that of the “bad barrel”–the idea that the social setting and the system contaminate the individual, rather than the other way around. This is a book that dares to hold a mirror up to mankind, showing us that we might not be who we think we are. While forcing us to reexamine what we are capable of doing when caught up in the crucible of behavioral dynamics, though, Zimbardo also offers hope. We are capable of resisting evil, he argues, and can even teach ourselves to act heroically. Like Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem and Steven Pinker’s The Blank Slate, The Lucifer Effect is a shocking, engrossing study that will change the way we view human behavior. See following link for more details: The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil May 2008Psychology and Life by Richard J. Gerrig & Philip G. Zimbardo
Book Description This classic book is built around the central theme of presenting psychology as a science and applying that science to our daily lives. Psychology and Life continues to provide a rigorous, research-based presentation that demonstrates that this research has immediate in daily life. For Intro Psychology students, or anyone with an interest in the subject. See following link for more details: Psychology and Life (MyPsychLab Series) April 2008Forty Studies that Changed Psychology: Explorations into the History of Psychological Research by Roger R Hock
Book Description This unique book closes the gap between psychology books and the research that made them possible. Its journey through the “headline history” of psychology presents 40 of the most famous studies in the history of the science, and subsequent follow-up studies that expanded their findings and relevance. Readers are granted a valuable insider's look at the studies that continue to be cited most frequently, stirred up the most controversy when they were published, sparked the most subsequent related research, opened new fields of psychological exploration, and changed most dramatically our knowledge of human behavior. See following link for more details: March 2008Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Editorial Review Aristotle observed 2300 years ago that more than anything men and women seek happiness. Csikszentmihalyi (psychology, Univ. of Chicago) has for 25 years made similar observations regarding "flow," a field of behavioral science examining connections between satisfaction and daily activities. A flow state ensues when one is engaged in self-controlled, goal-related, meaningful actions. Data regarding flow were collected on thousands of individuals, from mountain climbers to chess players. This thoroughly researched study is an intriguing look at the age-old problem of the pursuit of happiness and how, through conscious effort, we may more easily attain it. Recommended for general readers. (Terry McMaster, Utica Coll. of Syracuse Univ. Lib., N.Y). See following link for more details: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Go From Psychology Books Back To The Home Page
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