Introduction to Psychology : Exploration and Application

by Coon, Dennis

• ISBN13: 9780534576721
• ISBN10: 0534576729
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-07-21
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

In this revitalized, redesigned, and thoroughly updated Ninth Edition of his best-selling text, Dennis Coon presents psychology in a way readers will find fascinating, relevant, and above all, accessible. Built into every chapter are a number of features-originated by Coon-that help readers grasp major concepts, develop a broad understanding of psychology's diversity, and see for themselves how psychology relates to the challenges of everyday life. Dennis Coon's delight in the subject matter of psychology and in the readers' curiosity, insights, imagination, and interest is apparent on every page. In a course where professors are frequently confronted by students who haven't actually read their textbooks, Coon's text offers a solution. Coon effectively presents the latest research, the latest controversies, and the key scientific content in an involving way that gets students "hooked" on psychology and eager to read on. Because readers become actively involved with the material, they develop a basic understanding of psychology that they take with them into their future courses and careers. Coon was the first textbook author to make effective use of cognitive principles to teach psychology by building each chapter around the SQ3R study-reading formula: survey, question, read, recite, and review. In the Ninth Edition, Coon has added a fourth "R"-Relate-to create an SQ4R structure, designed to help students better retain the material by encouraging them to relate it directly to their own lives. A new subtitle-Gateways to Mind and Behavior-highlights the relevance of psychology to everyday life. There are certain takeaway concepts (or "Gateways") within each area of introductory psychology (and infused within each chapter) that, once mastered, will provide students with the ability to unlock a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them, throughout the course and beyond.

Table of Contents

Introduction The Psychology of Studying	xli
Psychology: The Search for Understanding	1	(26)
Psychology in Action: Critical Thinking---Uncommon Sense	21	(2)
A Step Beyond: Pseudo-psychologies---Palms, Planets, and Personality	23	(4)
Research Methods and Critical Thinking	27	(23)
Psychology in Action: Psychology in the News---Separating Fact from Fiction	43	(3)
A Step Beyond: Research Ethics---Smile, You're on Candid Camera!	46	(4)
The Brain, Biology, and Behavior	50	(33)
Psychology in Action: Handedness---If Your Brain Is Right, What's Left?	74	(4)
A Step Beyond: Neurogenesis and Plasticity---The Plastic, Fantastic Brain	78	(5)
Child Development	83	(42)
Psychology in Action: Effective Parenting---Raising Healthy Children	116	(3)
A Step Beyond: The Brave New World of Genetics and Reproduction	119	(6)
From Birth to Death: Life-Span Development	125	(39)
Psychology in Action: Well-Being and Happiness---What Makes a Good Life?	156	(1)
A Step Beyond: Approaching Death---New Pathways	157	(7)
Sensation and Reality	164	(35)
Psychology in Action: Controlling Pain---This Won't Hurt a Bit	198	(1)
A Step Beyond: Sensation in Space---Adapting to an Alien Environment	198	(1)
Perceiving the World	199	(34)
Psychology in Action: Perception and Objectivity---Believing Is Seeing	232	(1)
A Step Beyond: Extrasensory Perception---Do You Believe in Magic?	232	(1)
States of Consciousness	233	(41)
Psychology in Action: Exploring and Using Dreams	266	(3)
A Step Beyond: Drug Abuse---Many Questions, Few Answers	269	(5)
Conditioning and Learning	274	(36)
Psychology in Action: Behavioral Self-Management	303	(3)
A Step Beyond: Biological Constraints on Learning---Snakes, Spiders, and the Reluctant Raccoon	306	(4)
Memory	310	(33)
Psychology in Action: Mnemonics---Memory Magic	336	(2)
A Step Beyond: The Recovered Memory-False Memory Debate	338	(5)
Cognition, Language, and Creativity	343	(34)
Psychology in Action: Enhancing Creativity---Brainstorms	368	(4)
A Step Beyond: Animal Intelligence	372	(5)
Intelligence	377	(26)
Psychology in Action: How Intelligent Are Intelligence Tests?	396	(3)
A Step Beyond: The Larry P. Case---``Six-Hour Retardates''	399	(4)
Motivation and Emotion	403	(42)
Psychology in Action: Behavioral Dieting---Fat Chance for a Slim Future	438	(2)
A Step Beyond: Love---Stalking an Elusive Emotion	440	(5)
Gender and Sexuality	445	(34)
Psychology in Action: Sexual Problems---When Pleasure Fades	470	(5)
A Step Beyond: Touching---Does It Always Have Sexual Implications?	475	(4)
Personality	479	(38)
Psychology in Action: Barriers and Bridges---Understanding Shyness	511	(2)
A Step Beyond: Self-Monitoring---Which Me Do You See?	513	(4)
Health, Stress, and Coping	517	(36)
Psychology in Action: Stress Management	544	(4)
A Step Beyond: Meditation---The 20-Minute Vacation	548	(5)
Psychological Disorders	553	(43)
Psychology in Action: Suicide---Lives on the Brink	588	(3)
A Step Beyond: Who Is ``Crazy''? What Should Be Done about It?	591	(5)
Therapies	596	(37)
Psychology in Action: Self-Management and Seeking Professional Help	623	(6)
A Step Beyond: Cultural Issues in Counseling and Therapy	629	(4)
Social Behavior	633	(31)
Psychology in Action: Assertiveness Training---Standing Up for Your Rights	657	(2)
A Step Beyond: Social Traps---The Tragedy of the Commons	659	(5)
Attitudes, Culture, and Human Relations	664	(36)
Psychology in Action: Multiculturalism---Living with Diversity	688	(3)
A Step Beyond: Sociobiology---Do Genes Guide Social Behavior?	691
APPENDIX A Applied Psychology	A-1
Psychology in Action: Improving Communication at Work	A-23
A Step Beyond: Space Psychology---Life on the High Frontier	A-26
APPENDIX B Behavioral Statistics	B-1
Glossary
References
Subject Index
Name Index
Credits