To the Reader

Topic Guide

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Selected World Wide Web Sites

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UNIT 1 Becoming a Person: Foundations

Overview

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A Dance to the Music of the Century: Changing Fashions in 20th-Century Psychiatry

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David Healy

David Healy Discusses the History and Theories that have shaped psychological and psychiatric thinking over the last century. At the turn of the millennium, he questions where we are headed and which theorists will continue to have an impact on our philosophy and psychological treatments

The Last Interview of Abraham Maslow

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Edward Hoffman

Although initially ``sold on behaviorism,'' Abraham Maslow became one of the founders of a comprehensive human psychology or Humanistic psychology. In an important last interview, Maslow shares his philosophy on the nature of human beings and of the potential for world peace and understanding

Psychoanalyst: Sigmund Freud

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Peter Gay

Sigmund Freud ``invented'' Psychoanalysis, and the world has not been the same since. Author Peter Gay reviews the development of Freud's now famous theory and other contributions as well as criticisms of Freud's work. Gay also shows us how we speak ``Freudian'' in our every day language and how Freud had an impact on a myriad of other psychologists

Private Lives: Discipline and Knowing Where to Draw the Line

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Jan Parker

Jan Stimpson

Managing a child's misbehavior can be trying for parents and caregivers. Based on behavioral theory, the authors provide guidelines for when and how to use punishment. Recognizing who is the Victim and who is the perpetrator as well as saying ``no'' and meaning it are just two of the useful guidelines

The Stability of Personality: Observations and Evaluations

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Robert R. McCrae

Paul T. Costa, Jr.

There is substantial evidence for the Stability of personality as well as for individual differences in personality traits. The authors review research on personality that supports their view, and they critique research that does not

How Culture Molds Habits of Thought

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Erica Goode

Studies are beginning to demonstrate that not everyone around the world thinks in the same way. Culture is a powerful force in determining how we process and interpret various pieces of information-social or otherwise. Erica Goode reports that through a series of controlled studies, psychologists are able to demonstrate that culture greatly influences mental life

UNIT 2 Determinants of Behavior: Motivation, Environment, and Physiology

Overview

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Human Nature: Born or Made?

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Erica Goode

Evolutionary psychologists argue that most of our social behaviors are preprogrammed by evolution. Some behaviors, however, may not be adaptive today, for example, coercive sex. Similarly, some critics say that explanations of male-female relationships as depicted by evolutionary theory are too simplistic

The Gender Blur

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Deborah Blum

With the blurring of gender boundaries, author Deborah Blum asks just how much biology rather than our training in society contributes to maleness and femaleness. She provides everyday examples of the blurred boundaries and examines research on the topic of gender roles and their origins

The Personality Genes

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J. Madeleine Nash

Does DNA Shape behavior and personality? For example, is there a gene that causes some individuals to seek novelty? Molecular biologists who believe the answer is yes are busy pursuing the study of genetic influences on our personalities

Decoding the Human Body

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Sharon Begley

Sharon Begley indicates that the human genome, or Gene mapping/decoding, project is exciting and at the same time daunting. Scientists may soon be able to predict who is at risk for all types of disorders. Likewise, this project is of concern because of the moral dilemmas it raises

Autism Is Likely to be Linked to Several Genes

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Hugh Mclntosh

Austism, a brain disorder that usually manifests itself early in life, may be linked to genses on several different chromosomes. Viruses, drugs, and other factors may cause damage to these chromosomes in the embryo, thus increasing the chances for autism

The Future of the Brain

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Norbert R. Myslinski

New Brain imaging techniques are reviewed by Norbert Myslinski. New possibilities such as more precise, less invastive brain surgery are discussed as outcomes for utilizing this technology

The Biology of Joy

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Jeremiah Creedon

Biologically speaking, scientists are close to knowing what pleasure is. In the 1970s endorphins were heralded as the key to human pleasure and joy. Today scientists are closing in on refined information about the causes of and controls for pleasure

The Tick-Tock of the Biological Clock

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Michael W. Young

The Human brain seems to have a built-in 24-hour biological clock that persist even in the absence of day and night. Heart attacks, body temperature, pain threshold, stress hormones, and other bodily changes are linked to this clock, according to Michael Young

The Gold Medal Mind

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James Bauman

Great athletes are not just more motivated or athletically skilled. They are able to ignore distractions, do more self-talk and mental rehearsal, and relax better than nonathletes or average athletes

Faith & Healing

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Claudia Wallis

Faith Healers have appeared in various cultures at various points in history. Some medical studies demonstrate that faith leads to better health and faster recovery; however, more evidence exists of a mind-body connection

UNIT 3 Problems Influencing personal Growth

Overview

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The Seven Stages of Man

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Constanza Villaba

This brief article reviews a variety of genetic, biological, and social changes that men experience at each stage of life. Many informative statistics related to psychology, health, socialization, and so forth are presented

Fetal Psychology

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Janet L. Hopson

Birth may be a significant occasion, but it is only one milestone in a series of important developmental events, many of which precede birth. Janet Hopson reviews the latest findings on just how fascinating and significant fetal life is

Four Things You Need to Know About Raising Baby

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Joanna Lipari

Modern research with infants is demonstrating that babies are not the passive receptacles we once thought they were. Joanna Lipari reveals four myths about infants and how science has altered our thinking

Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do

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Judith Rich Harris

Are criminals made or born? Judith Rich Harris strongly stresses the view that we become what is in our genes and that the environment only pressures us to express our genetic propensities

Invincible Kids, U.S. News & World Report, November 11, 1996

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Some children survive trauma and, in fact, thrive. Psychologists are studying these resilient children to determine how this happens, who these children are, and what factors enhance their development despite the children's ordeals

A World of Their Own

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Sharon Begley

Modern teens are still very peer-driven, but their lives in other ways are quite different from teens of previous generations due to the Internet and other social changes. What they say they want and who they think they are provide the focus for this article

How Well Do You Know Your Kid?

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Barbara Kantrowitz

Pat Wingert

Prompted by the violence in U. S. high schools, the authors contend that when parents relinquish their power, teens will create their own rules, and peers will have more influence. Carting Parents cannot protect their teens from all the problems of life, but involved parents can make a difference. This essay also provides ample demographic statistics on teens today

The Road Ahead: A Boomer's Guide to Happiness

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Barbara Kantrowitz

Baby boomers are reaching age 50, the age between adulthood and old age. Boomers again have the chance to redefine cultural norms just as this large generation did in the past-from health to spiritualism to finances as well as other aspects of life

Live to 100? No Thanks

101

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Susan L. Crowley

The American Association of Retired People (AARP) surveyed over 2,000 individuals and found that most people opt for quality of life rather than quantity of life in old age. AARP also discovered that the older people are, the older they want to be when they die. Declining health and lack of money are the main concerns about old age

Start the Conversation, Modern Maturity, September/Octoer 2000

104

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Death is a stigmatized topic in American Society. This article is designed to motivate people to addess their own feelings about death, to plan for the future, and to feel more comfortable with the issue

UNIT 4 Relating to Others

Overview

112

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Friendships and Adaptation Across the Life Span

114

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Willard W. Hartup

Nan Stevens

Friends foster a Sense of well-being across a life span, although adults and children may conceptualize and interact with friends differently. The friends who provide the most ``social capital'' are those who are well-adjusted and socially competent

Emotional Intelligence: Do You Have It?

117

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Phillip M. Perry

Emotional intelligence or EQ is the ability to recognize our own emotions as well as the emotions of those around us. EQ is especially important if we supervise others, especially difficult employees

Shyness: The New Solution

121

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Bernardo Carducci

Bernardo Carducci discloses new research on shyness-where it orginates and how it can be overcome. The author pays special attention to the Internet as a means for overcoming shyness

What's in a Face?

127

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Beth Azar

A controversy in psychology exists about the importance of the face as a mirror of a person's emotions. Some argue that the face influences social interactions; Others argue that the face tells others something about another person's overall moods

How to Spot a Liar

129

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James Geary

Humans and animals regularly deceive others. Nature, However, provides clues to help others decipher deceit. In Humans, the face is a particularly revealing feature, so much so that computers are being programmed to detect liars

Revealing Personal Secrets

132

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Anita E. Kelly

When do people reveal their secrets? Why do some secrets remain undisclosed? Anita Kelly reviews research and reveals the answers to these and other questions

Discover the Power of Forgiveness

136

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Ellen Michaud

What if Someone has done something wrong? What if it involved you? According to author Ellen Michaud, You have three options-forgiveness, denial, and anger. Forgiveness is the best in the long run although it might not be easy. When and how to forgive are revealed in this article. There is also a self-test to measure how forgiving you are

Welcome to the Love Lab

140

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John Gottman

Sybil Carrere

Using three dialogues from couples, the authors demonstrate how to detect troubled relationships. Results of actual research are also shared in order to enable the reader to detect problems as well

Prescription for Passion

145

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David M. Buss

Is Jealousy necessary? David Buss answers the question, saying that not only is jealousy a normal part of personality, but it can help ignite passion and therefore hold couples together

Coping With Crowding

149

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Frans B. M. de Waal

Filippo Aureli

Peter G. Judge

Early research with rodents on crowding strongly suggested that crowding leads to high levels of aggression. New research with primates and humans suggests that primates are capable of flexible adjustment to all kinds of environmental conditions, including crowding

UNIT 5 Dynamics of Personal Adjustment: The Individual and Society

Overview

154

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The Teening of Childhood

156

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Kay S. Hymowitz

Today's children are born into a ``kid kulture,'' where they are introduced early to such concepts as teen in-crowds. Barbie, modern television, and advertisements targeted solely to children are modern inventions that encourage our children to grow up too fast

The Betrayal of the American Man

164

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Susan Faludi

After the feminist revolution, American men were left wondering what is the ideal man. Susan Faludi traces the evolving masculine gender role

Where Bias Begins: The Truth About Stereotypes

172

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Annie Murphy Paul

Social psychologists have long pondered the root causes of prejudice. Today they are joined by cognitive psychologists who study automatic though processing. Together, through innovative research, these psychologists are demonstrating that not only might we be unable to control some biases, but we may not even be aware that we have them

The Lure of the Cult

175

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Richard Lacayo

News of Cults and cult suicides has become almost commonplace in the United States, losing its shock value. As the year 2000 approached, it was predicted that more people would turn to cults and the tragedies that they often entail

Work, Work, Work, Work!

177

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Mark Hunter

The biggest part of adult time is spent at work because the lines between our private lives and our working lives are blurring. Survival tips for coping with the increased pressure to work, work, work are part of this informative article

Don't Face Stress Alone

181

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Benedict Carey

Many Americans are Type A and competitive, and they prefer to face stress alone. Research, however, is demonstrating how beneficial social support or talking to others can be in times of distress

UNIT 6 Enhancing Human Adjustment: Learning to Cope Effectively

Overview

184

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What You Can Change & What you Cannot Change

186

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Martin E. P. Seligman

Americans seem to be on constant self-improvement kicks, many of which fail. Martin Seligman explains which attempts to change are a waste of time and which are worthwhile. He discusses diets and psychological disorders in particular

Think Like a Shrink

194

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Emanuel H. Rosen

Most clients go to psychotherapists because they recognize that they have distorted perceptions. Therapists strip away defensiveness. Emanuel Rosen supplies some heuristics or rules or thumb used by psychologist that we, too, can apply to access our own or another's mental health

Bad Choices: Why we Make Them, How to Stop

197

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Mary Ann Chapman

We tend to take the path of least resistance so often that we continue our own destructive behaviors, such as smoking. We can learn to minimize the immediate rewards or to make the long-term negative consequences seem more immediate

Chronic Anxiety: How to Stop Living on the Edge

200

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Harvard Health

Chronic anxiety differs from healthy feelings of nervousness. Anxiety disorders are the most common disorders affecting American and often coexist with depression. How to recognize and treat these disorders is the focus of this article

The Science of Women & Sex

203

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John Leland

After the development of Viagra to treat male sexual dysfunction, scientists are now interested in treating female sexual dysfunction. A variety of potential treatments offer hope as well as problems, among them side effects

Mind Over Medicine

208

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Howard Brody

Can we really heal ourselves? Does believing something alter our health trajectory? Howard Brody examines research on the placebo effect and answers ``yes'' to these and other questions about the mind's power over the body

Glossary

215

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Index

225

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Test your Knowledge Form

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Article Rating Form

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