Understanding Psychology

by Morris, Charles G.; Maisto, Albert A.

• ISBN13: 9780130189349
• ISBN10: 0130189340
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

This book presents a scientific, accurate, and thorough overview of the essential concepts of psychology in engaging language that the average reader can easily comprehend. Topics include the science of psychology, the biological basis of behavior, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, cognition and mental abilities, motivation and emotion, life-span development, personality, stress and health psychology, psychological disorders, therapies, and social psychology. For counselors, behavioral analysts and others in various related psychology fields.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
To the Student	1	(1)
The Science of Psychology	2	(44)
What is Psychology?	3	(7)
The Fields of Psychology	3	(4)
Enduring Issues	7	(1)
Psychology as Science	8	(2)
Applying Psychology: Critical Thinking: A Fringe Benefit of Studying Psychology	10	(1)
The Growth of Psychology	11	(7)
Structuralism	12	(1)
Wilhelm Wundt
Edward Bradford Titchener
Functionalism	13	(1)
William James
Psychodynamic Psychology	13	(1)
Sigmund Freud
Behaviorism	14	(1)
John B. Watson
Behaviorism Revisited	15	(1)
B. F. Skinner
Gestalt Psychology	15	(1)
Existential and Humanistic Psychology	15	(1)
Cognitive Psychology	16	(1)
Evolutionary Psychology	16	(1)
Multiple Perspectives of Psychology Today	17	(1)
Highlights: Missing: Women in Psychology	18	(1)
The Decade of Behavior	18	(2)
Where Are the Women?	19	(1)
Human Diversity	20	(6)
Gender	21	(1)
Culture	22	(1)
Race and Ethnicity	22	(2)
Psychology and Human Diversity	24	(2)
Research Methods in Psychology	26	(8)
Naturalistic Observation	27	(1)
Case Studies	28	(1)
Surveys	28	(1)
Correlational Research	29	(1)
Experimental Research	30	(1)
Multimethod Research	31	(1)
The Importance of Sampling	32	(1)
Human Diversity and Research	33	(1)
Highlights: Internet Users: A Flawed Study?	34	(1)
Ethics and Psychology	35	(4)
Ethics in Research on Humans	35	(3)
Ethics in Research on Nonhuman Animals	38	(1)
Careers in Psychology	39	(7)
Academic and Applied Psychology	39	(1)
Clinical Settings	40	(6)
The Biological Basis of Behavior	46	(38)
Neurons: The Nervous System's Messengers	47	(6)
The Neural Impulse	48	(2)
The Synapse	50	(3)
Highlights: New Connections for Old Neurons: Experience and Plasticity	53	(2)
Synapses and Drugs	53	(2)
The Central Nervous System	55	(10)
The Spinal Cord	55	(1)
The Brain	56	(5)
Hemispheric Specialization	61	(3)
New Tools for Studying the Brain	64	(1)
Highlights: Growing New Neurons	65	(2)
The Peripheral Nervous System	67	(2)
The Endocrine System	69	(3)
The Thyroid Gland	70	(1)
The Parathyroid Glands	70	(1)
The Pineal Gland	70	(1)
The Pancreas	71	(1)
The Pituitary Gland	71	(1)
The Gonads	71	(1)
The Adrenal Glands	71	(1)
Behavior Genetics and Our Human Heritage	72	(2)
Genetics	72	(1)
Genetics and Behavior	73	(1)
Highlights: In Search of the Human Genome	74	(10)
Evolutionary Psychology	77	(1)
Social Implications	78	(6)
Sensation and Perception	84	(42)
The Nature of Sensory Processes	86	(3)
The Character of Sensation	86	(1)
Sensory Thresholds	86	(2)
Subliminal Perception	88	(1)
Highlights: Extrasensory Perception	89	(1)
Vision	90	(9)
The Visual System	90	(5)
Color Vision	95	(4)
Hearing	99	(4)
Sound	99	(1)
The Ear	99	(2)
Theories of Hearing	101	(2)
The Other Senses	103	(5)
Smell	103	(1)
Taste	103	(1)
Kinesthetic and Vestibular Senses	104	(1)
Sensations of Motion	105	(1)
The Skin Senses	105	(1)
Pain	106	(2)
Perception	108	(18)
Perceptual Organization	109	(1)
Perceptual Constancies	110	(3)
Observer Characteristics	113	(5)
Perception of Distance and Depth	118	(1)
Perception of Movement	118	(1)
Visual Illusions	119	(7)
States of Consciousness	126	(36)
Natural Variations in Consciousness	128	(4)
Daydreaming and Fantasy	129	(1)
Cycles of Waking, Sleeping, and Dreaming	130	(2)
Highlights: Most of Us Need More Sleep than We Get	132	(8)
Applying Psychology: Coping with Occasional Insomnia	140	(1)
Artificial Alterations in Consciousness	141	(3)
Sensory Deprivation	141	(1)
Meditation	141	(1)
Hypnosis	142	(2)
Drug-Altered Consciousness	144	(6)
Substance Use, Abuse, and Dependence	145	(1)
Depressants: Alcohol, Barbiturates, and the Opiates	146	(4)
Applying Psychology: What Are the Signs of Alcoholism	150	(12)
Stimulants: Caffeine, Nicotine, Amphetamines, and Cocaine	152	(4)
Hallucinogens and Marijuana	156	(6)
Learning	162	(36)
Classical Conditioning	163	(5)
Elements of Classical Conditioning	164	(1)
Establishing a Classically Conditioned Conditioned Response	165	(1)
Classical Conditioning in Humans	166	(1)
Classical Conditioning Is Selective	167	(1)
Operant Conditioning	168	(4)
Elements of Operant Conditioning	168	(2)
Establishing an Operantly Conditioned Response	170	(1)
A Closer Look at Reinforcement	171	(1)
Highlights: Shaping Better Health through Biofeedback	172	(5)
A Closer Look at Punishment	174	(1)
Learned Helplessness	175	(2)
Factors Shared by Classical and Operant Conditioning	177	(8)
The Importance of Contingencies	177	(3)
Extinction and Spontaneous Recovery	180	(2)
Stimulus Control, Generalization, and Discrimination	182	(1)
New Learning Based on Original Learning	183	(1)
Summing Up	184	(1)
Cognitive Learning	185	(7)
Latent Learning and Cognitive Maps	186	(1)
Insight and Learning Sets	187	(1)
Learning by Observing	188	(4)
Applying Psychology: Modifying Your Own Behavior	192	(6)
Memory	198	(30)
The Sensory Registers	200	(3)
Visual and Auditory Registers	200	(1)
Initial Processing	201	(2)
Short-Term Memory	203	(5)
Capacity of STM	203	(2)
Encoding in STM	205	(1)
Retention and Retrieval in STM	205	(1)
Rote Rehearsal	206	(1)
Elaborative Rehearsal	207	(1)
Long-Term Memory	208	(8)
Encoding in LTM	209	(2)
Implicit Memory	211	(1)
Storage and Retrieval in LTM	212	(2)
Autobiographical Memory	214	(2)
Highlights: Eyewitness Testimony and Recovered Memories: Can We Trust Them?	216	(2)
Special Topics in Memory	218	(4)
Cultural Influences on Memory	218	(1)
Flashbulb Memories	219	(1)
Improving Your Memory	220	(2)
Applying Psychology: Improving Your Memory for Textbook Material	222	(1)
Biology and Memory	222	(6)
Memory Loss	224	(4)
Cognition and Mental Abilities	228	(46)
Building Blocks of Thought	229	(3)
Language	229	(2)
Images	231	(1)
Concepts	231	(1)
Language and Thought	232	(2)
Problem Solving	234	(6)
The Interpretation of Problems	235	(1)
Producing Strategies and Evaluating Progress	236	(2)
Obstacles to Solving Problems	238	(2)
Applying Psychology: Becoming a More Skillful Problem Solver	240	(1)
Decision Making	241	(3)
Logical Decision Making	241	(1)
Alternative Approaches	242	(1)
When Heuristics Lead Us Astray	243	(1)
Culture and Decision Making	244	(1)
Intelligence and Mental Abilities	244	(4)
Theories of Intelligence	246	(1)
Intelligence Tests	247	(1)
Highlights: Emotional Intelligence	248	(6)
What Makes a Good Test?	251	(3)
Heredity, Environment, and Intelligence	254	(9)
Mental Abilities and Human Diversity	258	(2)
Extremes of Intelligence	260	(3)
Creativity	263	(2)
Intelligence and Creativity	263	(1)
Factors Promoting Creativity	263	(1)
Creativity Tests	264	(1)
Answers to Problems in the Chapter	265	(3)
Answers to Intelligence Test Questions	268	(6)
Motivation and Emotion	274	(36)
Perspectives on Motivation	276	(1)
Primary Drives	277	(4)
Hunger	278	(3)
Applying Psychology: Losing Weight: More than Just Dieting	281	(3)
Sex	282	(2)
Highlights: Gender Differences in Human Sexuality	284	(1)
Other Important Motives	285	(5)
Stimulus Motives	285	(2)
Aggression	287	(2)
Achievement	289	(1)
Highlights: Sexual Coercion and Its Effects	290	(4)
Power	291	(1)
Affiliation	292	(1)
A Hierarchy of Motives	292	(2)
Perspectives on Emotion	294	(4)
Basic Emotional Experiences	294	(2)
Theories of Emotion	296	(2)
Expressing Emotion	298	(2)
Verbal Communication	298	(1)
Nonverbal Communication	299	(1)
Highlights: The Lie Detector: What Does It Tell Us?	300	(10)
Gender Differences in Emotional Expression	301	(1)
Cultural Differences in Emotional Expression	302	(8)
Life Span Development	310	(50)
Prenatal Development	312	(2)
The Newborn Baby	314	(3)
Temperament	314	(1)
The Perceptual Abilities of Infants	315	(2)
Highlights: Methods in Developmental Psychology	317	(1)
Infancy and Childhoo	318	(17)
Physical Development	318	(1)
Motor Development	319	(1)
Cognitive Development	320	(4)
Moral Development	324	(1)
Language Development	325	(2)
Social Development	327	(8)
Adolescence	335	(1)
Physical Changes	335	(1)
Cognitive Changes	336	(1)
Personality and Social Development	337	(2)
Some Problems of Adolescence	339
Highlights: Shaping Personality: What Families Don't Share May Matter Most	331	(11)
Young and Middle Adulthood	342	(7)
Partnerships, Sex, and Parenting	342	(3)
The World of Work	345	(3)
Cognitive Changes	348	(1)
Personality Changes	348	(1)
The ``Change of Life''	349	(1)
Late Adulthood	349	(11)
Physical Changes	350	(1)
Social Development	351	(1)
Cognitive Changes	352	(1)
Facing the End of Life	353	(7)
Personality	360	(30)
The Case of Jaylene Smith	361	(2)
Psychodynamic Theories	363	(11)
Sigmund Freud	363	(4)
Carl Jung	367	(1)
Alfred Adler	368	(1)
Karen Horney	369	(1)
Erik Erikson	370	(2)
A Psychodynamic View of Jaylene Smith	372	(1)
Evaluating Psychodynamic Theories	373	(1)
Humanistic Personality Theories	374	(2)
Carl Rogers	374	(1)
A Humanistic View of Jaylene Smith	375	(1)
Evaluating Humanistic Theories	375	(1)
Trait Theories	376	(2)
The Big Five	377	(1)
Highlights: Are the Big Five Personality Traits Universal?	378	(1)
A Trait View of Jaylene Smith	378	(1)
Evaluating Trait Theories	379	(1)
Cognitive-Social Learning Theories	379	(3)
A Cognitive-Social Learning View of Jaylene Smith	381	(1)
Evaluating Cognitive-Social Learning Theories	381	(1)
Personality Assessment	382	(8)
The Personal Interview	382	(1)
Observation	383	(1)
Objective Tests	383	(1)
Projective Tests	384	(6)
Stress and Health Psychology	390	(28)
Sources of Stress	392	(5)
Change	392	(1)
Hassles	393	(1)
Pressure	394	(1)
Frustration	394	(1)
Conflict	395	(1)
Self-imposed Stress	396	(1)
Stress and Individual Differences	396	(1)
How People Cope with Stress	397	(2)
Direct Coping	398	(1)
Applying Psychology: Coping With Stress at College	399	(5)
Defensive Coping	400	(2)
Socieoeconomic and Gender Differences in Coping with Stress	402	(2)
How Stress Affects Health	404	(4)
Stress and Heart Disease	406	(1)
Stress and the Immune System	407	(1)
Highlights: The Benefits of Group Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients	408	(1)
Social Support and Health	408	(1)
Sources of Extreme Stress	409	(3)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder	410	(2)
The Well-Adjusted Person	412	(1)
Highlights: Why Are Some People Happier than others?	413	(5)
Psychological Disorders	418	(34)
Perspectives on Psychological Disorders	419	(5)
Historical Views of Psychological Disorders	421	(1)
The Biological Model	421	(1)
The Psychoanalytic Model	422	(1)
The Cognitive-Behavioral Model	422	(1)
The Diathesis-Stress Model and Systems Theory	423	(1)
Classifying Abnormal Behavior	423	(1)
Mood Disorders	424	(1)
Depression	424	(1)
Highlights: Suicide	425	(3)
Mania and Bipolar Disorder	426	(1)
Causes of Mood Disorders	426	(2)
Anxiety Disorders	428	(4)
Specific Phobias	428	(1)
Panic Disorder	429	(1)
Other Anxiety Disorders	429	(1)
Causes of Anxiety Disorders	430	(2)
Psychosomatic and Somatoform Disorders	432	(1)
Dissociative Disorders	433	(2)
Sexual and Gender-Identity Disorders	435	(1)
Personality Disorders	436	(3)
Schizophrenic Disorders	439	(1)
Highlights: The Insanity Defense	440	(3)
Childhood Disorders	443	(1)
Gender Differences in Abnormal Behavior	444	(1)
Highlights: The Prevalence of Psychological Disorders	445	(7)
Therapies	452	(34)
Insight Therapies	453	(7)
Psychoanalysis	453	(3)
Client-Centered Therapy	456	(2)
Gestalt Therapy	458	(1)
Recent Developments	459	(1)
Behavior Therapies	460	(3)
Therapies Based on Classical Conditioning	460	(2)
Therapies Based on Operant Conditioning	462	(1)
Therapies Based on Modeling	462	(1)
Cognitive Therapies	463	(3)
Stress-Inoculation Therapy	463	(1)
Rational-Emotive Therapy	464	(1)
Beck's Cognitive Therapy	465	(1)
Group Therapies	466	(2)
Self-Help Groups	466	(1)
Family Therapy	466	(1)
Couple Therapy	467	(1)
Applying Psychology: How to Find Help	468	(1)
Effectiveness of Psychotherapy	468	(3)
Biological Treatments	471	(4)
Drug Therapies	472	(2)
Electroconvulsive Therapy	474	(1)
Psychosurgery	474	(1)
Caring for the Seriously Disturbed	475	(4)
Deinstitutionalization	476	(1)
Alternative Forms of Treatment	477	(1)
Prevention	477	(2)
Client Diversity and Treatment	479	(7)
Gender Differences in Treatments	479	(1)
Cultural Differences in Treatments	480	(6)
Social Psychology	486	(1)
Social Cognition	487	(1)
Impression Formation	488	(1)
Attribution	489	(3)
Interpersonal Attraction	492	(3)
Attitudes	495	(1)
The Nature of Attitudes	495	(1)
Prejudice and Discrimination	496	(4)
Attitude Change	500	(1)
Highlights: Ethnic Conflict and Violence	501	(3)
Social Influence	504	(1)
Cultural Influences	505	(1)
Conformity	506	(1)
Applying Psychology: Changing Beliefs about Binge Drinking	507	(1)
Compliance	508	(1)
Obedience	509	(2)
Social Action	511	(1)
Deindividuation	511	(1)
Helping Behavior	511	(2)
Highlights: Altruism and the Holocaust	513	(1)
Group Dynamics	514	(2)
Organizational Behavior	516	(1)
Glossary	G-1	(1)
References	R-1	(1)
Photo Credits	C-1	(1)
Name Index	NI-1	(1)
Subject Index	SI-1