HelpFeedback
Understanding Psych 7e
Information Center
About the Author
Table of Contents
Book Preface
Features
New to this Edition
Supplements
WebCT and Blackboard


Student Edition
Instructor Edition
Understanding Psychology, 7/e

Robert Feldman, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

ISBN: 007288665x
Copyright year: 2005

Table of Contents



CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

Module 1: Psychologists at Work

The Subfields of Psychology: Psychology's Family Tree
          What Are the Biological Foundations of Behavior?
          How Do People Sense, Perceive, Learn, and Think About the World?
          What Are the Sources of Change and Stability in Behavior Across the Life Span?
          How Do Psychological Factors Affect Physical and Mental Health?
          How Do Our Social Networks Affect Behavior?
          Expanding Psychology's Frontiers
Working at Psychology
          Psychologists: A Statistical Protrait
          The Education of a Psychologist
          Careers for Psychology Majors

Module 2: A Science Evolves: The Past, the Present, and the Future

The Roots of Psychology
          Women in Psychology: Founding Mothers
Today's Perspectives
          The Neurosciences Perspective: Blood, Sweat, and Fears
          The Psychodynamic Perspective Understanding the Inner Person
          The Behavioral Perspective: Observing the Outer Person
          The Cognitive Perspective: Identifying the Roots of Understanding
          The Humanistic Perspective: The Unique Qualities of Homo sapiens
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Psychology and the Reduction of Violence

Module 3: Psychology's Key Issues and Controversies

Exploring Diversity: Understanding How Culture, Ethnicity, and Race Influence Behavior
Psychology's Future
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Thinking Critically About Psychology: Distinguishing Legitimate Psychology from Pseudo-Psychology

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Module 4: The Scientific Method

Theories: Specifying Broad Explanations
Hypotheses: Crafting Testable Predictions

Module 5: Conducting Psychological Research

Archival Research
Naturalistic Observation
Survey Research
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Serious Playtime: Using a Video Game to Study Racial Bias
The Case Study
Correlational Research
Experimental Research
          The Final Step: Random Assignment of Participants
          Were Latané and Darley Right?
          Moving Beyond the Study

Module 6: Critical Research Issues

The Ethics of Research
Exploring Diversity: Choosing Participants Who Represent the Scope of Human Behavior
Should Animals Be Used in Research?
Threats to Experimental Validity: Experimenter and Participant Expectations
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Thinking Critically About Research

NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR

Module 7: Neurons: The Basic Elements of Behavior

The Structure of the Neuron
How Neurons Fire
Where Neurons Meet: Bridging the Gap
Neurotransmitters: Multitalented Chemical Couriers

Module 8: The Nervous System and the Endocrine System: Communicating within the Body

The Nervous System
          Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems
          The Evolutionary Foundations of the Nervous System
          Behavioral Genetics
The Endocrine System: Of Chemicals and Glands

Module 9: The Brain

Studying the Brain's Structure and Functions: Spying on the Brain
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Robot Rats and Wired Brains: Harnessing Brainpower to Improve Lives
The Central Core: Our "Old Brain"
The Limbic System: Beyond the Central Core
The Cerebral Cortex: Our "New Brain"
          The Motor Area of the Cortex
          The Sensory Area of the Cortex
          The Association Areas of the Cortex
Mending the Brain
The Specialization of the Hemispheres: Two Brains or One?
Exploring Diversity: Human Diversity and the Brain
The Split Brain: Exploring the Two Hemispheres
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Learning to Control Your Heart—and Mind—through Biofeedback

SENSATION AND PERCEPTION

Module 10: Sensing the World Around Us

Absoute Thresholds: Detecting What's Out There
Difference Thresholds: Noticing Distinctions Between Stimuli
Sensory Adaptation; Turning Down Our Responses

Module 11: Vision: Shedding Light on the Eye

Illuminating the Structure of the Eye
          Reaching the Retina
          Sending the Message from the Eye to the Brain
          Processing the Visual Message
Color Vision and Color Blindness: The Seven-Million-Color Spectrum

Module 12: Hearing and the Other Senses

Sensing Sound
          The Physical Aspects of Sound
          Hearing Loss and Deaf Culture
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Making Senses: New Technology for Hearing and Seeing
          Sorting Out Theories of Sound
          Balance: The Ups and Downs of Life
Smell and Taste
          Smell
          Taste
The Skin Senses: Touch, Pressure, Temperature, and Pain
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Managing Pain

Module 13: Perceptual Organization: Constructing Our View of the World

The Gestalt Laws of Organization
Feature Analysis: Focusing on the Parts of the Whole
Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processing
Perceptual Constancy
Depth Perception: Translating 2-D to 3-D
Motion Perception: As the World Turns
Perceptual Illusions: The Deceptions of Perceptions
Exploring Diversity: Culture and Perception
Subliminal Perception
          Extrasensory Perception (ESP)

STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Module 14: Sleep and Dreams

The Stages of Sleep
REM Sleep: The Paradox of Sleep
Why Do We Sleep, and How Much Sleep Is Necessary?
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Tired Teens: Adolescents Struggle to Balance Sleep and School
The Function and Meaning of Dreaming
          Do Dreams Represent Unconscious Wish Fulfillment?
          Dreams-for-Survival Theory
          Activation-Synthesis Theory
          Dream Theories in Perspective
Sleep Disturbances: Slumbering Problems
Circadian Rhythms: Life Cycles
Daydreams: Dreams Without Sleep
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Sleeping Better

Module 15: Hypnosis and Meditation

Hypnosis: A Trance-Forming Experience?
          A Different State of Consciousness?
Meditation: Regulating Our Own State of Consciousness
Exploring Diversity: Cross-Cultural Routes to Altered States of Consciousness

Module 16: Drug Use: The Highs and Lows of Consciousness

Stimulants: Drug Highs
          Cocaine
          Amphetamines
Depressants: Drug Lows
          Alcohol
          Barbiturates
          Rohypnol
Narcotics: Relieving Pain and Anxiety
Hallucinogens: Psychedelic Drugs
          MDMA (Ecstasy) and LSD
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Identifying Drug and Alcohol Problems

LEARNING

Module 17: Classical Conditioning

The Basics of Classical Conditioning
Applying Conditioning Principles to Human Behavior
Extinction
Generalization and Discrimination
Beyond Traditional Classical Conditioning: Challenging Basic Assumptions

Module 18: Operant Conditioning

Thorndike's Law of Effect
The Basics of Operant Conditioning
          Reinforcing Desired Behavior
Positive Reinforcers, Negative Reinforcers, and Punishment
The Pros and Cons of Punishment: Why Reinforcement Beats Punishment
Schedules of Reinforcement: Timing Life's Rewards
          Fixed- and Variable-Ratio Schedules
          Fixed- and Variable-Interval Schedules: The Passage of Time
Discrimination and Generalization in Operant Conditioning
Shaping: Reinforcing What Doesn't Come Naturally
Biological Constraints on Learning: You Can't Teach an Old Dog Just Any Trick
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Using Behavior Analysis and Behavior Modification

Module 19: Cognitive-Social Approaches to Learning

Latent Learning
Observational Learning: Learning Through Imitation
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Violence in Television and Video Games: Does the Media's Message Matter?
Exploring Diversity: Does Culture Influence How We Learn?

MEMORY

Module 20: Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval of Memory

The Three Systems of Memory: Memory Storehouses
          Sensory Memory
          Short-Term Memory: Giving Memory Meaning
          Rehearsal
          Long-Term Memory: The Final Storehouse
Contemporary Approaches to Memory: Working Memory, Memory Modules, and Associative Models of Memory
          Working Memory
          Long-Term Memory Modules
          Associative Models of Memory
          The Multiple Models of Memory

Module 21: Recalling Long-Term Memories

Retrieval Cues
Levels of Processing
Flashbulb Memories
Constructive Processes in Memory: Rebuilding the Past
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: (Mis)Remembering Tragic Events
Memory in the Courtroom: The Eyewitness on Trial
Repressed Memories: Truth or Fiction?
Autobiographical Memory: Where Past Meets Present
Exploring Diversity: Are There Cross-Cultural Differences in Memory?

Module 22: Forgetting: When Memory Fails

Proactive and Retroactive Interference: The Before and After of Forgetting
The Biological Bases of Memory
Memory Dysfunctions: Afflictions of Forgetting
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Improving Your Memory

COGNITION AND LANGUAGE

Module 23: Thinking and Reasoning

Mental Images: Examining the Mind's Eye
Concepts: Categorizing the World
Reasoning: Making Up Your Mind
          Syllogistic Reasoning: The Formal Rules of Logic
          Algorithms and Heuristics

Module 24: Problem Solving

Preparation: Understanding and Diagnosing Problems
          Kinds of Problems
          Representing and Organizing the Problem
Production: Generating Solutions
          Forming Subgoals: Dividing Problems into Their Parts
          Insight: Sudden Awareness
Judgment: Evaluating the Solutions
Impediments to Solutions: Why Is Problem Solving Such a Problem?
          Functional Fixedness and Mental Set
          Inaccurate Evaluation of Solutions
Creativity and Problem Solving
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Thinking Critically and Creatively

Module 25: Language

Grammar: Language's Language
Language Development: Developing a Way with Words
          Babbling
          Production of Language
Understanding Language Acquisition: Identifying the Roots of Language
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Music on the Mind
The Influence of Language on Thinking: Do Eskimos Have More Words for Snow Than Texans Do?
Do Animals Use Language?
Exploring Diversity: Teaching with Linguistic Variety: Bilingual Education

INTELLIGENCE

Module 26: What Is Intelligence?

Theories of Intelligence: Are There Different Kinds of Intelligence?
          Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence
          Gardner's Multiple Intelligences: The Many Ways of Showing Intelligence
          Is Information Processing Intelligence?
The Biological Basis of Intelligence
Practical and Emotional Intelligence: Toward a More Intelligent View of Intelligence
Assessing Intelligence
          Binet and the Development of IQ Tests
          Contemporary IQ Tests: Gauging Intelligence
          Achievement and Aptitude Tests
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: When High IQ Keeps You from Getting a Job: Are You Too Smart for the Job You Want?
          Reliability and Validity: Taking the Measure of Tests
          Adaptive Testing: Using Computers to Assess Performance
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Scoring Better on Standardized Tests

Module 27: Variations in Intellectual Ability

Mental Retardation
          Identifying the Roots of Mental Retardation
          Integrating Individuals with Mental Retardation
The Intellectually Gifted

Module 28: Group Differences in Intelligence: Genetic and Environmental Determinants

Exploring Diversity: The Relative Influence of Genetics and Environment: Nature, Nurture, and IQ
Placing the HeredityÐEnvironment Question in Perspective

MOTIVATION AND EMOTION

Module 29: Explaining Motivation

Instinct Approaches: Born to Be Motivated
Drive-Reduction Approaches: Satisfying Our Needs
          Homeostasis
Arousal Approaches: Beyond Drive Reduction
Incentive Approaches: Motivation's Pull
Cognitive Approaches: The Thoughts Behind Motivation
Maslow's Hierarchy: Ordering Motivational Needs
Applying the Different Approaches to Motivation

Module 30: Human Needs and Motivation: Eat, Drink, and Be Daring

The Motivation Behind Hunger and Eating
          Biological Factors in the Regulation of Hunger
          Social Factors in Eating
          The Roots of Obesity
Eating Disorders
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Dieting and Losing Weight Successfully
The Need for Achievement: Striving for Success
          Measuring Achievement Motivation
The Need for Affiliation: Striving for Friendship
The Need for Power: Striving for Impact on Others

Module 31: Understanding Emotional Experiences

The Functions of Emotions
Determining the Range of Emotions: Labeling Our Feelings
The Roots of Emotions
          The James-Lange Theory: Do Gut Reactions Equal Emotions?
          The Cannon-Bard Theory: Physiological Reactions as the Result of Emotions
          The Schachter-Singer Theory: Emotions as Labels
          Contemporary Perspectives on the Neurological Underpinnings of Emotions
          Making Sense of the Multiple Perspectives on Emotions
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: The Appearance of Deception: Can Nonverbal Behavior Be Used to Reveal Terrorists?

Module 32: Nonverbal Behavior and the Expression of Emotions

Exploring Diversity: Do People in All Cultures Express Emotion Similarly?
          The Facial-Affect Program
          Display Rules
The Facial Feedback Hypothesis: Smile, Though You're Feeling Blue

SEXUALITY AND GENDER

Module 33: Gender and Sex

Gender Roles: Society's Expectations for Women and Men
          Sexism on the Job
          Sexual Harassment
Gender Differences: More Similar Than Dissimilar
          Personality Factors
          Cognitive Abilities
Sources of Gender Differences: Where Biology and Society Meet
          Biological and Evolutionary Factors
          The Social Environment

Module 34: Understanding Human Sexual Response: The Facts of Life

The Basic Biology of Sexual Behavior
Psychological Aspects of Sexual Excitement: What Turns People On?
The Phases of Sexual Response: The Ups and Downs of Sex
Exploring Diversity: Female Circumcision: A Celebration of CultureÑor Genital Mutilation?

Module 35: The Varieties of Sexual Behavior

Approaches to Sexual Normality
Surveying Sex Behavior: What's Happening Behind Closed Doors?
Masturbation: Solitary Sex
Heterosexuality
          Premarital Sex
          Marital Sex
Homosexuality and Bisexuality

Module 36: Sexual Difficulties: When Sex Goes Wrong

Rape
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Sexual Problems
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Bring Sexual Dysfunction into the Open: The Newest Sexual Revolution
Transgenderism
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Lowering the Risks of Date Rape

DEVELOPMENT

Module 37: Nature and Nurture: The Enduring Developmental Issue

Determining the Relative Influence of Nature and Nurture
Specific Research Approaches

Module 38: Prenatal Development: Conception to Birth

The Basics of Genetics
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Cloning, Gene Therapy, and the Coming Medical Revolution
The Earliest Development
          Genetic Influences on the Fetus
          Prenatal Environmental Influences

Module 39: Infancy and Childhood

The Extraordinary Newborn
          Reflexes
          Development of the Senses: Taking in the World
The Growing Child: Infancy Through Middle Childhood
          Physical Development
          Development of Social Behavior: Taking on the World
          Cognitive Development: Children's Thinking About the World

Module 40: Adolescence: Becoming an Adult

Physical Development: The Changing Adolescent
Moral and Cognitive Development: Distinguishing Right from Wrong
          Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development
          Moral Development in Women
Social Development: Finding Oneself in a Social World
          Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development: The Search for Identity
          Stormy Adolescence: Myth or Reality?
          Adolescent Suicide
Exploring Diversity: Rites of Passage: Coming of Age Around the World

Module 41: Adulthood

Physical Development: The Peak of Health
Social Development: Working at Life
Marriage, Children, and Divorce: Family Ties
          Changing Roles of Men and Women: The Time of Their Lives
The Later Years of Life: Growing Old
Physical Changes in Late Adulthood: The Aging Body
Cognitive Changes: Thinking AboutÑand DuringÑLate Adulthood
          Memory Changes in Late Adulthood: Are Older Adults Forgetful?
The Social World of Late Adulthood: Old but Not Alone
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Adjusting to Death

PERSONALITY

Module 42: Psychodynamic Approaches to Personality

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory
          Structuring Personality: Id, Ego, and Superego
          Developing Personality: A Stage Approach
          Defense Mechanisms
          Evaluating Freud's Legacy
The Neo-Freudian Psycholanalysts
          Jung's Collective Unconscious
          Adler and the Other Neo-Freudians

Module 43: Other Major Approaches to Personality: In Search of Human Uniqueness

Trait Approaches: Placing Labels on Personality
          Allport's Trait Theory: Identifying the Basics
          Cattell, Eysenck, and the Big Five: Factoring Out Personality
          Evaluating Trait Approaches to Personality
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: The A-Team: What Personality Does It Take to Travel into Space?
Learning Approaches: We Are What We've Learned
          Social Cognitive Approaches to Personality
          Evaluating Learning Approaches to Personality
Biological and Evolutionary Approaches: Are We Born with Personality?
Humanistic Approaches: The Uniqueness of You
          Evaluating Humanistic Approaches
Comparing Approaches to Personality

Module 44: Assessing Personality: Determining What Makes Us Special

Exploring Diversity: Should Race and Ethnicity Be Used to Establish Norms?
Self-Report Measures of Personality
Projective Methods
Behavioral Asessment
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Assessing Personality Assessments

HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY: STRESS, COPING, AND WELL-BEING

Module 45: Stress and Coping

Stress: Reacting to Threat and Challenge
          The High Cost of Stress
          The General Adaptation Syndrome Model: The Course of Stress
          Psychoneuroimmunology and Stress
          The Nature of Stressors: My Stress Is Your Pleasure
          Categorizing Stressors
          Learned Helplessness
Coping with Stress
          Coping Styles: The Hardy Personality
          Social Support: Turning to Others
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Effective Coping Strategies

Module 46: Psychological Aspects of Illness and Well-Being

The A's and B's of Coronary Heart Disease
Psychological Aspects of Cancer
Smoking
          Quitting Smoking
Exploring Diversity: Hucksters of Death: Promoting Smoking Throughout the World

Module 47: Promoting Health and Wellness

Following Medical Advice
          Failure to Communicate
          Increasing Compliance with Health-Related Advice
Well-Being and Happiness
          Does Money Buy Happiness?
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Happy Thoughts: Thinking Positively May Help You Live Longer

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Module 48: Normal Versus Abnormal: Making the Distinction

Defining Abnormality
          Identifying Normal and Abnormal Behavior: Drawing the Line on Psychological Disorders
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Suicide Bombers: Normal or Abnormal?
Perspectives on Abnormality: From Superstition to Science
          The Medical Perspective
          The Psychoanalytic Perspective
          The Behavioral Perspective
          The Cognitive Perspective
          The Humanistic Perspective
          The Sociocultural Perspective
Classifying Abnormal Behavior: The ABCs of DSM
          DSM-IV: Determining Diagnostic Distinctions
          Conning the Classifiers: The Shortcomings of DSM-IV

Module 49: The Major Psychological Disorders

Anxiety Disorders
          Phobic Disorder
          Panic Disorder
          Generalized Anxiety Disorder
          Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
          The Causes of Anxiety Disorders
Somatoform Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Mood Disorders
          Major Depression
          Mania and Bipolar Disorders
          Causes of Mood Disorders
Schizophrenia
          Solving the Puzzle of Schizophrenia: Biological Causes
          Environmental Perspectives on Schizophrenia
          The Multiple Causes of Schizophrenia
Personality Disorders
Childhood Disorders
Other Disorders

Module 50: Psychological Disorders in Perspective

The Prevalence of Psychological Disorders: The Mental State of the Union
The Social and Cultural Context of Psychological Disorders
Exploring Diversity: DSM and CultureÑand the Culture of DSM
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Deciding When You Need Help

TREATMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Module 51: Psychotherapy: Psychodymanic, Behavioral, and Cognitive Approaches to Treatment

Psychodynamic Approaches to Therapy
          Psychoanalysis: Freud's Therapy
          Contemporary Alternatives to Psychoanalysis
Behavioral Approaches to Therapy
          Aversive Conditioning
          Systematic Desensitization
          Operant Conditioning Techniques
          How Does Behavior Therapy Stack Up?
Cognitive Approaches to Therapy

Module 52: Psychotherapy: Humanistic, Interpersonal, and Group Approaches to Treatment

Humanistic Therapy
          Person-Centered Therapy
          Humanistic Approaches in Perspective
Interpersonal Therapy
Group Therapy
          Family Therapy
Evaluating Psychotherapy: Does Therapy Work?
          Is Therapy Effective?
          Which Kind of Therapy Works Best?
Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Therapy Online: Is the Internet a Good Place to Get Treatment?
Exploring Diversity: Racial and Ethnic Factors in Treatment: Should Therapists Be Color-Blind?

Module 53: Biomedical Therapy: Biological Approaches to Treatment

Drug Therapy
          Antipsychotic Drugs
          Antidepressant Drugs
          Lithium
          Antianxiety Drugs
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Psychosurgery
Biomedical Therapies in Perspective
Community Psychology: Focus on Prevention
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Choosing the Right Therapist

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Module 54: Attitudes and Social Cognition

Persuasion: Changing Attitudes
          The Link Between Attitudes and Behavior
Social Cognition: Understanding Others
          Understanding What Others Are Like
          Impression Formation
          Attribution Processes: Understanding the Causes of Behavior
          Biases in Attribution: To Err Is Human
Exploring Diversity: Attributions in a Cultural Context: How Fundamental Is the Fundamental Attribution Error?

Module 55: Social Influence

Conformity: Following What Others Do
          Groupthink: Caving in to Conformity
Compliance: Submitting to Direct Social Pressure
Obedience: Following Direct Orders

Module 56: Prejudice and Discrimination

Applying Psychology in the 21st Century: Discrimination in the Workplace: Can Your Name (or Hat) Cost You a Job?
The Foundations of Prejudice
Reducing the Consequences of Prejudice and Discrimination

Module 57: Positive and Negative Social Behavior

Liking and Loving: Interpersonal Attraction and the Development of Relationships
          How Do I Like Thee? Let Me Count the Ways
          How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways
Aggression and Prosocial Behavior: Hurting and Helping Others
          Hurting Others: Aggression
          Helping Others: The Brighter Side of Human Nature
Becoming an Informed Consumer of Psychology: Dealing Effectively with Anger

APPENDIX: GOING BY THE NUMBERS: STATISTICS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Module 58: Descriptive Statistics

The Mean: Finding the Average
The Median: Finding the Middle
The Mode: Finding What Is Most Frequent
Comparing the Three M's: Mean Versus Median Versus Mode

Module 59: Measures of Variability

The Range: Highest Minus Lowest
The Standard Deviation: Differences from the Mean

Module 60: Using Statistics to Answer Questions: Inferential Statistics and Correlation

The Correlation Coefficient: Measuring Relationships


Glossary
References
Credits
Name Index
Subject Index

To obtain an instructor login for this Online Learning Center, ask your local sales representative. If you're an instructor thinking about adopting this textbook, request a free copy for review.