Psychology ─ Concepts & Connections, Brief Version

Rathus (psychology, College of New Jersey) offers a brief edition of his introductory textbook on psychology for undergraduate students in one-semester courses. It shows how psychology connects with everyday life issues and incorporates critical thinking exercises and emphasis on the evolutionary perspective and diversity. Revised and updated, it has new chapter opening vignettes and new coverage of forensic psychologists, the role of women in psychology, subliminal stimulation, biological preparedness and the conditioning of fear, mirror neurons and observational learning, and research methods in developmental psychology. The text also includes new information on the reliability and validity of personality tests, problem-focused vs. emotion-focused coping, perspectives and models of psychology disorders, the method of flooding, self-help and support groups, evidence-based practices, and prejudice. It has new features on the Internet, mirror neurons, iPods, alcoholism, and cocaine dependence; new case studies of various disorders; new research on the uses and effectiveness of psychotherapy and psychotherapy vs. biological therapies; and a revised section on groupthink that focuses on decisions like invading Iraq. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)