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Understand Psychology
A FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO WHAT MAKES US TICK
The bestselling Understand Psychology explains basic psychological processes and how they influence us in all aspects of everyday life. It explores why we are the way we are, how we came to be that way, and what we might do to change seemingly fundamental traits. The book puts psychology in context, using non-technical language to analyze everyday situations. It is a comprehensive introduction that shows how human experience can be understood on many levels.
Understand Psychology takes you through every aspect of the subject, from child development and social influences to the role of memories and emotions. You will discover how we interact with each other, why we dream, what motivates us, why children need to play and whether watching TV is bad for you.
Now fully revised and updated, this 6th edition of the bestselling guide includes brand new material on mindfulness, social living, focusing in particular on shyness and loneliness and social media, coping with stress, decision making and forensic psychology, addiction and modern drugs, cognitive neuropsychology, and the psychology of learning, including teaching, exams and exam stress.
The clear structure, packed full of practical examples, makes it easy to learn the essentials you really need to know.
ABOUT THE SERIES
People have been learning with Teach Yourself since 1938. With a vast range of practical, how-to guides covering language learning, lifestyle, hobbies, business, psychology and self-help, there's a Teach Yourself book for whatever you want to do. Join more than 60 million people who have reached their goals with Teach Yourself , and never stop learning.
The bestselling Understand Psychology explains basic psychological processes and how they influence us in all aspects of everyday life. It explores why we are the way we are, how we came to be that way, and what we might do to change seemingly fundamental traits. The book puts psychology in context, using non-technical language to analyze everyday situations. It is a comprehensive introduction that shows how human experience can be understood on many levels.
Understand Psychology takes you through every aspect of the subject, from child development and social influences to the role of memories and emotions. You will discover how we interact with each other, why we dream, what motivates us, why children need to play and whether watching TV is bad for you.
Now fully revised and updated, this 6th edition of the bestselling guide includes brand new material on mindfulness, social living, focusing in particular on shyness and loneliness and social media, coping with stress, decision making and forensic psychology, addiction and modern drugs, cognitive neuropsychology, and the psychology of learning, including teaching, exams and exam stress.
The clear structure, packed full of practical examples, makes it easy to learn the essentials you really need to know.
ABOUT THE SERIES
People have been learning with Teach Yourself since 1938. With a vast range of practical, how-to guides covering language learning, lifestyle, hobbies, business, psychology and self-help, there's a Teach Yourself book for whatever you want to do. Join more than 60 million people who have reached their goals with Teach Yourself , and never stop learning.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
166 people are currently reading
1160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 3, 2019
Great book that answered some of the questions that were on my mind.
Very useful insight into the basics, no great depth but this is what this book is for.
Very useful insight into the basics, no great depth but this is what this book is for.
January 31, 2021
we live in a society
January 14, 2020
This book presents the field of psychology in a very simple, yet interesting way. It helps to understand psychological processes that rule our life since birth. I really liked the part about addiction and about learning. I will definitely look into psychology more after reading this. So all in all - Understand Psychology is a good starting point for your journey with psychology. I will leave it on my Kindle so I can get back to it in the future ;)
Why not 5 stars then? Some parts of the book are a bit dragged out and in too much detail. I wouldn't expect that in an introductory level book, because it can confuse the reader a bit.
Why not 5 stars then? Some parts of the book are a bit dragged out and in too much detail. I wouldn't expect that in an introductory level book, because it can confuse the reader a bit.
February 15, 2022
A crash course introduction into Psychology and all that’s touched by it — from historical development, to famous experiments, theories, schools of thought, types of psychology and renowned theorists.
In 17 chapters, the author covers the different parts and stages of our lives touched by psychology.
It’s quite a heavy book and I had to literally stop after every chapter to digest and let my brain rest — but a great read for anyone interested in psychology and the human mind.
In 17 chapters, the author covers the different parts and stages of our lives touched by psychology.
It’s quite a heavy book and I had to literally stop after every chapter to digest and let my brain rest — but a great read for anyone interested in psychology and the human mind.
September 16, 2012
Good broad overview of the subject, with examples that helps the reader relate it to almost all aspects of everyday life. A good way to gain insight into yourself and the people around you.
Lacks detail, but that's forgivable because the subject is so wide-ranging.
Wish that he didn't plug his companion book quite so often, though.
Lacks detail, but that's forgivable because the subject is so wide-ranging.
Wish that he didn't plug his companion book quite so often, though.
October 17, 2022
Good simple introduction to psychology and covers it in much breadth but was expecting some more information on the main thinkers in the field and the development of psychological theory. Easy, digestible read nevertheless with some nice insights. Particularly found the chapters on social motivation, childhood and social identification interesting.
September 26, 2020
At first, it seem so boring, but after some period of time, it just like "What? The topic has finished? I need to know more!".
This book explain briefly about psychology in many aspect, with common English words so that even non-native English speaker could understand it easily. From this book, I realize how big is psychology, it just like there's another world.
This book explain briefly about psychology in many aspect, with common English words so that even non-native English speaker could understand it easily. From this book, I realize how big is psychology, it just like there's another world.
February 20, 2017
I've always wanted to pick Psychology as a major and this book explores many different areas of applied psychology. I find this book fairly informative and easy to read. Definitely highly recommended for anyone who has interests in learning psychology.
June 12, 2019
Everything written was based on scientific research which gives reliable information about how people's mind work.
August 3, 2019
I found this an easy and interesting read. It reminded me of a school textbook (in a good way). It took a lot of complicated and broad topics and broke them down in a way that was easy to understand even with little to no prior knowledge about psychology. I particularly appreciated the "key idea" blurbs throughout, and the "focus points" summarizing what was discussed at the end of each chapter.
February 21, 2022
Short and insightful introduction to the topic of psychology. Nice if you don’t know a lot about it and want to gain more insight. If not, then it might be a bid boring. (skipped some chapters and sub-topics)
July 21, 2018
Informative but maybe a touch "too simply" written, kept things largely on the surface.
August 9, 2020
Light touch explanations around a very deep topic.
September 11, 2020
A great introductory book of daily life psychology
December 9, 2021
A good introductory book to pschycology.
April 2, 2022
Interesting and informative!
August 1, 2023
a laconic aspect of psychology is covered through and through a very interesting read
October 29, 2023
A great intro to psychology!
January 3, 2025
Interesting and helpful guide on human thoughts and behavior.
Read
November 5, 2025''
June 28, 2025
Great introductory book about understanding psychology.
June 23, 2024
It's a summary about many different psychology tests, insigths and reflections. Despide being just a summary, there are so many interesting insights that my mind was blown up several times. This books invites me to investigate more about this branch of knowledge.
January 4, 2021
It's a fascinating intruduction into different psychology related topics which speaks about interesting experiments, summarises research, explains the mechanisms of the way things work and gives answers to a lot of "whys" and "hows" that not many people know. I've been reading books on psychology since I was 15, and this is one of those I would highly recommend to anyone who's interested.
February 2, 2019
Great book.
If you want an overview of the field of psychology, look no further. Very easy to read, well organized with useful bullet-points at the end of each chapter. Each chapter doesn't go very in-depth, but it's a necessary evil from what the book is trying to accomplish since the field is so broad.
If you want an overview of the field of psychology, look no further. Very easy to read, well organized with useful bullet-points at the end of each chapter. Each chapter doesn't go very in-depth, but it's a necessary evil from what the book is trying to accomplish since the field is so broad.
September 1, 2024
4.0 ★
i finished this a while ago, can't believe i forgot to update it here.. well, this was a really nice read and i'm really glad i read it. lately i've been thinking about studying psychology and i'm grateful i found this book, it was just what i needed to get started and read a bit of the basis
i finished this a while ago, can't believe i forgot to update it here.. well, this was a really nice read and i'm really glad i read it. lately i've been thinking about studying psychology and i'm grateful i found this book, it was just what i needed to get started and read a bit of the basis
June 2, 2014
This book was exactly what I needed! I am doing psychology for the first time in university and I was a wee bit clueless! This book explained things in a way that was easy to understand. I am so glad I found it!
December 28, 2015
An interesting introduction to an interesting subject.
I was considering studying psychology at uni. This was one of the many books I picked to do my research and I found it very interesting. Worth a read if you are new to psychology.
I was considering studying psychology at uni. This was one of the many books I picked to do my research and I found it very interesting. Worth a read if you are new to psychology.
April 11, 2011
Very basic with limited examples.
November 18, 2013
This book is a great introduction to Psychology - one of the few that reads well from cover to cover.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews