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Abnormal Psychology
Authored by award-winning teacher and noted researcher Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, this text blends cutting-edge research in psychopathology with compassion for people who suffer from psychological disorders. Capturing the excitement of major advances in biological and psychosocial research and treatment alternatives, Abnormal Psychology imparts a true enthusiasm for and appreciation of scientific investigation. The author�s scientific and caring approach, combined with strong study tools, has won accolades from instructors and students alike. The fourth edition reflects greater emphasis on integrated approaches to abnormal psychology, a constant drive to make biological information clear to students, and a stronger focus on empirical research and diversity..
696 pages, Hardcover
First published December 28, 1997
32 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
Susan Nolen-Hoeksema
59 books60 followersDr. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema was born on May 22, 1959, in Springfield, Ill., to John and Catherine Nolen. Her father ran a construction business, where her mother was the office manager; Susan was the eldest of three children.
Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, psychologist and writer, helped explain why women are twice as prone to depression as men and why such low moods can be so hard to shake. Dr. Nolen-Hoeksema, a professor at Yale University, began studying depression in the 1980s.
She entered Illinois State University before transferring to Yale. She graduated summa cum laude in 1982 with a degree in psychology. After earning a Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, she joined the faculty at Stanford. She later moved to the University of Michigan, before returning to Yale in 2004.
Along the way she published scores of studies and a popular textbook. In 2003 she became the editor of the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, an influential journal.
Her studies, first in children and later in adults, exposed one of the most deceptively upsetting of these patterns: rumination, the natural instinct to dwell on the sources of problems rather than their possible solutions. Women were more prone to ruminate than men, the studies found, and in a landmark 1987 paper she argued that this difference accounted for the two-to-one ratio of depressed women to depressed men.
She later linked rumination to a variety of mood and behavior problems, including anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse.
Dr. Nolen-Hoeksema wrote several books about her research for general readers, including “Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Overthinking and Reclaim Your Life.” These books described why rumination could be so corrosive — it is deeply distracting; it tends to highlight negative memories — and how such thoughts could be alleviated.
Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, psychologist and writer, helped explain why women are twice as prone to depression as men and why such low moods can be so hard to shake. Dr. Nolen-Hoeksema, a professor at Yale University, began studying depression in the 1980s.
She entered Illinois State University before transferring to Yale. She graduated summa cum laude in 1982 with a degree in psychology. After earning a Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, she joined the faculty at Stanford. She later moved to the University of Michigan, before returning to Yale in 2004.
Along the way she published scores of studies and a popular textbook. In 2003 she became the editor of the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, an influential journal.
Her studies, first in children and later in adults, exposed one of the most deceptively upsetting of these patterns: rumination, the natural instinct to dwell on the sources of problems rather than their possible solutions. Women were more prone to ruminate than men, the studies found, and in a landmark 1987 paper she argued that this difference accounted for the two-to-one ratio of depressed women to depressed men.
She later linked rumination to a variety of mood and behavior problems, including anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse.
Dr. Nolen-Hoeksema wrote several books about her research for general readers, including “Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Overthinking and Reclaim Your Life.” These books described why rumination could be so corrosive — it is deeply distracting; it tends to highlight negative memories — and how such thoughts could be alleviated.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 13, 2015
Information overload! How can I memorize all of this?
May 18, 2013
A textbook for abnormal psych classes, and written like the muddy sand that sucks your boots off as you try to pry yourself out of a swamp. I pity all who are forced to use this textbook. It avoids several key issues (for example - the 'right to die' movement isn't mentioned at all). And I can only imagine that with the revisions needed for the DSM5 updates, it's going to be even more convoluted and illegible.
December 5, 2012
I used this book in my psychopathology class. I noticed that many of the treatment approaches included CBT. I really like the information given in the book. It was a well written textbook. I am surprised by the low rating. I was always looking forward to reading about the next disorder. I would read more by this author in the future.
December 17, 2018
This was a truly outstanding book as an undergrad, and one that will stay on my shelf as I move forward. The description of disorders is detailed, with differences between the DSM IV and the DSM 5 discussed. Pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments are covered well. The author provides excellent coverage of comorbidities with each disorder, along with diagnosis concerns when these comorbidities are present.
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December 5, 2025read for an abnormal psych (now psychological disorders) course.
this is an area of study i really enjoy learning more about, so naturally i really enjoyed this textbook. i think it was super informative, and would recommend it for courses similar to the one i took. not super in-depth, which, as the title suggests, makes it pretty beginner friendly and a good place for undergrads to learn more about this field and its practices.
this is an area of study i really enjoy learning more about, so naturally i really enjoyed this textbook. i think it was super informative, and would recommend it for courses similar to the one i took. not super in-depth, which, as the title suggests, makes it pretty beginner friendly and a good place for undergrads to learn more about this field and its practices.
December 19, 2017
Beautifully written. A detailed overview of many psychological disorders, the theories of origins, and treatments available. This was a class textbook for me but it would be helpful to anyone who would like to better understand their own mind and the minds of others that they know. I highly recommend. Mine also came with access to a study website that contains the e-book, quizzes, etc.
December 21, 2018
As much as I like the cases and examples, I dislike the fact that they lack a uniform structure for all the chapters of different disorders. It feels like those chapters were written by different people, but it was certainly not the case. Maybe the problem came as a result of the update of DSM-5 and editing after the author passed away. Not that I care enough to read the previous editions.
December 5, 2017
Interesting book and content but lacking more in depth information I was hoping to find regarding many disorders.
March 20, 2023
For a textbook this was extremely easy to read, and very enjoyable. I learned so much.
May 4, 2011
A good college-level textbook, well-organized, useful summaries at the end of each chapter, and the topic--absolutely fascinating.
August 12, 2014
Textbook used for class. Very readable, I actually read the entire book. Enjoyed the case studies and the biographic sketches included. Fourth edition referred to the DSM-IV.
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April 3, 2024Read the 6th edition with online access to the same book (published in 2015) for an Abnormal Psychology course.
May 12, 2017
Organized well, Chapter reviews were helpful.
May 4, 2020
Required reading for one of my classes.
May 29, 2015
I especially liked the continuum model this text adopted for mental health related issues.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews