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Psychology

Eighth Edition

Other Titles in:
Psychology

January 2027 | SAGE Publications, Inc
In the Eighth Edition of this classic text, authors James S. Nairne, Dawn M. McBride and Daniel G. Lannin take students on a fascinating tour of human behavior that will transform how they think about everyday life by connecting psychological concepts to a unique problem-solving framework. By focusing on how human behavior is adaptive, students come away with a unified understanding of the field and an appreciation for how psychological processes help us function. In the style of great popular science writers, these expert authors engage readers with cutting-edge discoveries while elucidating the techniques and research methods behind them, as in the feature Understanding the Science. Not only do professors rely on Psychology, Eighth Edition, for its accessibility and scholarship, they also prize its extensive pedagogy based on insights from cognitive psychology to boost active learning, comprehension, and retention. 
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Student Success Guide
 
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Psychology
Introduction

 
Defining and Describing Psychology

 
Tracing the Development of Psychology: A Brief History

 
Identifying the Focus of Modern Psychology

 
Chapter Summary: What Is Psychology?

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 2: The Tools of Psychology Research
Observing Behavior: Descriptive Research

 
Predicting Behavior: Correlational Research

 
Explaining Behavior: Experimental Research

 
The Ethics of Research: Human and Animal Guidelines

 
Chapter Summary: How Do Psychologists Learn About Behavior?

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 3: Biological Processes
Communicating Internally: Connecting World and Brain

 
Initiating Behavior: A Division of Labor

 
Regulating Growth and Internal Functions: Extended Communication

 
Adapting and Transmitting the Genetic Code

 
Chapter Summary: What Biological Systems Are For

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 4: Human Development
Developing Physically

 
Developing Intellectually

 
Developing Socially and Personally

 
Psychology of Aging

 
Chapter Summary: Why Do We Develop the Way We Do?

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 5: Sensation and Perception
How the World Is Translated Into Inner Experience

 
Vision: The World of Color and Form

 
Hearing: Identifying and Localizing Sounds

 
Touch, Movement, Smell, and Taste

 
From the Physical to the Psychological

 
Chapter Summary: Building the World of Experience

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 6: Consciousness
Setting Priorities for Mental Functioning: Attention

 
Sleeping and Dreaming

 
Altering Awareness: Psychoactive Drugs

 
Altering Awareness: Induced States

 
Chapter Summary: What Is Consciousness For?

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 7: Learning From Experience
Learning About Events: Noticing and Ignoring

 
Learning What Events Signal: Classical Conditioning

 
Learning About the Consequences of Our Behavior: Operant Conditioning

 
Learning From Others: Observational Learning

 
Chapter Summary: Learning From Experience

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 8: Memory
Remembering Over the Short Term

 
Storing Information for the Long Term

 
Recovering Information From Cues

 
Updating Memory

 
Chapter Summary: What Memory Is For

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 9: Language and Thought
Communicating With Others

 
Learning Language

 
Classifying and Categorizing

 
Solving Problems

 
Decision Making

 
Chapter Summary: What Cognition Is For

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 10: Intelligence
Conceptualizing Intelligence

 
Measuring Individual Differences

 
Discovering the Sources of Intelligence

 
Chapter Summary: What Is Intelligence, and What Is It For?

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 11: Personality
Defining and Measuring Personality

 
How Personality Develops

 
The Person–Situation Debate

 
Chapter Summary: What Personality Is For

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 12: Motivation and Emotion
Activating Behavior

 
Meeting Biological Needs: Hunger and Eating

 
Meeting Biological Needs: Sexual Behavior

 
Expressing and Experiencing Emotion

 
Chapter Summary: What Motivation and Emotions Are For

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 13: Social Psychology
Interpreting the Behavior of Others: Social Cognition

 
Behaving in the Presence of Others: Social Influences

 
Establishing Relationships With Others

 
Chapter Summary: What Social Processes Are For

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders
Conceptualizing Psychological Disorders: When Are Behaviors a Clinical Concern?

 
Classifying Psychological Disorders

 
Understanding Psychological Disorders: Biological, Cognitive, or Environmental?

 
Chapter Summary: What Are Psychological Disorders?

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 15: Therapy
Treating the Body: Biomedical Therapies

 
Treating the Mind: Talk Therapies

 
Treating the Environment: Behavioral Therapies

 
Evaluating and Choosing Psychotherapy

 
Chapter Summary: Developing and Evaluating Psychotherapies

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 16: Stress and Health
Experiencing Stress

 
Reacting to Prolonged Stress

 
Reducing and Coping With Stress

 
Living a Healthy Lifestyle

 
Chapter Summary: Understanding the Connection Between Stress and Health

 
Knowledge Check: Chapter Review

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Appendix

The functional language of Nairne's textbook brings psychology to life for students. The book invites students to engage in a daily search for how psychology relates to daily life. 

 
Professor Amanda Harmon, PhD
Charleston Southern University
Pre pub Review

I would describe this book as a solid introduction to the topic of psychology. It highlights many interesting topics, giving students opportunities to review and practice the material. Additionally, it includes opportunities to expose students to real research studies through the Understanding the Science section in each chapter. 

 
Professor Jennifer Blush
William Peace University
Pre pub Review

This book provides ample opportunities to have your students engage with the material and apply their critical thinking skills.

Professor Matthew Roth
SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology
Pre pub Review

For instructors

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