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The Psychology Companion

The Psychology Companion

Bridget Adams

(2009)

Additional Information

Book Details

Abstract

The one-stop guide to studying Psychology at degree level. This book provides a thorough introduction to psychology as a discipline and offers guidance on what to expect from the course. An ideal study tool, the Companion includes advice on study skills, research methods, career pathways and helpful Psychology organisations.
BRIDGET ADAMS was, until recently, Principal Lecturer in Health Psychology at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, UK. She is now a full time author and tutor. During her 20 years at BCUC she was responsible for developing and facilitating the psychology content of nursing courses and helping to establish the college-wide programme of study skills, academic tutoring and professional development. Her previous publications include Psychology for Health Care (Palgrave Macmillan, 1998) and ABC of Communication Studies (Nelson Thornes, 1999), both of which she co-authored. 
  

'In a single volume, this book demystifies the divisions that bedevil psychology and also provides a dictionary of terms and concepts and an unbiased history of the discipline. This is the companion students will keep by them throughout their psychology course, and probably long after.' - Christopher Spencer, Emeritus Professor, University of Sheffield, UK

'This book is a potential life-saver. I liked the way that names are linked to topics in a way that could speed up the initial research process. My students all liked the broadness of the book.' - Andrew White, Chartered Counselling Psychologist and teacher, running an A level psychology course.


Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Cover Cover
Contents v
List of figures ix
List of acronyms xi
Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction 1
How to use this book 3
Handy headings 4
1 Studying Psychology 7
1.1 Context of psychology 9
What is psychology? 9
Why study psychology? 12
The social and political context of psychology 13
Ethics and Code of Conduct 15
1.2 Your psychology course 16
Get the most from university 16
Get the most from your course 17
1.3 Study skills for psychology 19
Make the most of your abilities 19
Develop a portfolio or transcript of personal development 22
Understand the nature of academic writing and critical thinking 24
Use the library and Internet 31
Take notes in lectures and seminars 36
Write an essay, report, dissertation or article 36
Scientific report structure 44
Dissertation 47
Writing for publication 47
Give a presentation 47
Manage time 53
Revise and prepare for examinations 54
2 Approaches in psychology 57
2.1 Ways of looking at the behaviour and minds of people 59
Scientific nature of enquiry 59
Level of inquiry 61
Metaphysics 62
Sorting into approaches and perspectives within the overall discipline 64
2.2 Core approaches 67
2.2.1 Biological or physiological psychology/neuropsychology 67
2.2.2 Cognitive psychology 70
2.2.3 Developmental and lifespan psychology/educational and child psychology 74
2.2.4 Individual differences or human diversity 77
2.2.5 Social psychology 81
2.3 Other approaches 84
2.3.1 Behaviourism/behavioural science 84
2.3.2 Clinical psychology 86
2.3.3 Coaching psychology 88
2.3.4 Comparative psychology 90
2.3.5 Consciousness and experiential psychology 92
2.3.6 Counselling psychology 95
2.3.7 Cultural psychology 97
2.3.8 Ecological and environmental psychology 98
2.3.9 Evolutionary psychology 100
2.3.10 Forensic/criminal psychology 102
2.3.11 Health psychology 103
2.3.12 History and philosophy of psychology 105
2.3.13 Humanistic psychology 106
2.3.14 Lesbian and gay psychology 108
2.3.15 Military psychology 109
2.3.16 Occupational psychology 110
2.3.17 Political psychology 111
2.3.18 Psychodynamic psychology 112
2.3.19 Psychology of women 114
2.3.20 Psychotherapy 115
2.3.21 Sport and exercise psychology 116
2.3.22 Teaching and researching in psychology 117
2.3.23 Transpersonal psychology 118
3 Key terms and concepts 121
Full list of terms and concepts 121
Terms and concepts 123
4 Key theorists and studies 215
Full list of theorists 215
4.1 History and philosophy of psychology 217
Early philosophy: mind and reason 217
The Reformation, the Inquisition and witchcraft: the separation of mind and body, and the suppression of doubt 218
Positivism, the brain, and the beginnings of scientific psychology 219
Brain imaging, cybernetics and modern psychology 222
From fixed models of the normal child and adult to lifespan development and human diversity in cultural and environmental contexts 222
4.2 Alphabetical list of key theorists and studies 224
5 Research methods 261
Full list of research methods 262
5.1 Methodology and ethical issues 264
Approaches in psychological research 265
Research criteria 265
Scientific method and the research process 266
Research ethics 266
Statistics and statistical tests 267
Research design 267
Choosing a design 268
Calculator and information technology (IT) skills 269
5.2 Key terms and concepts in research methods and statistics 271
6 Career pathways 297
6.1 Further study, accreditation and transferable skills 299
Registering as a chartered psychologist 299
6.2 Psychology-related careers 302
7 Learning resources 305
7.1 Bibliography 307
7.2 Website references 336
Where to find information on website and blogs 336
7.3 Psychology organisations and institutions 352
British Psychological Society (BPS) 352
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) 354
American Psychological Association (APA) 354
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) 354
The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) 355
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) 355
7.4 Educational organisations and institutions 356
Index 363
A 363
B 364
C 365
D 366
E 367
F 368
G 368
H 369
I 369
J 370
K 370
L 370
M 371
N 372
O 372
P 372
Q 374
R 374
S 375
T 377
U 378
V 378
W 378
X 378
Y 378
Z 378