Psychology: The Adaptive Mind (Paperbound with InfoTrac) - Softcover

Nairne, James S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0534536808 ISBN 13: 9780534536800

Publisher: Cengage Learning, 2003

Synopsis

The new edition of James Nairne's highly respected text offers all the content, pedagogy, and visual appeal that professors and students have come to expect from a successful introductory psychology text. The third edition offers a comprehensive look at how psychology works in our everyday lives. This practical, motivating text presents the standard subjects covered in an introductory course, but connects them in a way that adds meaning and consistency to students' study of psychology. How does he do this? By introducing students to the adaptive mind-a theme based on the fact that our thoughts and actions stem from our need to adapt to our surroundings. This unique framework supports practical applications and helps students understand how we use psychology to deal with everyday challenges. Nairne emphasizes the ways particular behaviors, thought processes, and emotions help us solve problems-from memorizing a telephone number to ducking under cover as a building begins to shake to producing a quick physical response in the face of traffic hazards. Beneath the innovative approach, you'll find ample coverage of all the traditional topics around which you build your course.

About this title

About the Author

James S. Nairne is the winner of the 2001 Charles P. Murphy award, a lifetime teaching award at Purdue University, which at the time had not been awarded to a psychologist for over 30 years. This award reflects Nairne's record of success as a committed teacher and researcher, including the receipt of Purdue's highest teaching award as well as numerous teaching awards from the psychology department and the School of Liberal Arts. Professor of psychological sciences at Purdue University in Indiana, Nairne received his undergraduate degree at UC-Berkeley and his Ph.D. in psychology from Yale University. He delivered the 2000 G. Stanley Hall address at the APA. He's an active researcher in cognitive psychology, specializing in human memory, and has published dozens of articles in professional journals. He is associate editor for Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, a past associate editor of the Journal of Human Memory and Language, and has served on numerous editorial boards.

Review

"Nairne has a writing style that captures the student reader. I like that at the beginning of each chapter he has created a vignette to encourage curiosity on the part of the reader. I also feel that he has great clarity in his writing when discussing theories. . . . I also feel that his Test Yourself sections highlight the important concepts captured within the text."

"I really like the Nairne text. The writing is very clear and makes the material accessible to students, while still providing detailed coverage of topics. I like the "adaptive problems" sections at the beginning of each chapter. Those sections do an excellent job of demonstrating how the concepts covered in the chapter can be used to answer basic questions about human behavior. I also like the Learning Goals at the beginning of each section. (They) are a great pedagogical tool to help students organize the material."

About this edition

• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0534536808
• ISBN 13: 9780534536800
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 720