Psychology: The Adaptive Mind

Front Cover
Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006 - Psychology - 665 pages
To help students understand the value and usefulness of psychology in their daily lives, Nairne presents PSYCHOLOGY FOR A REASON. Rather than focusing exclusively on the content of psychology -- the "what" -- Nairne infuses each chapter with the "why," -- explaining how our thoughts and actions help us solve the problems we encounter every day. This unique approach allows students to understand the function and purpose of psychology and its topics first -- psychology is no longer presented as a bunch of abstract topics that need to be memorized. This approach promotes critical thinking; as students progress through each chapter, they become engaged as they see the connection between problems and their psychological solutions; they also begin to relate the material to what they already know from their own lives. This theme extends across chapters, offering students a consistent and effective learning framework.

About the author (2006)

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.

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