Psychology: A Beginner's Guide

Description

Why do we become aggressive? How does the brain allow us to see, hear, and feel? Can listening to Mozart improve IQ? How do babies learn to perceive and think? How can we reduce obesity and cigarette smoking? Is being physically attractive an advantage? Psychology, the scientific study of the mind and our behaviour, has never been more popular. From TV experts to the amateur musings of your best friend, the language of psychology has permeated all aspects of everyday life. Here Martin reveals that modern psychology concerns far more than the everyday stereotypes of Freud, Jung, and 'common sense' advice. This Beginner's Guide is informed by the latest cutting-edge research and provides a vibrant and witty exploration of our senses, how our memory works, and what determines our intelligence, development, and personality.

Dr G. Neil Martin is Reader in Psychology, a Fellow of the RSA, a Chartered Scientist, and Director of the Human Olfaction Laboratory at Middlesex University, UK. He has written several books on psychology and neuroscience, co-authored the first online course in introductory psychology in Europe, and has written over 150 articles for The Psychologist, The Times, The Observor and the Annals of Improbable Research. amongst others. His research focuses on the psychology of smell and taste, the perception and understanding of psychology, and the psychology of humour.