Psychology in the Real World

Focus on big ideas

1. The body influences the mind, and the mind influences the body.
2. Who we are, how we develop, and how we behave is due to a complex interaction between genes and environment.
3. Our experiences are subjective; our perception is influenced by what we know and believe.
4. Variations in human behavior and mental processes are influenced by psychological, biological, social, and cultural factors.
5. Applying psychological principles can change our lives and communities in positive ways.
6. Ethical principles guide psychology research and practice.

Steady encouragement

As each new topic is presented, students answer a few questions about its main ideas. This helps students stay focused, actively process the information, and construct new knowledge.

Study questions

Psychology in the Real World supports equitable teaching with the use of autograded formative assessment. This allows all students the opportunity to develop A-student habits through low-stakes opportunities to check their understanding.

Everything you need

Psychology in the Real World provides everything you need for your course—including a test bank, lecture slides, and an analytics dashboard. Plus, we can tailor the webtext to match your program’s emphasis, term length, student expectations, and assignment types.

1. Introduction to Psychology
   1. Introduction
   2. What Is Psychology?
   3. Psychology’s Early History
   4. Psychology’s Modern History
   5. Current Perspectives and Levels of Analysis
   6. What Do Psychologists Do?
   7. A Scientific Method
   8. Descriptive Methods
   9. Correlational Methods
   10. Experimental Methods
   11. Conclusions and Claims
   12. Research Spotlight: Analyzing and Evaluating Claims (Part 1)
   13. Research Spotlight: Analyzing and Evaluating Claims (Part 2)
   14. Psychology’s Ethics
   15. Chapter Quiz: Introduction to Psychology
   16. Conclusion
2. The Brain and the Nervous System
   1. Introduction
   2. The Nervous System
   3. Neurons
   4. Neurotransmitters
   5. Drugs and Neurotransmitters
   6. The Central Nervous System
   7. Research Spotlight: Can Driving a Taxi Change Your Brain? (Part 1)
   8. Research Spotlight: Can Driving a Taxi Change Your Brain? (Part 2)
   9. The Limbic System
   10. The Cerebrum
   11. The Peripheral Nervous System
   12. The Endocrine System
   13. Chapter Quiz: The Brain and the Nervous System
   14. Conclusion
3. Consciousness
   1. Introduction
   2. What Is Consciousness?
   3. Dual Processing and Consciousness
   4. Brain Activity and Consciousness
   5. Sleep and Consciousness
   6. Variations in Sleep and Sleep Cycles
   7. Research Spotlight: Do “Night Owls” Get Better Grades in Afternoon Classes? (Part 1)
   8. Research Spotlight: Do “Night Owls” Get Better Grades in Afternoon Classes? (Part 2)
   9. Why We Sleep
   10. Sleep Disorders
   11. Dreams
   12. Altered Consciousness
   13. Drugs and Altered Consciousness
   14. Drug Use, Addiction, and Consciousness
   15. Chapter Quiz: Consciousness
   16. Conclusion
4. Sensation and Perception
   1. Introduction
   2. Sensation vs. Perception
   3. Detecting Stimuli
   4. Transduction
   5. Processing: From Sensation to Perception
   6. Research Spotlight: Does What We See Affect What We Hear? (Part 1)
   7. Research Spotlight: Does What We See Affect What We Hear? (Part 2)
   8. Vision: Sensing Visual Stimuli
   9. Vision: Perceiving Color
   10. Vision: Perceiving Form and Depth
   11. Hearing: Sensing Auditory Stimuli
   12. Hearing: Perceiving Location, Loudness, and Pitch
   13. Sensing and Perceiving Smell and Taste
   14. Sensing and Perceiving Touch and Pain
   15. Beyond the Five Senses
   16. Chapter Quiz: Sensation and Perception
   17. Conclusion
5. Learning
   1. Introduction
   2. What Is Learning?
   3. Classical Conditioning Is an Unconscious Form of Learning
   4. Classical Conditioning: The Basic Process
   5. Classical Conditioning: Beyond the Basics
   6. Classical Conditioning in the Real World
   7. Operant Conditioning Is About Cause and Effect
   8. Operant Conditioning: Reinforcement Strengthens Behavior
   9. Operant Conditioning: Types of Reinforcers
   10. Operant Conditioning: Timing and Scheduling Reinforcers
   11. Operant Conditioning: Punishment Weakens Behavior
   12. Research Spotlight: Can Dog Clickers Help Medical Students Tie Better Surgical Knots? (Part 1)
   13. Research Spotlight: Can Dog Clickers Help Medical Students Tie Better Surgical Knots? (Part 2)
   14. Learning and Changing Habits
   15. Biological and Cognitive Influences on Conditioning
   16. Observational Learning: Learning From the Behavior of Others
   17. Influences on Observational Learning
   18. Chapter Quiz: Learning
   19. Conclusion
6. Memory
   1. Introduction
   2. What Is Memory?
   3. Sensory Memory and Attention
   4. Research Spotlight: How Do Many People Fail to Notice What’s Right in Front of Them? (Part 1)
   5. Research Spotlight: How Do Many People Fail to Notice What’s Right in Front of Them? (Part 2)
   6. Working Memory
   7. Long-Term Memory
   8. Types of Long-Term Memories
   9. Memory and the Brain
   10. Forgetting Is Necessary
   11. Forgetting: Encoding Failure
   12. Forgetting: Retrieval Failure
   13. Forgetting: Memory Decay
   14. Forgetting: Amnesia
   15. Memory Distortion and Misattributions
   16. Active Study Strategies for Improving Memory
   17. Mnemonics for Improving Memory
   18. Chapter Quiz: Memory
   19. Conclusion
7. Thinking and Intelligence
   1. Introduction
   2. What Is Thinking?
   3. Cognition: Forming and Organizing Concepts
   4. Cognition: Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow
   5. Cognition: Solving Problems
   6. Cognition: Obstacles to Problem-Solving
   7. Cognition: Overcoming Obstacles to Problem-Solving
   8. Cognition: Decision-Making
   9. Research Spotlight: Will Being a Maximizer Make You Unhappy? (Part 1)
   10. Research Spotlight: Will Being a Maximizer Make You Unhappy? (Part 2)
   11. Cognition: Heuristics and Biases in Decision-Making
   12. Cognition: Language and Culture
   13. What Is Intelligence?
   14. Intelligence: Forms and Theories
   15. Intelligence: Testing and Measuring Intelligence
   16. Intelligence: Real-World Correlations
   17. Intelligence: Biological, Social, and Environmental Influences
   18. Chapter Quiz: Thinking and Intelligence
   19. Conclusion
8. Development
   1. Introduction
   2. What Is Development?
   3. Genetic and Environmental Influences on Development
   4. Family Studies: Untangling Genes and Environment
   5. Prenatal Development
   6. Infancy and Childhood: Physical Development
   7. Infancy and Childhood: Social Development and Attachment
   8. Influences on Attachment
   9. Research Spotlight: Does Doing Chores Make Children More Successful in School? (Part 1)
   10. Research Spotlight: Does Doing Chores Make Children More Successful in School? (Part 2)
   11. Infancy: Cognitive Development
   12. Childhood: Cognitive Development
   13. Piaget’s Theory: Reflections and Critiques
   14. Adolescence: Physical Development
   15. Adolescence: Social and Emotional Development
   16. Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development
   17. Adulthood: Emotional and Social Development
   18. Chapter Quiz: Development
   19. Conclusion
9. Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
   1. Introduction
   2. What Are Sex and Gender?
   3. Biology and Sex
   4. Variations in Biological Sex
   5. Gender
   6. “Being a Gender”: Developing a Gender Identity
   7. “Doing Gender”: Gender Roles
   8. Differences Between Genders
   9. Human Sexuality: Sexual Orientation
   10. Human Sexuality: Influences on Orientation
   11. Human Sexuality: Attraction
   12. Sexual Motivation: Psychological and Social Influences
   13. Sexual Motivation: Variations and Individual Differences in Arousal
   14. Sexual Activity: The Response Cycle
   15. Sexual Activity: Emotional and Psychological Effects
   16. Research Spotlight: Can a Healthy Sex Life Boost Job Satisfaction? (Part 1)
   17. Research Spotlight: Can a Healthy Sex Life Boost Job Satisfaction? (Part 2)
   18. Chapter Quiz: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
   19. Conclusion
10. Personality and the Self
    1. Introduction
    2. Defining the Self
    3. Thinking About the Self
    4. Influences on the Self
    5. What Is Personality?
    6. Psychodynamic Theory of Personality
    7. Psychosexual Development Theory of Personality
    8. Humanistic Theory of Personality
    9. Social-Cognitive Theories of Personality
    10. Trait Theories of Personality
    11. What Can Traits Predict?
    12. Biological Influences on Personality Traits
    13. Social and Cultural Influences on Personality
    14. Personality Change
    15. Research Spotlight: Have Smartphones and Social Media Made Our Personalities Worse? (Part 1)
    16. Research Spotlight: Have Smartphones and Social Media Made Our Personalities Worse? (Part 2)
    17. Chapter Quiz: Personality and the Self
    18. Conclusion
11. Emotion
    1. Introduction
    2. What Are Emotions?
    3. Basic Emotions and Adaptive Behavior
    4. The Physiology of Emotions
    5. Brain Activity and Emotion
    6. Research Spotlight: Do Painkillers Kill Kindness? (Part 1)
    7. Research Spotlight: Do Painkillers Kill Kindness? (Part 2)
    8. Interpreting Emotions
    9. Emotion and Cognition
    10. Major Theories of Emotion
    11. Emotions and Behavior: Facial Expressions
    12. Emotions and Behavior: Body Language and Gestures
    13. Emotions and Behavior: Culture and Language
    14. Emotional Regulation
    15. Emotional Intelligence
    16. Chapter Quiz: Emotion
    17. Conclusion
12. Motivation
    1. Introduction
    2. What Is Motivation?
    3. Biological Sources of Motivation: Drives
    4. Biological Sources of Motivation: Optimum Arousal and Pleasure
    5. Psychological Sources of Motivation: Maslow’s Hierarchy
    6. Psychological Sources of Motivation: Self-Determination Theory
    7. Intrinsic Motivation
    8. Extrinsic Motivation
    9. Achievement Motivation and Goals
    10. Setting Effective Goals
    11. Goal Achievement: Motivating Mindsets
    12. Research Spotlight: Can Growing Students’ Mindsets Change Their Grades? (Part 1)
    13. Research Spotlight: Can Growing Students’ Mindsets Change Their Grades? (Part 2)
    14. Sustaining Motivation
    15. Chapter Quiz: Motivation
    16. Conclusion
13. Social Psychology
    1. Introduction
    2. What Is Social Thinking?
    3. Social Thinking: Perceiving Others
    4. Social Thinking: Judgments and Attributions
    5. Social Thinking: Attitudes and Actions
    6. Social Thinking: Changing Attitudes Through Persuasion
    7. Social Behavior: Groups
    8. Social Behavior: Group Dynamics, Performance, and Decision-Making
    9. Social Behavior: Conformity
    10. Social Behavior: Obedience
    11. Social Behavior: Social Identity, Prejudice, and Discrimination
    12. Social Behavior: Reducing Prejudice
    13. Social Behavior: Aggression
    14. Research Spotlight: Is There a Link Between Video Games and Aggression in Teens? (Part 1)
    15. Research Spotlight: Research Spotlight: Is There a Link Between Video Games and Aggression in Teens? (Part 2)
    16. Prosocial Behavior: Helping Others
    17. Prosocial Behavior: Forming Connections
    18. Chapter Quiz: Social Psychology
    19. Conclusion
14. Mental Health
    1. Introduction
    2. What Are Psychological Disorders?
    3. Classifying and Labeling Psychological Disorders
    4. Overview of Treatments for Psychological Disorders
    5. Anxiety Disorders
    6. Understanding and Treating Anxiety Disorders
    7. Depressive Disorders
    8. Understanding and Treating Depressive Disorders
    9. Research Spotlight: Can Adding Exercise to Psychotherapy Cure Depression? (Part 1)
    10. Research Spotlight: Can Adding Exercise to Psychotherapy Cure Depression? (Part 2)
    11. Neurodevelopmental Disorders
    12. Understanding and Treating Neurodevelopmental Disorders
    13. Schizophrenia
    14. Personality Disorders
    15. Eating Disorders
    16. Seeking Mental Health Care: Key Considerations
    17. Mental Health Support Beyond Individual Therapy
    18. Mental Health Support Online
    19. Chapter Quiz: Mental Health
    20. Conclusion
15. Stress and Well-Being
    1. Introduction
    2. What Is Stress?
    3. Types of Stressors
    4. The Stress Response
    5. Stress, Physical Health, and the Immune System
    6. Managing Stress Through Coping Mechanisms
    7. Managing Stress in the Present
    8. Managing Stress About the Past
    9. Managing Potential Stressors
    10. Happiness, Flourishing, and Well-Being
    11. Helpful Habits: Psychological Well-Being
    12. Helpful Habits: Physical Well-Being
    13. Helpful Habits: Social Well-Being
    14. Research Spotlight: Can a Desk Plant Reduce Stress? (Part 1)
    15. Research Spotlight: Can a Desk Plant Reduce Stress? (Part 2)
    16. Chapter Quiz: Stress and Well-Being
    17. Conclusion

Interactive content

Research Spotlights

The theme of empirical evidence is brought to life for students through Research Spotlights, case studies that cultivate empirical thinking. Growing in complexity as the chapters progress, Research Spotlights invite students to think critically about the claims and methods of the articles on studies presented in the text.

Study questions

Study questions throughout the webtext guide students to critical information by providing immediate feedback. These low-risk opportunities promote equitable teaching that allows all students the opportunity to flourish and learn better study habits.

Response boards

Students engage each other through discussion boards that allow them to see the responses of their peers only after they've posted their own comment.

Polls

Polls allow students to share their opinions and then view a live pie chart displaying the responses of all class members.

Study tools

Webtext Reader app

Students can access materials and complete assignments offline with our mobile app available for iOS and Android.

Reading tools

Reading tools allow students to click on vocabulary terms for definitions and mark up their own webtext by highlighting and adding notes in the margins.

Read to Me

Our text-to-speech feature instantly creates an audio version of the webtext page to extend the reach of online content.

My Progress

Students can keep track of their own work inside My Progress, which records their scores, time spent, and completion.

The following materials are available for this course:

• test bank
• lecture slides

Author

Jennifer Harper, PhD

Peer Reviewers

David Baskind, PhD, Delta College
Sara Blaine, PhD, Auburn University
Julie Blaskewicz Boron, PhD, University of Nebraska Omaha
Hjalmar Zambrana Bonaparte, PsyD, Albizu University
Daniel Copulsky, PhD student, University of California, Santa Cruz
Thomas Crawford, PhD, Bethel University
Carrie Cuttler, PhD, Washington State University
Stacy DeZutter, PhD, Millsaps College
Greta Enriquez, PhD, Goddard College
Elgrie J. Hurd III, PhD, Dallas College Brookhaven Campus
Franz Klutschkowski, EdD, North Central Texas College
Dylan Kriescher, MS, University of Northern Colorado
Paul Kwon, PhD, University of Nevada, Reno
Heather Lench, PhD, Texas A&M University
Cheryl R. Lovett, PhD, University of Central Oklahoma
Melissa Lynn Maffeo, PhD, Wake Forest University
Eric D. Miller, PhD, Kent State University
Angela Nadeau, MA, Kennesaw State University
Caroline Pyevich, PhD, Pima Community College
David Rentler, PsyD, University of Connecticut
Michelle L. Rivers, PhD, Texas Christian University
Matthew Robison, PhD, The University of Texas at Arlington
Randi Shedlosky-Shoemaker, PhD, York College of Pennsylvania
Clayton Teem, PhD, University of North Georgia
Frank Wagenblast, Middlesex County College
Carmon Weaver Hicks, PhD, Ivy Tech Community College
Susan Krauss Whitbourne, PhD, University of Massachusetts Boston
Elizabeth Ziemba, Gwinnett Technical College

Publisher

Mary Jane Lindrum

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Jenny Westrick

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