Cognitive Psychology for Dummies - Paperback

by Peter J. Hills (Author), Michael Pake (Author)

Demystify the core concepts of cognitive psychology

Written specifically for psychology students - and not other academics - Cognitive Psychology For Dummies is an accessible and entertaining introduction to the field. Unlike the dense and jargon-laden content found in most psychology textbooks, this practical guide provides readers with easy-to-understand explanations of the fundamental elements of cognitive psychology so that they are able obtain a firm grasp of the material.

Cognitive Psychology For Dummies follows the structure of a typical university course, which makes it the perfect supplement for students in need of a clear and enjoyable overview of the topic. The complexities of a field that explores internal mental processes - including the study of how people perceive, remember, think, speak, and solve problems - can be overwhelming for first-year psychology students. This practical resource cuts through the academic-speak to provide a clear understanding of the most important elements of cognitive psychology.

• Obtain a practical understanding of the core concepts of cognitive psychology
• Supplement required course reading with clear and easy-to-understand overviews
• Gain confidence in your ability to apply your knowledge of cognitive psychology
• Prepare for upcoming exams or topic discussions

Cognitive Psychology For Dummies is the perfect resource for psychology students who need a clear and readable overview of the core concepts of cognitive psychology.

Back Jacket

Learn to:

• Grasp the fundamentals of cognitive psychology
• Apply key concepts concerning perception, memory, language and thought
• Write better research reports

Demystify the core concepts of cognitive psychology

Written specifically for psychology students and professionals, this hands-on guide provides an accessible and entertaining introduction to the field of cognitive psychology. Unlike the dense and jargon-laden content found in most psychology textbooks, it offers easy-to-understand explanations of the fundamental elements of cognitive psychology, giving you a firm grasp of the material.

• Put the 'fun' in fundamentals -- get a fascinating introduction to the field of cognitive psychology, from its history and relationship to other areas of psychology to how it's now studied
• Go cerebral -- discover how cognitive psychology can be applied in the real world and find useful pointers for how you can use it to aid your learning
• It's all about perception -- grasp how sensation, visual perception, object processing and attention play a major role in psychology
• Forget about it -- understand how short and long-term memory work, why we don't remember everything we've learnt and how critical aspects of everyday memory function
• Something to talk about -- find out the role that language and thought play in cognitive abilities

Open the book and find:

• Cognitive models that are used to explain rationality
• How humans solve simple and complex problems
• The cognitive processes involved in making decisions
• How emotion affects thought
• Ten eye-opening case studies
• Do's and don'ts for writing research reports

Author Biography

Dr Peter J. Hills, PhD, is a principal lecturer and Head of Education in psychology at Bournemouth University. Dr J Michael Pake is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.