FREE Introducing Graphic Guide Sampler E-Book

Cathia Jenainati

• Herausgeber: Icon Books
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: Graphic Guides
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 30

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Introducing Graphic Guides is the bestselling series which explores big ideas from Quantum Theory to Psychoanalysis using concise, authoritative text and graphic novel-style illustrations. For the very first time 28 titles are now available in ebook format for all e-reading devices. This free ebook sampler contains extracts from six books: • Introducing Psychology asks what exactly psychology is, precisely, where has it come from and the extent to which it can be considered scientific. • Introducing Quantum Theory explores bizarre paradoxes which contradict the logic of classical physics in the work of Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, Schrodinger and others • Introducing Islam recounts the history of the religion from the 6th century to its status as a global culture and political force today. • Introducing Statistics book traces the rise of statistics from the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians and Chinese, to the censuses of Romans and the Greeks, and the modern emergence of the term itself in Europe. • Introducing Capitalism tells the story of the remarkable and often ruthless rise of capitalist politics and economics, which have evolved through strife and struggle as much as innovation and enterprise • Introducing Feminism explores women's conscious struggle to resist discrimination and sexist oppression from the 17th century to the present day. Find out more about the series at introducingbooks.com/ebooks

Leseprobe

Introducing Graphic Guides is the bestselling series which explores big ideas from Quantum Theory to Psychoanalysis using concise, authoritative text and graphic novel-style illustrations.

For the very first time 28 titles are now available in ebook format for all e-reading devices.

This free ebook sampler contains extracts from six books:

• Introducing Psychology asks what exactly psychology is, precisely, where has it come from and the extent to which it can be considered scientific.

• Introducing Quantum Theory explores bizarre paradoxes which contradict the logic of classical physics in the work of Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, Schrodinger and others

• Introducing Islam recounts the history of the religion from the 6th century to its status as a global culture and political force today.

• Introducing Statistics book traces the rise of statistics from the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians and Chinese, to the censuses of Romans and the Greeks, and the modern emergence of the term itself in Europe.

• Introducing Capitalism tells the story of the remarkable and often ruthless rise of capitalist politics and economics, which have evolved through strife and struggle as much as innovation and enterprise

• Introducing Feminism explores women’s conscious struggle to resist discrimination and sexist oppression from the 17th century to the present day.

Find out more about the series at introducingbooks.com/ebooks

Contents

Cover

Introducing Psychology

Introducing Quantum Theory

Introducing Islam

Introducing Statistics

Introducing Capitalism

Introducing Feminism

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?

“Psychology” comes from two words: psyche and logos. The word psyche (pronounced “sigh-key”) is from the Greek word Ψυχη – meaning “breath of life”, i.e. “soul or spirit”, loosely translated as MIND.

And logos means “knowledge”, “study”: like all “ologies”! In Greek mythology, Psyche was represented by a butterfly. She became the wife of Eros, the god of love (renamed Cupid by the Romans).

The Greek letter Ψ (spelled “psi”, and pronounced “sigh”) is now used as the international symbol for Psychology.

Hence, Psychology was originally defined as: the study of the mind.

But, this isn’t how most Psychologists define Psychology today.

Towards a Definition

Most Psychologists try hard to make a clear distinction between what is proper Psychology, and what isn’t.

So, how do Psychologists define “Psychology”? Well, there are difficulties in finding one universally accepted definition. Although most Psychologists agree that it is important to be scientific – to avoid muddled thinking – it’s not always clear exactly what this means.

Another difficulty is the practical problem – some say “impossibility”! – of studying the “mind” directly. Indeed, even trying to define “mind” is very difficult. Some Psychologists have avoided this completely, especially the Behaviourists, like B. F. Skinner and J. B. Watson.

“We do not need to try to discover what personalities, states of mind, feelings… really are in order to get on with a scientific analysis of behaviour.” “Never use the terms consciousness, mental states, mind…”

In practice, therefore, most Psychologists concentrate on what is observable and measurable in a person’s behaviour, including the biological processes in the body. At the same time, despite the extreme views of certain Behaviourists, the “mind” is still generally considered to be central to the subject.

Thus, a commonly accepted “working definition” is:

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour of humans and animals.

Doesn’t that definition also apply to Sociology? It is similar, but Sociology is generally about the study of large groups of people – in societies or sub-cultures.

Psychology, on the other hand, is mainly about individuals or small groups of people, as in Social Psychology.

There are also differences in the methods used. In Psychology, there is emphasis on experiments