By Michael W. Eysenck
978-1-84169-251-7 278x215mm 898pp £16.95 Paperback
Psychology for A2 Level is a highly readable textbook, which has been written for the A2 psychology Specification A of the AQA examining board (formerly AEB) and is aimed specifically at students pursuing their studies in psychology beyond AS level.
It is an ideal follow-up to any AS level textbook, but in particular the best-selling Psychology for AS Level by the same author. The text is supported by a CDROM of teaching resources.
This A2 level text is written in an accessible and engaging style by highly experienced authors. At this level, students select options from the range of specified topics, and each topic within the syllabus is covered in sufficient depth for the requirements of A2.
The book includes a number of helpful features tailored to the new AQA-A specification so that students can easily use the text for their A2 studies:
- Mapped clearly and comprehensively to the requirements of three parts of the A2 assessment: Options paper; Synoptic paper; and Coursework
- Careful explanations that are easy to read and enable clear understanding
- Case studies of real life examples
- Important key studies, each with critical evaluation and discussion points
- Detailed end-of-chapter summaries
- Exam-style questions to test understanding and to give exam practise
- Suggested activities and self-assessment questions to stimulate thought and interpretation
- Suggestions for further reading, in print and on-line
- Humorous drawings and illustrations to reinforce learning objectives
- Tips and suggestions for studying, learning, choosing options and preparing for exams and coursework
- Glossary of key terms
- Comprehensive indexes and reference list
Contents
- Introduction
- Part 1: Social Psychology.
- Section 1: Social Cognition. Attribution of Causality, Social Perception, Prejudice and Discrimination. Section 2: Relationships. Attraction and the Formation of Relationships, Maintenance and Dissolution of Relationships, Cultural and Sub-cultural Differences in Relationships. Section 3: Pro- and Anti-social Behaviour. Nature and Causes of Aggression, Altrusim and Bystander Behaviour, Media Influences on Pro- and Anti-social Behaviour.
- Part 2: Physiological Psychology.
- Section 4: Brain and Behaviour. Methods of Investigation the Brain, Localisation of Function in the Cerebral Cortex. Section 5: Biological Rhythms: Sleep and Dreaming. Biological Rhythms, Sleep, Dreaming. Section 6: Motivation and Emotion. Brain Mechanisms of Motivation, Theories of Motivation, Emotion
- Part 3: Cognitive Psychology.
- Section 7: Attention and Pattern Recognition. Focused Attention, Divided Attention, Pattern Recognition. Section 8: Perceptual Processes and Development. The Visual System, Perceptual Organisation, Perceptual Development. Section 9: Language and Thought. Language and Culture, Language Acquisition, Problem-solving and Decision-making.
- Part 4: Developmental Psychology.
- Section 10: Cognitive Development. Development of Thinking, Development of Measured Intelligence, Development of Moral Understanding. Section 11: Social and Personality Development. Personality Development, Gender Development, Adolescence. Section 12: Adulthood. Early and Middle Adulthood, Family and Relationships in Adulthood, Cognitive Changes in Late Adulthood.
- Part 5: Comparative Psychology.
- Section 13: Determinants of Animal Behaviour. Evolutionary Explanations of Animal Behaviour, Classical and Operant Conditioning, Social Learning in Non-human Animals. Section 14: Animal Cognition. Animal Navigation, Animal Communication and Language, Memory. Section 15: Evolutionary Explanations of Human Behaviour. Human Reproductive Behaviour, Evolutionary Explanations of Mental Disorders, Evolution of Intelligence.
- Part 6: Individual Differences.
- Section 16: Issues in Classification and Diagnosis of Psychological Abnormality. Classificatory Systems, Multiple Personality Disorder (Dissociative Identity Disorder), Culture-bound Syndromes. Section 17: Psychopathology. Schizophrenia, Depression, Anxiety Disorders. Section 18: Treating Mental Disorders. Biological (Somatic) Therapies, Behavioural Therapies, Alternatives to Biological and Behavioural Therapies.
- Part 7: Perspectives.
- Section 19: Issues. Gender Bias, Cultural Bias, Ethical Issues, The Use of Non-human Animals. Section 20: Debates. Free Will and Determinism, Reductionism, Psychology as Science, Nature-Nurture. Section 21: Approaches in Psychology. The Biological Approach, The Behavioural Approach, The Psychodynamic Approach, The Cognitive Approach, The Humanistic Approach, The Evolutionary Approach, Social Constructionism.
- Part 8: Coursework.
- Section 22: The Coursework Report. Section 23: Statistical Tests. Section 24: Ideas for Coursework. Appendix
Reviewers' Comments
"The material is sound and well structured; and it does exactly what it was designed to do. It provides teachers who are teaching a particular syllabus for the second year of an A-Level with everything they would need; and students with all that they need to pass the exam, including guidance on specific sections of the paper, how to approach questions, and even samples of essay writing."
Nicky Hayes, University of Bradford, in The Times Higher Education Supplement
"Students will like this book. It presents chapter summaries, case studies, questions intended to stimulate independent thought, and even lists of useful websites for each topic. Additionally, it provides clear guidelines on how to write essays, ideas for coursework, and the low-down on the examination process with tips on what examiners look for. This makes it the ultimate A2 psychology resource, and supplies everything needed to pass the course. The book, which follows Psychology for AS Level by the same authors, is accompanied by a CD-ROM containing a wealth of teaching resources, from multiple-choice questions to slides ready-made for the teacher."
Amanda J. Heath, in The Psychologist
"Like the AS book, the chapters are extremely clearly written, with the summaries working exceptionally well."
Roz Brody, Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College
"This useful text builds on the excellent clarity and friendliness of use of the successful AS book. The explanations are good and the illustrations and evidence wide-ranging, allowing students to choose examples for themselves. Key studies are identified and the text is punctuated by very helpful suggestions for discussions and exercises. The suggested exam-style questions are a real help in using the information gainfully. This is bound to be a popular textbook with teachers, students and resource centers."
Evie Bentley, Haywards Heath College
"A thorough coverage of the specification in an accessible style of writing."
Diana Dwyer, Lecturer in Psychology
"The self-assessment questions are thought-provoking and force the reader to think beyond what is written in the text."
Kevin Silber, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Staffordshire University
