Samuel E. Wood received his doctorate from the University of Florida. He taught at West Virginia University
and the University of Missouri�St. Louis and was a member of the doctoral faculty at both universities. From 1984
to 1996, he served as president of the Higher Education Center, a consortium of 14 colleges and universities in
the St. Louis area. He was a cofounder of the Higher Education Cable TV channel (HEC-TV) in St. Louis and served
as its president and CEO from its founding in 1987 until 1996. Dr. Wood passed away in 2008.
Ellen Green Wood received her doctorate in educational psychology from St. Louis University and was an adjunct
professor of psychology at St. Louis Community College at Meramec. She has also taught in the clinical experiences
program in education at Washington University and at the University of Missouri�St. Louis. In addition to her teaching,
Dr. Wood has developed and taught seminars on critical thinking. She received the Telecourse Pioneer Award from
1982 through 1988 for her contributions to the field of distance learning.
Denise Boyd received her Ed.D. in educational psychology from the University of Houston and has been a psychology
instructor in the Houston Community College system since 1988. From 1995 until 1998, she chaired the psychology,
sociology, and anthropology department at Houston Community College�Central. She has coauthored three other Allyn
and Bacon texts: with Helen Bee, Lifespan Development (Fourth Edition) and The Developing Child (Eleventh Edition);
and with Genevieve Stevens, Current Readings in Lifespan Development. A licensed psychologist, she has presented
a number of papers at professional meetings, reporting research in child, adolescent, and adult development. She
has also presented workshops for teachers whose students range from preschool to college.
Together, Sam, Ellen and Denise have more than 45 years of experience teaching introductory psychology to thousands
of students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Mastering the World of Psychology, Fourth Edition is the direct
result of their teaching experience.
Summary
Mastering the World of Psychology is a brief text that provides superior learning and application support while
making the connection between scientific principles and the everyday lives of today's diverse student population.
Now organized around numbered learning outcomes, the Third Edition of Mastering the World of Psychology is designed
to help students succeed and apply their knowledge of psychology to their everyday lives. The SQ3R methodology,
wealth of pedagogical features, MyPsychLab resources, and built-in Study Guide and Practice Tests make this the
ideal learning and study resource.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Brief Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction to Psychology
Chapter 2 Biology and Behavior
Chapter 3 Sensation and Perception
Chapter 4 States of Consciousness
Chapter 5 Learning
Chapter 6 Memory
Chapter 7 Cognition, Language, and Intelligence
Chapter 8 Human Development
Chapter 9 Motivation and Emotion
Chapter 10 Health and Stress
Chapter 11 Personality Theory and Assessment
Chapter 12 Psychological Disorders
Chapter 13 Therapies
Chapter 14 Social Psychology
Detailed Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction to Psychology
Think About It
An Introduction to Mastering the World of Psychology
Studying Psychology: Some Tricks of the Trade
Apply It: More Tips for Effective Studying
Is Psychology a Science?
The Goals of Psychology
Psychology Then and Now
Exploring Psychology�s Roots
Schools of Thought In Psychology
Contemporary Psychological Perspectives
Specialties in Psychology
Thinking about Theories and Research
Evaluating Theories
Evaluating Research
Descriptive Research Methods
Observational and Case Studies
Survey Research
Try It: Can Small Samples Really Be Representative?
The Correlational Method
Explain It: What Is a Credit Score?
The Experimental Method
Experiments and Hypothesis Testing
Limitations of the Experimental Method
Research Participants
Participant-Related Bias in Psychological Research
Protecting Human Participants� and Animal�s Rights
Chapter 2 Biology and Behavior
Think About It Discovering the Mysteries of the Nervous System
The EEG and the Microelectrode
Imaging Techniques
The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters
The Structure of the Neuron
Communication between Neurons
Neurotransmitters
The Human Nervous System
The Peripheral Nervous System
The Central Nervous System
A Closer Look at the Thinking Part of the Brain
Components of the Cerebrum
The Cerebral Hemispheres
Explain It: Why Are Most People Right-Handed?
Try It: A Balancing Act
The Four Cerebral Lobes
Age, Gender, and the Brain
The Ever-Changing Brain
Gender Differences in the Brain
Beyond the Nervous System
The Endocrine System
Genes and Behavioral Genetics
Apply It: Should You Consult a Genetic Counselor?
Chapter 3 Sensation and Perception
Think About It The Process of Sensation
The Absolute and Difference Thresholds
Transduction and Adaptation
Try It: Sensory Adaptation
Vision
The Eye
Vision and the Brain
Try It: Find Your Blind Spot
Color Vision
Try It: A Negative Afterimage
Hearing and Balance
Sound
The Ear and Hearing
Explain It: Why Can�t Everyone Hear the �Mosquito� Ring Tone?
Balance and Movement
Smell, Taste, and Touch
Smell
Taste
Touch and Pain
Influences on Perception
Attention
Prior Knowledge
Apply It: How Dangerous Is It to Talk or Text on a Cell Phone while Driving?
Try It: Bottom-Up and Top-Down Processing
Principles of Perception
Perceptual Organization and Constancy
Depth Perception
Perception of Motion
Unusual Perceptual Experiences
Puzzling Perceptions
Subliminal Perception, Extrasensory Perception, and Synesthesia
Chapter 4 States of Consciousness
Think About It What Is Consciousness?
Changing Views of Consciousness
Culture and Altered States of Consciousness
Circadian Rhythms
The Influence of Circadian Rhythms
Disruptions in Circadian Rhythms
Explain It: How Does the Brain Keep Track of Time?
Sleep
Why We Sleep
How We Sleep
Variations in Sleep
Sleep Deprivation
Sleep Disorders
Apply It: How to Get a Good Night�s Sleep
Dreams
The Content of Our Dreams
Interpreting Dreams
Meditation and Hypnosis
Meditation
Hypnosis
Try It: The Relaxation Response
Psychoactive Drugs
How Drugs Affect the Brain
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Stimulants
Depressants
Hallucinogens
Chapter 5 Learning
Think About It
Classical Conditioning
Pavlov and the Process of Classical Conditioning
Changing Conditioned Responses
John Watson and Emotional Conditioning
The Cognitive Perspective
Biological Predispositions
Classical Conditioning in Everyday Life
Operant Conditioning
Thorndike, Skinner, and the Consequences of Behavior
The Process of Operant Conditioning
Reinforcement
Schedules of Reinforcement
Punishment
Escape and Avoidance Learning
Applications of Operant Conditioning
Apply It: How to Win the Battle against Procrastination
Try It: Using Behavior Modification
Cognitive Learning
Learning by Insight
Latent Learning and Cognitive Maps
Observational Learning
Explain It: How Do the Principles of Learning Explain the Behavior of Smoking Cigarettes?
Learning from Media
Chapter 6 Memory
Think About It The Structure of Human Memory
What Is Memory?
Sensory Memory
Short-Term Memory
Explain It: Why Is Cramming an Ineffective Study Method?
Apply It: Improving Memory with Mnemonic Devices
Try It: Organizing for Memory Improvement
Long-Term Memory
A Closer Look at Retrieval
Measuring Retrieval Influences on Retrieval
Remembering as Reconstruction
The Process of Reconstruction Source, Flashbulb, and Autobiographical Memories Influences on Reconstructive Memory
Forgetting
Ebbinghaus and the Curve of Forgetting
Why Do We Forget?
Try It: A Penny for Your Thoughts
Biology and Memory
The Hippocampus and Hippocampal Region
Neuronal Changes and Memory
Hormones and Memory
Memory Loss
Memory in Legal and Therapeutic Settings
Eyewitness Testimony
The Repressed Memory Controversy
Chapter 7 Cognition, Language, and Intelligence
Think About It Cognition
Imagery and Concepts
Decision Making
Explain It: Why Do People Overestimate the Likelihood of Rare Events?
Problem Solving
Try It: Water Lily Problem
Artificial Intelligence
Language
The Structure of Language
Animal Language
Language and Thinking
Learning a Second Language
Intelligence
The Nature of Intelligence
Measuring Cognitive Abilities
Intelligence Testing: Past and Present
The Range of Intelligence
Explaining Differences in Intelligence
Nature, Nurture, and IQ
Race and IQ
Apply It: How to Build a Powerful Vocabulary
Gender Differences in Cognitive Abilities
Beyond Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence
Try It: Find Your EQ
Creativity
Chapter 8 Human Development
Think About It Theories of Development
Piaget�s Theory of Cognitive Development
Try It: Conservation of Volume
Alternatives to Piaget�s Theory
Kohlberg�s Theory of Moral Development
Erikson�s Theory of Psychosocial Development
Prenatal Development and Infancy
From Conception to Birth
Perceptual and Motor Development
Temperament
Attachment
Early and Middle Childhood
Language Development
Socialization
Gender Role Development
Adolescence
Puberty and Sexual Behavior
Social Relationships
Explain It: Why Are Peer Groups Important in Adolescence?
Emerging Adulthood
Early and Middle Adulthood
Physical and Cognitive Changes
Social Development
Apply It: Where Are You in the Career Development Process?
Later Adulthood
Physical and Cognitive Changes
Try It: Stereotypes about Later Adulthood
Social Adjustment
Successful Aging
Death and Dying
Chapter 9 Motivation and Emotion
Think About It Explaining Motivation
Foundations of Motivation
Biological Approaches to Motivation
Explain It: Why Are Dangerous Hobbies Appealing to Some People?
Behavioral and Social-Cognitive Approaches to Motivation
Try It: What Is Your N Ach?
Maslow�s Hierarchy of Needs
Hunger
Internal and External Cues
Explaining Variations in Body Weight
Obesity and Weight Loss
Eating Disorders
Sexual Motivation
Sexual Attitudes and Behavior
Sexual Desire and Arousal
Sexual Orientation
Social Attitudes toward Gays and Lesbians
Emotion
Theories of Emotions
Emotion and the Brain
Gender Differences in Emotion
The Expression of Emotion
Try It: Recognizing Basic Emotions
Apply It: The Quest for Happiness
Chapter 10 Health and Stress
Think About It Sources of Stress
The Life Events Approach
Try It: Finding a Life Stress Score
Everyday Stressors
Stress in the Workplace
Social Sources of Stress
The Health-Stress Connection
The Biopsychosocial Model of Health and Illness
The Physiology of the Health-Stress Connection
Theories of Stress Response
Risk and Resilience
Explain It: Why Do Pop Quizzes Facilitate Learning?
Health and Illness
Coronary Heart Disease
Cancer
Gender and Health
Ethnic Group Differences in Health
Lifestyle and Health
Apply It: Interpreting Health Information on the Internet
Smoking and Health
Alcohol Abuse
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Try It: AIDS Quiz
Diet and Exercise
Alternative Medicine
Chapter 11 Personality Theory and Assessment
Think About It Psychoanalytic Theories
Freud�s Theory of Personality
The Psychosexual Stages of Development
Evaluating Freud�s Contribution
The Neo-Freudians
Humanistic Theories
Two Humanistic Theories
Self-Esteem
Trait Theories
Early Trait Theories
Try It: Allport�s Trait Theory
The Five-Factor Model
Nature, Nurture, and Personality Traits
Personality and Culture
Explain It: Why Do Some People Fail to Develop a Conscience?
Social-Cognitive Theories
The Situation-Trait Debate
Self-Efficacy and Locus of Control
Personality Assessment
Observation, Interviews, and Rating Scales
Personality Inventories
Apply It: Put Your Best Foot Forward
Projective Tests
Chapter 12 Psychological Disorders
Think About It Defining Psychological Disorders
What Is Abnormal Behavior?
Classifying and Tracking Psychological Disorders
Explaining Psychological Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Panic Attacks, Agoraphobia, and Panic Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorders and Phobias
Try It: Phobia Names
Apply It: Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Mood Disorders
Major Depressive Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Explaining Mood Disorders
Explain It: How Do Cultural Beliefs about Ideal Emotional States Lead to Depression?
Suicide and Race, Gender, and Age
Schizophrenia
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Types of Schizophrenia
Explaining Schizophrenia
Other Psychological Disorders
Somatoform Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Sexual Disorders
Personality Disorders
Chapter 13 Therapies
Think About It
Insight Therapies
Psychodynamic Therapies
Humanistic Therapies
Gestalt Therapy
Relationship Therapies
Family Therapy and Couple Therapy
Group Therapy
Behavior Therapies
Behavior Modification Techniques Based on Operant Conditioning
Behavior Therapies Based on Other Learning Theories
