Themes, issues and debates in psychology - Richard Gross

Themes, Issues and Debates in Psychology, Third Edition, cuts across the traditional boundaries found in most textbooks and syllabuses between broad areas or fields in psychology, bringing together ideas from across the subjects. Because of its thematic approach, the book is of great value to a wide range of students, from A level to undergraduate. This new edition contains a completely new chapter on 'Positive Psychology' and is fully revised and updated. The book also includes summaries, further reading and lists of useful websites.

The book's central aim is to integrate topics, theories and areas of research that are usually treated as separate and unrelated. This complements the topic-based approach by: broadening discussion of 'traditional' areas such as personality, abnormal behaviour, sex differences, and the history and nature of psychology; and adopting a critical approach to these topic areas. This more critical approach is reflected in the frequent discussion of social constructionism, including the related areas of feminist, critical and discursive psychology. There is also discussion of philosophical/theoretical issues and debates, such as ethics, free will and determinism, and consciousness and the mind-brain relationship. Every chapter includes material familiar to students from other textbooks and from their classes.

The book is designed to stimulate critical thinking and to encourage a broader, more integrated approach to essay-writing and seminar presentations. As well as the new chapter on 'Positive Psychology', all chapters from the second edition have been fully revised and updated. With excellent chapter summaries and suggestions for further reading, Themes, Issues and Debates in Psychology, Third Edition remains an ideal text for all students wishing to view their subject in a way that is more true to our lives.