Contemporary Readings in Psychology: A New York Times Reader
Erik J. Coats, Vassar College

ISBN-10: 0139775137
ISBN-13: 9780139775130

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2000
Format: Paper; 126 pp
Published: 11/04/1999

Suggested retail price: $37.60
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A supplement for courses in Introductory Psychology.

This special topics reader includes articles from the New York Times. It presents an intriguing introduction to currently debated issues in Psychology. The readings have been carefully selected and organized to challenge students with the basic inquiries about these controversial topics.

  • Over 30 selections from recent issues of the New York Times.

    • Introduces students to cutting-edge data and theory on controversial topics in psychology, and makes them more savvy consumers of psychology in the popular press. Ex.___

  • A short introduction for each chapter.

    • Provides students with additional background so that they can be better able to appreciate the importance of each debate. Ex.___

  • Five discussion questions for each selection.

    • The first questions help students make sure they've noticed the key issues; the last questions challenge them to think critically about the issues. They ask them, for example, to critically evaluate a study, to identify implicit assumptions lurking behind arguments, or to propose further studies to address unresolved issues. Ex.___

  • Cross-references for cross-disciplinary articles—A notation after each article indicates other sections where the article would also be relevant, and the Table of Contents indicates for each section what readings from other sections are relevant to that section as well.

    • Allows instructors to easily pick and choose among the articles to fit their particular course emphases. Ex.___

I. NEUROBIOLOGY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

 1. Fear and Anger Heard Deep Inside the Brain.

 2. Doctors Record Signals of Brain Cells Linked to Memory.

 3. Hardest Habits to Break: Memories of the High.

 4. When an Adult Adds a Language, It's One Brain, Two Systems.

 5. First Gene for Social Behavior Identified in Whiskery Mice.

II. COGNITION AND CONSCIOUSNESS.

 6. Evolutionary Necessity or Glorious Accident?

 7. Was Freud Wrong? Are Dreams the Brain's Startup Test?

 8. Getting to the Truth in Child Abuse Cases: New Methods.

 9. IQ Scores Are Up, and Psychologists Wonder Why.

10. Intelligence in All Its Interactive Aspects.

III. DEVELOPMENTAL QUESTIONS.

11. Movement May Offer Early Clue to Autism.

12. Two Experts Do Battle over Potty Training.

13. The Hype and Hope of Reading to Baby.

14. After Girls Get the Attention, Focus Shifts to Boys' Woes.

15. Exploring Physical Beauty as a Psychological Weapon.

IV. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.

16. Self Image Is Suffering from Lack of Esteem.

17. An Unusual Tool in Hiring the Right Person.

18. On the Edge of Age Discrimination.

19. Battered Women Face Pit Bulls and Cobras.

20. Getting Serious About Adultery; Who Does It and Why They Risk It.

V. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND ITS TREATMENT.

21. On the Fringes of the Bell Curve, the Evolving Quest for Normality.

22. As Drugs for Depression Multiply, So Do the Hard Questions.

23. New Theories of Depression Focus on Brain's Two Sides.

24. Studies of Schizophrenia Vindicate Psychotherapy.

25. “Memory” Therapy Leads to a Lawsuit and Big Settlement.

For Introductory Psychology


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