Twenty years is a long time in the life of a science. While the historical roots of psychology have not changed since the first edition of this book, some of the offshoots of the various theories and systems discussed have been crit ically reexamined and have undergone far-reaching modifications. New and bold research has led to a broadening of perspectives, and recent devel opments in several areas required a considerable amount of rewriting. I have been fortunate in the last fifteen years to have worked with about 2,000 psychologists and other behavioral scientists who contributed to several collected volumes I have edited. As the editor-in-chief of the In ternational Encyclopedia of Psychiatry, Psychology, Psychoanalysis and Neurol ogy, I have had the privilege of reading, scrutinizing, and editing the work of 1,500 experts in psychology and related disciplines. In addition, I have written several books and monographs and over one hundred scientific papers. Armed with all that experience, I have carefully examined the pages of the first edition. Chapter 8 required substantial rewriting and several new sections have been added to other chapters: "Current Soviet Psychol ogy" (Chapter 2, Section 7); "New Ideas on Purposivism" (Chapter 5, Sec tion 4); "Recent Developments in the Sociological School of Psychoanalysis" (Chapter 9, Section 4); and "Present Status of Gestalt Psychology" (Chapter 12, Section 4). Chapter 15 was omitted, and two new chapters were added: Chapter 14 ("Humanistic Psychology") and Chapter 16 ("Selected Research Areas").

Noel Smith presents a comprehensive and engaging text that strives to tell students "what today's systems of psychology are saying." He offers in-depth coverage of more recent systems of psychology, beyond the traditional classical systems of psychology. Smith focuses on the core areas of psychological systems that have impact today, such as the cognitive system, the humanistic system, the psychoanalytic systems, the behavioral system, the ecological perspective, and the phenomenological approach. His thorough coverage of the contemporary, post 1950's systems of psychology'including post modernism and social constructionism, dialectical psychology, interbehavioral field psychology, operant subjectivity, and community psychology, to name a few'offers a modern view of the current systems of psychology to today's psychology students.

This comprehensive, scholarly text offers extensive biographical detail and full coverage of psychology's pre-19th century philosophical and scientific roots. The authors make connections between recent developments in psychometrics and biological, social, and cognitive psychology and their historical roots through current articles and references. This critical-thinking approach, combined with groundbreaking pedagogy, makes the text interesting and accessible to students and helps them understand the thinking processes that led to major psychological discoveries, as well as how they relate to contemporary specialty areas. Of the nearly 200 up-to-date references incorporated into the text, more than 100 are dated after 2000 and the remainder from 1990–2000. A timeline of notable psychological and historical events appears inside the front and back covers of the text for easy access. Timelines or chronologies for each chapter connect developments in psychology to world events in politics, science, and the arts. The text provides extensive coverage of women and minorities in a field dominated by Caucasian men.

Current Issues in Theoretical Psychology

The book examines the assumptions and confusions regarding misuse of constructs (constructions) in mainstream psychology. The confusions involve a failure to distinguish constructs from concrete events. Four controversial topics of psychology, namely mind-body, consciousness, free will vs. determinism, and sensations are examined.

`This is a competently edited, reader-friendly publication which fills a previously empty niche in the market. Every applied psychologist should have a copy well within arm's length' - British Journal of Educational Psychology Applied Psychology: Current Issues and New Directions is an exciting new textbook and a perfect resource for students taking either a focussed degree in applied psychology or a module as part of a wider psychology degree program. Given its breadth of coverage it should also be essential background reading on courses looking in depth at one of the many areas of professional psychological practice. The book is divided into two parts. In Part One, the book reviews the traditional branches of applied psychology (i.e. clinical, educational and occupational psychology); some relative newcomers (counselling psychology, forensic and health psychology); and some less obvious areas (careers guidance, counselling, academia) addressing such issues as training, future trends and developments within each field. Part Two offers discussion of more generic issues facing professional psychologists including the role of research and evidence-based practice in everyday work; trends in higher education; and continuing professional development. The book concludes with a `Round-Table' discussion involving leading psychologists commenting on trends and new directions in their respective fields. Key features of this book: - Consistently pedagogical throughout - chapter summaries, questions for reflection and discussion and annotated further reading in every chapter - Comprehensive coverage - all areas of applied psychology included - Related to the `real world' - by reviewing the issues and offering practical advice, this text should help prospective applied psychologists make informed decisions about their careers.