Overview

What is modern psychology and how did it get here? How and why did psychology come to be the world’s most popular science? A Conceptual History of Psychology charts the development of psychology from its foundations in ancient philosophy to the dynamic scientific field it is today. Emphasizing psychology’s diverse global heritage, the book explains how, across centuries, human beings came to use reason, empiricism, and science to explore each other’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The book skilfully interweaves conceptual and historical issues to illustrate the contemporary relevance of history to the discipline. It shows how changing historical and cultural contexts have shaped the way in which modern psychology conceptualizes individuals, brains, personality, gender, cognition, consciousness, health, childhood, and relationships. This comprehensive textbook: - Helps students understand psychology through its origins, evolution and cultural contexts - Moves beyond a ‘great persons and events’ narrative to emphasize the development of the theoretical and practical concepts that comprise psychology - Highlights the work of minority and non-Western figures whose influential work is often overlooked in traditional accounts, providing a fuller picture of the field’s development - Includes a range of engaging and innovative learning features to help students build and deepen a critical understanding of the subject - Draws on examples from contemporary politics, society and culture that bring key debates and historical milestones to life - Meets the requirements for the Conceptual and Historical Issues component of BPS-accredited Psychology degrees. This textbook will provide students with invaluable insight into the past, present and future of this exciting and vitally important field. Read more from Brian Hughes on his blog at thesciencebit.net

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9781350328198

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Reviews

Many histories of psychology recount events, biographies, and ideas. However, few put them so thoughtfully in context in the way this book does. Students will gain a vivid appreciation of how psychological concepts and historical narratives were powerfully shaped by the diverse cultures and intellectual traditions from which they sprung, with the lessons learnt being of continuing relevance today. * Aiden Gregg, Associate Professor, University of Southampton, UK * In his latest text, Hughes has set the bar for a textbook on conceptual, historical and philosophical issues in psychology. It stands apart, not just in making the sub-field topic accessible to tutors and students, but also in bringing together far more nuanced and critical literature that has been missing from traditional text books in this field. In short, this is a book I wish I had written! * Gareth Hall, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Aberystwyth University, UK * Finally, we have a comprehensive and detail-orientated introduction to the history of psychology which brings in a range of non-Western perspectives to challenge all the given tenets from 20th century Western psychology. * Sven Hroar Klempe, Professor in Psychology, Norwegian University of Technology and Science, Norway * This volume is a must-read for Psychology students seeking an insight into the origins and evolution of the discipline. Unlike many books which detail the history of psychology, Brian Hughes' clear and engaging writing style, and use of examples from popular culture, literature and modern politics make this an entertaining and insightful text. It is noteworthy that Hughes has delved beyond typical Westernized accounts of the history of psychology, exploring perspectives from across cultures and giving a voice to minority scholars who played important but somewhat forgotten roles in shaping current psychological knowledge and understanding. * Michael Smith, Associate Professor of Psychology, Northumbria University, UK * Throughout its history, psychology has incorporated a large number of highly varied and at times incongruous theories, opinions, and philosophical and religious views about human nature-while ignoring many others. In this tour-de-force, Brian Hughes provides a comprehensive overview of the checkered history of psychology, emphasising both its enduring limitations and its continuing potential contributions. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in gaining a broader perspective on psychology and broader ideas about human nature. * Hans Pols, University of Sydney, Australia *

Author Information

Brian Hughes is Professor of Psychology at the University of Galway, Ireland

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