Adam Cash - Psychology For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Psychology For Dummies, 2nd Edition

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Copyright 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013936850

ISBN 978-1-118-60359-8 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-61132-6 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-61139-5 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-61142-5 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Introduction

S o youve bought Psychology For Dummies. How does that make you feel? Hopefully, youre feeling pretty good. And why shouldnt you be? Youre going to discover all kinds of interesting information about the basics of human behavior and mental processes.

Everybody is interested in psychology. People are fascinating, and that includes you! Humans often defy explanation and evade prediction. Figuring people out can be pretty hard. Just when you think that youve figured someone out, bang, he surprises you. Now I know that some of you may be thinking, Actually, Im a pretty good judge of people. Ive got a handle on things. If thats the case, thats great! Some folks do seem to have a more intuitive understanding of people than others. For the rest of us though, theres psychology.

About This Book

Psychology For Dummies is an introduction to the field of psychology. I tried to write this book using plain English and everyday examples with the hope that it will be real and applicable to everyday life. Ive always felt that tackling a new subject is more enjoyable when it has real-world importance. Psychology is full of jargon, so much jargon that it even has its own dictionary, aptly named The Dictionary of Psychology (Penguin Reference Books). This book is for those of you who are interested in what people do, think, say, and feel, but want the information presented in a clear and easily understandable manner.

The information in this reference is not intended to substitute for expert psychological, healthcare, or medical advice or treatment; it is designed to help you make informed choices. Because each individual is unique, a psychologist, healthcare practitioner, or physician must diagnose conditions and supervise treatments for each individual health problem. If an individual is under a psychologists or physicians care and receives advice contrary to information provided in this reference, the psychologists or physicians advice should be followed, as it is based on the unique characteristics of that individual.

Conventional language for psychologists can sound like gibberish to someone who has never had a psychology class. As I state earlier in this chapter, I try to stay away from jargon and technical language in this book. You may come across an attempt at a joke or two. I tend to take a lighter approach to life, but sometimes people dont get my sense of humor. If I try to crack a joke in the text and it bombs, please dont be too harsh. Im a psychologist after all, and I dont think were known for our sense of humor. I hope I dont come across as insensitive or cavalier either that is certainly not my intention.

Sometimes, talking about psychology can be pretty dry, so I try to liven things up with examples and personal stories. I make no references to any patients Ive ever had in therapy. If there appears to be a resemblance, its purely coincidental. In fact, I took great care in preserving the privacy and confidentiality of the people I have worked with.

Foolish Assumptions

You can find a lot of psychology books out there. Most of them are either too technical and specialized or cover too narrow an area of psychology. Here are some of the reasons why I think Psychology For Dummies is the book for you:

Youve got a lot of questions about people.

Youve got a lot of questions about yourself.

Youre thinking about going into the field of psychology.

Youre currently studying psychology or a related discipline, such as social work or counseling.

Youre interested in psychology but dont have the time or the money to take a psychology course.