Cognitive Psychology For Dummies

Written specifically for psychology students ? and not other academics - Cognitive Psychology For Dummies is an accessible and entertaining introduction to the field. Unlike the dense and jargon-laden content found in most psychology textbooks, this practical guide provides readers with easy-to-understand explanations of the fundamental elements of cognitive psychology so that they are able obtain a firm grasp of the material.

Cognitive Psychology For Dummies follows the structure of a typical university course, which makes it the perfect supplement for students in need of a clear and enjoyable overview of the topic. The complexities of a field that explores internal mental processes ? including the study of how people perceive, remember, think, speak, and solve problems ? can be overwhelming for first-year psychology students. This practical resource cuts through the academic-speak to provide a clear understanding of the most important elements of cognitive psychology.

• Obtain a practical understanding of the core concepts of cognitive psychology
• Supplement required course reading with clear and easy-to-understand overviews
• Gain confidence in your ability to apply your knowledge of cognitive psychology
• Prepare for upcoming exams or topic discussions

Cognitive Psychology For Dummies is the perfect resource for psychology students who need a clear and readable overview of the core concepts of cognitive psychology.

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started with Cognitive Psychology 5

Chapter 1: Understanding Cognition: How You Think, See, Speak and Are! 7

Chapter 2: Studying Cognitive Psychology Means Studying the Everyday 19

Chapter 3: Improving Academic Performance with Cognitive Psychology 27

Part II: Attending to the Subtleties of Perception 41

Chapter 4: Perceiving the World around You 43

Chapter 5: Seeing How People See Depth and Colour 63

Chapter 6: Recognising Objects and People 81

Chapter 7: Atten‐hut! Paying Attention to Attention 99

Part III: Minding Your Memory 115

Chapter 8: Where Did I Put My Keys? Short‐Term Memory 117

Chapter 9: You Don’t Remember Our Wedding Day? Long‐Term Memory 135

Chapter 10: Knowing about Knowledge 153

Chapter 11: Discovering Why You Forget Things 167

Chapter 12: Memorising in the Real World 179

Part IV: Communicating What Your Brain Thinks about Language 191

Chapter 13: Communicating the Extraordinary Nature of Language 193

Chapter 14: Studying the Structure of Language 211

Chapter 15: Talking about Language Perception and Production 225

Chapter 16: Discovering the Links between Language and Thought 239

Part V: Thinking Your Way around Thought 253

Chapter 17: Uncovering How People Solve Problems 255

Chapter 18: Thinking Logically about Reasoning 267

Chapter 19: Making Up Your Mind: Decision-Making 281

Chapter 20: Thinking Clearly about the Role of Emotions 293

Part VI: The Part of Tens 311

Chapter 21: Studying Patients with Brain Damage 313

Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Writing Successful Research Reports 321

Chapter 23: Busting Ten Cognitive Psychology Myths 329

Index 335

Dr Peter J. Hills, PhD, is a principal lecturer and Head of Education in psychology at Bournemouth University. Dr J Michael Pake is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.