Cognitive Psychology
A Student's Handbook
📘 About This Book
This fifth edition of the best-selling international cognitive psychology textbook has been substantially updated and restructured to reflect new developments in cognitive psychology, and made more student-friendly. Established approaches covered in depth include: Experimental cognitive psychology Cognitive science with its focus on modelling Cognitive neuropsychology with its focus on cognition following brain damage. Extensive new material in this edition includes: Cognitive neuroscience approaches such as brain scanning and imaging studies which illustrate the principles of brain function New material on consciousness. Throughout, the new material is fully integrated with more traditional approaches to create a comprehensive, coherent and totally current overview of perception, attention, memory, concepts, language, problem solving, judgement and reasoning. A two-colour design, plus a rich array of supplementary multimedia materials, make this edition more accessible and entertaining for students. The multimedia materials include: A PowerPoint lecture course and MCQ Test Bank free to qualifying adopters A unique web-based Student Learning Program. This is an interactive revision program incorporating a rich array of multimedia resources including interactive exercises and demonstrations, and active reference links to journal articles. This is offered on a subscription basis to departments adopting the text. A free demonstration of a sample chapter is available to potential subscribers at http: //www.psypress.com/ek5/ .
📖 Summary
Michael W. Eysenck's Cognitive Psychology stands as a comprehensive and authoritative text designed to guide readers through the complex landscape of how the human mind processes information. Spanning over six hundred pages in its fifth edition, this substantial volume has been thoroughly restructured and updated to capture the most recent developments in the field while maintaining its status as a leading international textbook. The book meticulously bridges traditional methodologies with cutting-edge scientific inquiries, offering students and scholars a holistic view of human perception, attention, memory, and thought. At the core of the textbook is the exploration of several established approaches that form the foundation of cognitive psychology. Eysenck delves deeply into experimental cognitive psychology, which relies on controlled laboratory investigations to uncover the mechanics of mental processes. Alongside this, the book examines cognitive science, emphasizing computational and theoretical modeling to simulate how minds work. Furthermore, the text incorporates cognitive neuropsychology, an approach that investigates how cognitive functions are altered following brain damage, providing vital clues about the modularity and organization of the human brain. Beyond these foundational pillars, this fifth edition introduces extensive new material that reflects the rapid technological and theoretical advancements of the discipline. Most notably, the integration of cognitive neuroscience approaches brings a dynamic dimension to the study of the mind. By incorporating insights from brain scanning and neuroimaging studies, Eysenck illustrates the tangible principles of brain function in real-time, connecting abstract psychological theories directly to biological reality. Additionally, the book expands its scope to address complex emerging topics, such as the scientific study of consciousness, a subject that has increasingly moved to the forefront of psychological research. Throughout the volume, Eysenck ensures that these newly introduced concepts are not treated as isolated add-ons. Instead, they are fully integrated with more traditional psychological frameworks to construct a coherent, unified, and entirely current overview of the field. Readers are guided systematically through how we perceive the world around us, how we direct our attention amidst overwhelming sensory input, and how our internal mental architectures operate. Designed with the learner in mind, the text balances rigorous academic scholarship with student-friendly pedagogical features. The organization of the chapters allows for a progressive understanding of complex cognitive mechanisms, making difficult theories accessible without sacrificing scientific depth. Whether examining the historical roots of experimental paradigms or looking at the latest functional neuroimaging data, the book provides a well-rounded and deeply informative journey into the science of the mind.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Substantially updated and restructured to reflect modern developments in the field.
Integrates traditional methodologies with cutting-edge neuroscience and brain imaging data.
Written in a student-friendly format that makes complex concepts accessible.
Provides comprehensive and in-depth coverage of perception, attention, and cognitive models.
⚠️ Cons
The sheer volume of 662 pages can feel overwhelming for casual readers.
Being a textbook from 2005, it may not capture the very latest neuroimaging breakthroughs of the subsequent decades.
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of this book? +
The book is written by Michael W. Eysenck.
What edition is this specific version of the textbook? +
This is the fifth edition of the best-selling international textbook.
How many pages are in this edition? +
The book contains 662 pages.
What major new approaches are integrated into this edition? +
This edition integrates cognitive neuroscience approaches, such as brain scanning and imaging studies, along with new material on consciousness.
What traditional approaches are covered in depth? +
The book covers experimental cognitive psychology, cognitive science with a focus on modeling, and cognitive neuropsychology focusing on brain damage.
