The Best Cognitive Psychology eBooks for Beginners

An introduction to the psychology of learning that summarizes and integrates findings from both functional psychology and cognitive psychology.learning.Learning unites all living creatures, from simple microbes to complex human beings. But what is learning? And how does it work? For over a century, psychologists have considered such questions. Behavior analysts examined the ways in which the environment shapes behavior, whereas cognitive scientists have sought to understand the mental processes that enable us to learn.

This book offers an introduction to the psychology of learning that draws on the key findings and major insights from both functional (behavior analysis) and cognitive approaches. After an introductory overview, the book reviews research showing how seemingly simple regularities in the environment lead to powerful changes in behavior, from habituation and classical conditioning to operant conditioning effects. It introduces the concept of complex learning and considers the idea that for verbal human beings even seemingly simple types of learning might qualify as instances of complex learning. Finally, it offers many examples of how psychological research on learning is being used to promote human well-being and alleviate such societal problems as climate change. Throughout the book, boxed text extends the discussion of selected topics and “think it through” questions help readers gain deeper understanding of what they have read. The book can be used as an introductory textbook on the psychology of learning for both undergraduate and postgraduate students or as a reference for researchers who study behavior and thinking.

Is it possible to learn something without being aware of it? How does emotion influence the way we think? How can we improve our memory? Fundamentals of Cognition, Fourth Edition, provides a basic, reader-friendly introduction to the key cognitive processes we use to interact successfully with the world around us. Our abilities in attention, perception, learning, memory, language, problem solving, thinking, and reasoning are all vitally important in enabling us to cope with everyday life. Understanding these processes through the study of cognitive psychology is essential for understanding human behaviour.

This edition has been thoroughly updated and revised with an emphasis on making it even more accessible to introductory-level students. This new edition includes:. updated references for readers who are looking for more detailed information;checks to make sure that statements made in the previous version are still valid, given recent findings on replication issues;extended research activities and "In the Real World" case studies to make it easy for students to engage with the material;real-world topics such as discussions of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, the reading problems of individuals with dyslexia, why magic tricks work, and why we cannot remember the Apple logo accurately;an extensive set of "Key term" definitions;supporting Instructor and Student Resources containing multiple choice questions, flashcards, simulations of key experiments, and instructor resources.The book provides a perfect balance between traditional approaches to cognition and cutting-edge cognitive neuroscience and cognitive neuropsychology. Covering all the key topics within cognition, this comprehensive overview is essential reading for all students interested in psychology.

The Cognitive Sciences: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Second Edition offers an engaging, thorough introduction to the cognitive sciences. Authors Carolyn Sobel and Paul Li examine the historical and contemporary issues and research findings of the core cognitive science disciplines: cognitive psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, linguistics, evolutionary psychology, and philosophy.

For each of these core disciplines, the historical development and classic research studies are presented in one chapter and current research development and issues follow in a second chapter, offering students a broad understanding of the development of each concentration in the cognitive sciences. The text presents a student-friendly approach to understanding how each discipline has contributed to the growth of cognitive science and the implications for future research. NEW TO THIS EDITION. Includes a new chapter on evolutionary psychology, an important emerging field in the cognitive sciences.Offers fully updated research, including subjects such as embodied cognition and extended cognition (philosophy), bilingualism indicating its wide-ranging effects on brain capabilities (linguistics), and current work in neuroplasticity (neuroscience).A new image program helps illustrate new and key concepts in the text.The companion website contains helpful pedagogical features to aid faculty and students.Praise for The Cognitive Sciences, Second Edition. "I am impressed with the completeness of the text. I have suffered from some tunnel vision thinking that all cognitive science intros needed to be more thematic. The field approach of this one is a refreshing change.". - Kenneth M. Moorman, Transylvania University. "You have a winner. It is well organized, cutting edge, theoretical, and substantive, and easy to read. The stories and contextualization of the material for the reader was the biggest strength of this text.". - Thelon Byrd Jr., Bowie State University. "The text is clear, organized, and, overall, very well-written. In fact, it has been a pleasure to read. It should be very accessible to undergrads in an introductory cognitive science course, whether majors or not.". - Michael R. Scheessele, Indiana University South Bend.