Product Description

Rich in reader-friendly features and up-to-the-minute research, Spencer Rathus's Ninth Edition of PSYCHOLOGY: CONCEPTS AND CONNECTIONS (previously known as PSYCHOLOGY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM) makes your students' introduction to psychology a meaningful, personal experience. Rathus connects the core concepts of psychology to the events and issues students encounter every day. The book explains classic theories and the latest discoveries in a clear, accessible style intended to reach out to students-without sacrificing Rathus's commitment to showing psychology as the rigorous science that it is. Throughout the text, you'll find an emphasis on diversity and expanded coverage of the evolutionary perspective, plus numerous references to the timeliest research available. And, the text's proven active learning system, PQ4R (Preview, Question, Read, Reflect, Review, and Recite), incorporated into every chapter, seamlessly integrates reading and studying. In addition, Rathus's text features the most integrated multi-platform media package available, with the free student CD-ROM, the full Web site that features Self-Study Assessments (pre- and post-tests), and interactive versions of features from the text-all tightly connected to the text itself to give students the a powerful, comprehensive introduction to psychology.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #369432 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 768 pages

Review
"Rathus is a good, solid mid-level text, with a wonderful new look due to the investment in the art program. It covers all the material I would expect any student to be exposed to at the introductory level."

"I especially like the ’In Review’ sections; I found that even I used those to organize some of my thoughts for lecture!"

"I would easily recommend the Rathus book to a colleague. The book has many good features, including coverage of multiple diversity issues, several online/CD learning tools, current applications of psychology and is comprehensible for undergrad students."

"The text is engagingly written and you have the sense that the author is a real human being, not just some academic in an ivory tower…It makes the field come alive, not just in the laboratory but in daily life. In most chapters, you just want to keep reading and reading."

"Truth or Fiction is an excellent feature. It stimulated thought and interest as well as serving to motivate further studies. In Profile gives life to the material and humanizes research as well as linking data to application."

About the Author
New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies Bio: Spence Rathus is a veteran author who, in addition to his intro and development books with Thomson Learning, publishes texts in adjustment and abnormal psychology with other publishers. Spencer A. Rathus is known for his warm, encouraging writing style and applied approach to learning. As the first member of his family to attend college, he struggled through dry and technical books that didn't resonate with him. His goal is to write textbooks that excite and motivate today's students, through humor, personal examples, and a clear pedagogical framework. Since earning his Ph.D., he has published research articles in the areas of human growth and development, psychological disorders, methods of therapy, and psychological assessment. Foremost among his research publications is the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule(RAS), which is widely used in research and clinical practice and frequently referenced in other literature. Rathus taught at Northeastern University and St. John's University before arriving at his current position at New York University, where he teaches a culturally diverse population of students in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Customer Reviews

The worst textbook I have read
I am currently a college student majoring in a humanities area. Traditionally, I have been weak in areas involving scientific knowledge (and psychology is a life science as well as a social science discipline). Unfortunately, I had to use this dreadful textbook for my introductory psychology class. It is undoubtedly the worst textbook I have ever used, not because it isn't comprehensive, but because of the author's erratic and ultimately irritating writing style. Mr. Rathus insists on making annoying and unnecessary jokes every few lines or paragraphs - the subject is boring as it is, don't make our misery worse with stale jokes! In addition, he crams so much information in the paragraphs in an unsophisticated and rushed style, particularly with chapter 2 (biological psychology), that I was left with the headache of trying to sort out what exactly was important and what wasn't. Beware if your teacher uses the database of test questions that apparently come with this text - the questions test tiny, seemingly insignificant details instead of the more important, broad general concepts of psychology. I hope that other professors use other introductory psychology textbooks. I would undoubtedly *not* recommend this.

Student review.
This textbook does a pretty good job of making the information clear. The writer does a fairly decent job of keeping a motivated student's attention. The only issue is that the tone the author takes is at time too smarmy. He also alludes way too frequently to his family for comfort... I feel like I know his kids, and that kind of creeps me out.

Either way, when paired with good lectures, the material is pretty easy to follow.

I use this text in my class and my students love it
I chose this text for my Intro to Psychology class and have taught with it three times so far. The majority of end-of-semester student reviews of the text are highly favorable. There are always a few students who feel the way the previous reviewer did, but out of a class of about 85 students, that's a small percentage. On the whole, students indicate that they find the text to be accessible, fast-paced, and grounded in real world examples. I have no complaints!