preface vii about eBookplUs ix acknowledgements x Psychology -- Introduction and research methods Chapter 1 Introduction to psychology 2 Defining psychology and its subject matter 3 Scientific nature of psychology 5 Scientific vs non-scientific explanations 6 Classic and contemporary perspectives in psychology 8 Careers and areas of specialisation in psychology 9 Overview of VCE Psychology 12 Chapter 2 Research methods in psychology 14 Steps in psychological research 16 Research methods 19 Types of data 56 Organising, presenting and interpreting data 58 Ethics in psychological research and reporting 69 Use of animals in psychological research 75 Reporting conventions 78 UNIT 1: How are behavior and mental processes shaped? Chapter 3 Role of the brain in mental processes and behaviour Complexity of the brain 94 Approaches over time to understanding the role of the brain 97 First brain experiments 103 Nervous system: structure and function 113 Role of the neuron 118 Glial cells 121 Structure and function of brain areas 122 Roles of the cerebral cortex 129 Chapter 4 Brain plasticity and brain damage 146 Brain development in infancy and adolescence 147 Impact of injury to the cerebral cortex and adaptive plasticity 151 Parkinson's disease 163 Chapter 5 The complexity of psychological development 174 Defining development 175 Areas of development 176 Interaction of different areas of development 177 How psychological development proceeds 178 Interaction of hereditary and environmental factors in shaping psychological development 181 Sensitive and critical periods in psychological development 187 Twin studies and adoption studies 190 Attachment and emotional development 194 Development of cognitive abilities 206 Psychosocial development 218 Chapter 6 Atypical psychological development 232 Approaches to describing normality 234 Conceptualisation of normality 235 Mental health and mental disorder 236 Mental health as a product of internal and external factors 240 Categories of mental disorders 243 Labelling someone with a mental disorder 244 Addiction disorders 247 Anxiety disorders 255 Mood disorders 259 Personality disorders 268 Psychotic disorders 272 The 'two-hit' hypothesis as an explanation for the development of schizophrenia 280 UNIT 2: How do external factors influence behaviour and mental processes? Chapter 7 Sensation and perception 290 Distinction between sensation and perception 292 Reception, processing and interpretation of sensory information 292 Visual perception 294 Taste perception 320 Influences on taste perception 323 Chapter 8 Distortions of perception 334 Visual illusions 336 Judgment of flavours 341 Synaesthesia 345 Chapter 9 Social cognition 352 Person perception -- forming impressions of other people 354 Attribution -- explaining behaviour 360 Attitudes 364 Attitudes and behaviour 370 Factors influencing attitude formation 372 Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination 376 Chapter 10 Social influences on behaviour 390 Social influence 392 What is a group? 392 Status and social power within groups 394 Influence of status and social power within groups 396 Obedience 401 Conformity 409 Influences on helping behaviour 418 Influences on reluctance to help 429 Bullying 434 Influences of media on behaviour 440 answers 457 glossary 458 References 468 index 478