Product Description

Biological Psychology, 2/e

Biological Psychology 2/e provides a full introduction to the core topics, concepts, research and debates that are central to our understanding of the brain and the biological basis of our behaviour. The new edition has been thoroughly revised and fully updated and includes an expanded treatment of evolutionary psychology and consciousness. 

Companion Website with Gradetracker: Student Access Card: Biological Psychology, 2/e

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16050 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback

Review

"An ideal guide to the spectrum of topics a student of
biopsychology would want to read about."
Patricia Roberts, University of Bedfordshire

"Very readable and should be accessible to students studying
biological psychology with minimal science background"
Martin R Yeomans, University of Sussex

"The most thoughtful and thought-provoking textbook for the field
available today... Toates combines what is best in biological psychology"
Kent Berridge, University of Michigan

"This is a superb introduction to biological psychology, written
by one of the UK's leading biological psychologists"
Professor Philip J. Corr, University of Wales, Swansea

"This easy-to-read, up-to-date, creative, thorough, and insightful
text is a marvel of classic biological psychology."
Professor James G. Pfaus, Concordia University, Canada

Martin R Yeomans, University of Sussex
"Very readable and should be accessible to students studying
biological psychology with minimal science background"

Kent Berridge, University of Michigan
"The most thoughtful and thought-provoking textbook for the field
available today... Toates combines what is best in biological psychology"

Customer Reviews

A Good Textbook Made Even Better
This is an introductory textbook that is readable and palatable, and that arouses interest by focusing on the thought-provoking questions that arise within a study of biological psychology. The textbook provides a secure place for students to learn about biological psychology. The author's conversational style is helpful as he talks the reader through the more straightforward and also the more conceptually demanding sections. The text is written in a way that is sensitive to the common problems students face as they grapple with biological psychology concepts. The writing approach is gentle on the reader with regard to terms and meaning, so that the student is gaining an extended vocabulary without realising it and with minimal effort. Some good use of humour throughout the chapters serves to lighten the feel of the reading material. There is a two-tier approach to the book, which works well in that two different groups of students are being catered for. Those with biopsychology phobia have an accessible text, whereas those who want a thorough account of key areas have a strong text, capable of answering questions and arousing interest.

The pedagogical features of the chapters are all very useful in permitting the reader to get to grips with the contents of each chapter in an enjoyable and effective way. The `Scene-setting questions' at the beginning of the chapters are excellent for provoking interest, and for indicating the scope and direction of the chapter. Relevant issues are flagged up and can be thought about before the reader engages with the chapter contents. Section summaries are also valuable. These serve to highlight the principal ideas that have been addressed in the chapter sections. The `Test Your Knowledge' boxes are another helpful feature. They are thought- provoking, and their structured approach with answers provides the reader with the sense that they understand the important issues.

This second edition is helpfully integrative in two respects. An integrated brain, body and human emerge from the text, but also biological psychology is integrated with other psychological areas. The biological psychology perspective is connected to other psychological perspectives with ease. Such connections permit the student to relate their study of biological psychology to others areas of psychology that they may feel more comfortable with. These links are useful and are likely to serve to make the student both more interested in biological psychology and more confident when delving deeper into this study area. The author understands the sorts of problems students encounter when exposed to biological psychology for the first time. It is written by an excellent teacher, and something of his teaching style has successfully transferred to the pages of this edition.

My reaction to this new edition is that it has made a good textbook even better, and that the shifts and changes represent a move in entirely the right direction.

Dr Graham Mitchell
Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Psychology
The University of Northampton.
12th December 2006

An Amazing Biological Psychology Book

Dr. Graham Mitchell and Dr. P.J.J. Corr have left detailed reviews on this book but I wanted to add my views to this as a student completely new to the subject of biological psychology.

The subject area fascinates me but is also quite scarey in its incredible complexity and I had been looking around for a book which would make the subject more accessible and less intimidating to a 'newbie' such as myself.

This superb book by Frederick Toates has become my constant study companion. There are numerous clear explanations and illustrations and the book is written in a very clear, logical and comprehensible style and with a touch of humour too which is great.

I can't recommend it enough for anyone wanting an interesting, non-patronising, comprehensive and just completely excellent book on biological psychology - I couldn't sing its praises more highly.

A Hard to Beat Biological Psychology Textbook
This is a superb introduction to biological psychology, written by one of the UK's leading biological psychologists. The text is comprehensive in content, and presented in a highly appealing style that achieves clarity without sacrificing rigour: appropriately, Toates has one eye on the science of the subject and the other on student-friendly communication. This second edition now moved to `stand-alone' chapters, but the integrative nature of the first edition is retained with the use of an accompanying website. In addition, various pedagogical aids (e.g., Scene Setting Questions) are used throughout the text, designed to guide students' learning as well as providing an effective teaching tool for lecturers. Students should be stimulated and inspired by this extensively updated second edition of the UK's most popular and comprehensive introduction to basic biological psychology. As a `one-stop' introduction to the entire subject, it is hard to beat.


Professor Philip J. Corr