All in the Mind

Is psychology no more than common sense dressed up in jargon? Is it a science? And what did Freud really say? This text considers various questions in the ever-popular discipline of psychology. Among the topics discussed are: what is psychotherapy and does it actually work? What do intelligence tests measure? Are men and women really psychologically different? Does nature or nurture determine our personality? This text contains a number of quizzes and tests that the reader can engage in, to determine their level of knowledge. It deals with issues not only debated in the academic world, but also in the real world of the office, the court-room, the classroom and the factory floor. It attemps to provide a taster of what psychology is and what psychologists do. It aims to dispel myths and correct misconceptions, to entertain and to educate. It should be of use to the interested lay person, the person considering whether to study psychology and those on short courses hoping to get a better picture of the discipline as a whole.