A foundational book introducing the essential concepts of psychology. This new edition provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of psychology. It gives the reader an overview of the different branches of psychology and guides them by covering all important topics in these areas. The team of authors use an accessible narrative style of writing that makes the book student-friendly. The book encourages students of psychology to think critically and independently about contemporary issues in the subject by presenting them with sufficient background to the topics. The present edition has been updated with current research and exciting new features that makes it relevant to both the specialist and non-specialist psychology student. Key Features: Detailed introduction to foundational theories that lay the groundwork for a thorough understanding of the subject Includes new chapters on psychopathology, research methods, language, motivation and emotion, lifespan development, health psychology, forensic psychology and critical social psychology Relates theory to the real world to help students think about how they will employ their degree About the Author Dr Phil Banyard is Head of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). The Department is the largest provider of full-time undergraduate psychology degrees in the UK and the for the last eight years has achieved over 90% approval on the national student survey, again not bettered by any university in the UK: not only the biggest but arguably also the best. In his thirty years at NTU Phil Banyard has taught on a range of courses but focused on introductory modules and critical thinking. His research was concerned with the impact of digital technologies on teaching and learning, especially in schools. He was a chief examiner of A Level Psychology for many years and has written more than twenty texts. The most recent of these was an introductory text with SAGE that brought in over 50 members of the department at NTU. His cultural interests are largely defined by smallpeople in the family and he is currently enjoying Captain Underpants series three which he regards as riotously creative. Christine Norman is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. Gayle Dillon is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. Belinda is a Reader in Forensic Psychology. She teaches primarily within forensic psychology, with specific focus on sexual crime. She has a strong background in psychometrics and individual differences, and retains her enthusiasm for quantitative research (continuing to teach multivariate statistics in what she hopes is a fun and interactive manner). Her research is leading her to incorporate qualitative research methods as she continues to develop a programme of research in collaboration with HMP Whatton (the largest sex offender prison in Europe) that makes a significant and practical contribution to our understanding of sex offenders and sexual crime. Additional areas of interest (both in terms of teaching and research) include the psychology of fraud, lying and deception.