Principles of cognition, language and action

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Gustav Jahoda

The relationship between "mind" and "culture" has become a prominent - and fashionable - issue in psychology during the last quarter of the twentieth century. The conflict is between those who see the human mind as being generated from, and an intimate part of, culture and those, usually termed cognitivists, who view the mind as essentially separate from the environment. Gustav Jahoda traces the historical origins of this conflict to demonstrate that thinkers' preoccupation with the relationship between mind and culture is a very old one. The salient issues began to crystallize three centuries ago in Europe in the form of two distinct traditions whose contrasting conceptions of human nature and the human mind still remain the focus of current debates. The dominant one was produced by the scientific approach that had proved so successful in the physical realm. This view, associated with the Enlightenment, holds that mind is an essential part of nature and subject to its fixed laws. As a result of the influence of external factors such as climate and ecology, mind creates culture but remains essentially unchanged. The opposite view, which dates back to Vico and was espoused by anti-Enlightenment thinkers, is that the mind is separate from nature, an entity that both creates and is extensively modified by culture in a constant cycle of mutual determination. The growing prestige of experimental psychology has led to a heated debate between supporters of the rival traditions: is psychology a science or a cultural discipline? Jahoda identifies the current form of this debate as but a phase in psychology's long fascination with the role that culture plays in the formation of the mind. This book is a formidable achievement by one of Europe's most distinguished and erudite psychologists.

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Keith Rayner ... [et al

"Reading is a highly complex skill that is prerequisite to success in many societies in which a great deal of information is communicated in written form. Since the 1970s, much has been learned about the reading process from research by cognitive psychologists. This book summarizes that important work and puts it into a coherent framework. The book's central theme is how readers go about extracting information from the printed page and comprehending the text. Like its predecessor, this thoroughly updated 2nd Edition encompasses all aspects of the psychology of reading with chapters on writing systems, word recognition, the work of the eyes during reading, inner speech, sentence processing, discourse processing, learning to read, dyslexia, individual differences and speed reading. Psychology of Reading, 2nd Edition, is essential reading for undergraduates, graduates, and researchers in cognitive psychology and could be used as a core textbook on courses on the psychology of reading and related topics. In addition, the clear writing style makes the book accessible to people without a background in psychology but who have a personal or professional interest in the process of reading."--Publisher's website.

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Gary Collins

Many Christians, including Jimmy Swaggart and Dave Hunt, claim psychology is seductive, destructive, and dangerous. These concerns have left many people confused and questioning. If I'm in counseling, should I get out? Are non-Christian counselors always to be avoided? Should pastors do counseling themselves? Should they refer church members to psychologists? Gary R. Collins is one of the most widely read and well-respected authors of our day. He provides a reasoned voice in a sometimes loud and heated debate that threatens the spiritual and emotional vitality of millions. He answers the questions you are asking and gives clear direction in plain language. Here is a book for anyone who questions psychology. - Back cover.

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Marie Bérubé, Marc Vachon

Passer de rêveur à acteur dans sa propre histoire est, sans aucun doute, un grand plaisir de cette existence et un des fondements d'une vie épanouie et heureuse. Vous puiserez [dans cet ouvrage] une démarche concrète et plusieurs outils pratiques pour alimenter votre élan et vous stimuler dans la mise en oeuvre des changements que vous souhaitez. (4e de couverture).