By Ap Dijksterhuis. Radboud University Nijmegen. Unconscious psychological processes have fascinated people for a very long time. The idea that people must have an unconscious is based on the idea that (a) there is so much going on in our brains, and the capacity of consciousness is so small, that there must be much more than just consciousness; and that (b) unless you believe consciousness is causally disconnected from other bodily and mental processes, conscious experiences must be prepared by other processes in the brain of which we are not conscious. Not only logic dictates that action starts unconsciously, but research strongly suggests this too. Moreover, unconscious processes are very often highly important for human functioning, and many phenomena, such as attitude formation, goal pursuit, stereotyping, creativity, and decision making are impossible to fully understand without incorporating the role of unconscious processes.

Psychology is designed to meet scope and sequence requirements for the single-semester introduction to psychology course. The book offers a comprehensive treatment of core concepts, grounded in both classic studies and current and emerging research. The text also includes coverage of the DSM-5 in examinations of psychological disorders. Psychology incorporates discussions that reflect the diversity within the discipline, as well as the diversity of cultures and communities across the globe.Senior Contributing AuthorsRose M. Spielman, Formerly of Quinnipiac UniversityContributing AuthorsKathryn Dumper, Bainbridge State CollegeWilliam Jenkins, Mercer UniversityArlene Lacombe, Saint Joseph's UniversityMarilyn Lovett, Livingstone CollegeMarion Perlmutter, University of Michigan

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Understand the importance of Wundt and James in the development of psychologyAppreciate Freud’s influence on psychologyUnderstand the basic tenets of Gestalt psychologyAppreciate the important role that behaviorism played in psychology’s historyUnderstand basic tenets of humanismUnderstand how the cognitive revolution shifted psychology’s focus back to the mind 

Opening image caption:Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. (credit "background": modification of work by Nattachai Noogure; credit "top left": modification of work by U.S. Navy; credit "top middle-left": modification of work by Peter Shanks; credit "top middle-right": modification of work by "devinf"/Flickr; credit "top right": modification of work by Alejandra Quintero Sinisterra; credit "bottom left": modification of work by Gabriel Rocha; credit "bottom middle-left": modification of work by Caleb Roenigk; credit "bottom middle-right": modification of work by Staffan Scherz; credit "bottom right": modification of work by Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team)Psychology is designed to meet scope and sequence requirements for the single-semester introduction to psychology course. The book offers a comprehensive treatment of core concepts, grounded in both classic studies and current and emerging research. The text also includes coverage of the DSM-5 in examinations of psychological disorders. Psychology incorporates discussions that reflect the diversity within the discipline, as well as the diversity of cultures and communities across the globe.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the assumptions of the psychodynamic perspective on personality developmentDefine and describe the nature and function of the id, ego, and superegoDefine and describe the defense mechanismsDefine and describe the psychosexual stages of personality development

Discusses definitions, uses, and psychological explanations for other states of consciousness not induced by drugs or sleep, including hypnosis and meditation. Duration: 1:45.

A review of common sleep problems, disorders and their causes, symptoms, and treatments, including insomnia, parasomnia, REM sleep disorder, restless leg syndrome, night terrors, sleep apnea, sudden infant death syndrome, and narcolepsy.
Duration: 2:53.

Discussion of non-REM and REM sleep stages, brain wave activity, and associated characteristics of sleep. Includes possible functions of and difference between various stages of sleep. Includes information on theories of dreams. Duration: 3:02