You are here

Essentials of Psychology
Share
Share

Essentials of Psychology

Second Edition

Other Titles in:
Psychology (General)

January 2026 | 900 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Psychology exists all around us. In Essentials of Psychology, Second Edition, authors Krisstal D. Clayton, Gregory J. Privitera, and Saul Kassin take students on a journey from the laboratory to the real world, demonstrating the breadth of applications of psychological science to everyday life. In every chapter, students assume the role of a psychologist, carrying out experiments, making predictions, and investigating the results. Compelling storytelling, real-life examples, and the authors’ applied pedagogy encourage critical thinking and engagement throughout. In the new edition, the authors expand the coverage of research methods and scientific thinking, while addressing what matters most to today's students—from social media's psychological impact to evidence-based sleep strategies—preparing them to be smart consumers of information.

This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates high quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.

Instructors, see how Vantage works! 
Take a brief self-guided tour with our interactive demo
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Student Success Guide
 
Chapter 1: Psychology’s Place in the World
What Is Psychology?

 
Psychology’s Horizons

 
Psychology’s Solutions

 
Psychology and You

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 2: Psychology and its Methods
The Scientific Method

 
Designing Research Studies

 
Statistics and Scientific Discovery

 
Ethical Considerations

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 3: Behavioral Neuroscience
The Body’s Communication Networks

 
The Neuron

 
The Brain

 
Prospects For the Future

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Research

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 4: Sensation and Perception
Measuring the Sensory Experience

 
Visual Sensation

 
Visual Perception

 
Auditory Sensation and Perception

 
Other Senses

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Design

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 5: Consciousness
Attentional Processes

 
Sleep and Dreams

 
Hypnosis

 
Consciousness-Altering Drugs

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Research

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 6: Learning
Classical Conditioning

 
Operant Conditioning

 
Observational Learning

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Education

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 7: Memory
An Information-Processing Model

 
The Sensory Register

 
Short-Term Memory

 
Long-Term Memory

 
Forgetting

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Business

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 8: Thought, Language, and Intelligence
Thinking

 
Language

 
The Relationship Between Thought and Language

 
Intelligence

 
Competing Theories of Intelligence

 
The Great Intelligence Debates

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Education

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 9: Personality
Psychoanalysis

 
The Cognitive Social-Learning Approach

 
The Humanistic Approach

 
The Trait Approach

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Business

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 10: Life Span Development and Its Contexts
Genes

 
Prenatal Development

 
The Remarkable Newborn

 
The Infant and the Growing Child

 
Adolescence

 
Adulthood and Aging

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Health Care

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 11: Social and Cultural Influences
Social Perception

 
Social Influence

 
Social Relations

 
Cross-Cultural Perspectives

 
Intergroup Discrimination

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Public Service

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 12: Motivation and Emotion
What Motivates Us?

 
Basic Appetitive and Social Motives

 
Emotions

 
Pursuing Happiness

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Business

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 13: Health, Stress, and Wellness
Studying Health and Wellness

 
Stress and Health

 
Coping with Stress

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Public Service

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders
Psychological Disorders: A General Outlook

 
Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Suicidal Behavior

 
Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders

 
Obsessive-Compulsive, Body Dysmorphic, and Eating Disorders

 
Personality Disorders and Schizophrenia

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Public Service

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 15: Treatment and Interventions
Psychological Therapies

 
Perspectives on Psychotherapy

 
Medical Interventions

 
Chapter Summary

 
Critical Thinking

 
Career Connection: Health Care

 
Key Terms

 
 
Glossary
 
References

If you are looking for a comprehensive and approachable Introduction to Psychology textbook, this is the textbook for you! My students regularly share with me that this is the first textbook that they actually want to read!

Caitlyn Hord
University of North Texas
Survey

I feel that Kassin's textbook is an excellent starting point for any Intro to Psychology professor and is exceptional information for students to learn no matter their own academic discipline.

Dr. Bob Hoople
SUNY - Cobleskill
Review

For instructors

EC Rep

International Associates Auditing & Certification Limited
The Black Church, St Mary's Place,
Dublin 7, D07 P4AX Ireland
Sage's GPSR statement