How Psychology Works: The Facts Visually Explained (DK How Stuff Works)

Excellent reference for adults to introduce psychology to youngsters because it has a “happy go lucky” and “as a matter of fact” overall feel. Basically, it avoids dark psychology and opposing views. Good idea when teaching youngsters. The down side to this choice is that adults will get an incomplete picture if “How Psychology Works” the only book they read on the subject. That why I suggest at least two other books. When you understand dark psychology, you will be able to defend yourself from the manipulation rampant in our society. Carefully choose at least one. Sadly, when I was searching, 90+% of the books were how to use it as a tool to manipulate others, i.e. getting others to make decisions that aren’t yours to make. I find it astonishing that people who aspire to control the universe are unable to even control their self. I suggest “Manipulation” by Amanda Myers as a good starting point. What about malpractice and quacks, such as the notorious John Money? “How Psychology Works” does not cover these subjects. Consider this: Somewhere out there is the world’s worst psychologist/psychiatrist that somebody is going to see today. Just because a doctor tells you to do something, that does not automatically make it a good idea. I suggest reading “The Myth of Mental Illness” by Thomas Szasz as a good starting point to drive home the point that just because somebody tell you to do something, that does not mean you are not responsible for said action. The bottom line is you made the choice (to follow advise). That’s the only place that “How Psychology Works” fails to deliver. I think that point should be made in spades, in a way that’s youngster friendly and cancel culture full-proof of course.

One of DK's How_ Works series of visual reference guides, How Psychology Works is another great addition. Although these books are broadly informative and not the deepest, they are an exceptionally well done basic outline of the subject with plenty of factoids and food for thought. Perfect for the visual learner that it is marketed to (both young and adults) and those wanting a fascinating look into a subject in a fun way, it's very easy to navigate and jump directly into a topic they may not be familiar with. I highly recommend this and others in the series- How Business Works, How Food Works, How Politics Works, and especially How Money Works. Also recommended the Big Ideas Made Simple books (Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, and Politics are standouts) which are more historical timeline based and Adams concise Psych 101, as well as Ethics 101 and Philosophy 101.

captivating and informative resource that presents complex psychological concepts in an accessible and visually engaging manner. The book brilliantly combines clear explanations with vibrant illustrations and diagrams, making it easy for readers to grasp the intricacies of the human mind and behavior. It covers a wide range of topics, from cognitive processes and emotions to mental disorders and therapy techniques, providing a comprehensive overview of the field. Whether you are a psychology enthusiast or simply curious about the workings of the mind, this book is an excellent choice, as it delivers valuable insights and deepens your understanding of the fascinating world of psychology.

My favorite psychology book

smart middle schooler loves the clear information and explanations and great graphical presentation and charts and graphics

The first section of the book is about the different types of psychology. SPOILER ALERT: the book favors Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The graphics in this section are all over the page, making it distracting to read and follow. The rest of the book, the graphics generally take the bottom half (to two thirds) of the page. The graphics are there to show steps and stages, in general. The second section is about psychological disorders. It covers 50 disorders (or clusters of disorders). Except for ones that are chemically based Cognitive Behavior Therapy is one of the recommended treatments for about 80% of the disorders. The third section is a description of "healing therapies." While not necessarily inaccurate in meaning, the book does not give the Kolb model correctly. In other words, if gives the general idea but not the correct answer on a test. Gagne's model is also suspect. I'm thinking this might be due to copyright issues. I can't comment on other therapies since they are outside my area of expertise. The last section is a fascinating look at how psychology works and is used in the real world. It covers areas like workplace, education, politics, and sports. There is an extensive index, which is a nice touch. The colors are muted throughout the book. Which I think keeps the focus on the material of the book. I can't imagine this being used as a text book or a serious reference book. However, as a general introduction to the public, it works. I also have their books on Evolution and Dangerous Animals. Visually, this book is not to their level.

My son needed an elective and this is great. He likes learning about disorders especially since he has autism and ADHD. The book is very well made too! I'm thinking about reading it when he is done since he has shared a lot of interesting information.

This is basically a fascinating, colorful sort of Cliff Notes on Psychology. But I got a little bit nervous when I saw it on my psychologist's bookshelf. LOL! If every person on earth read this book, they would avoid a LOT of bad relationships with total nut cases, especially family members, sociopaths and psychopaths. Full of interesting, enlightening trivia and mind-blowing facts. Personally, I ascribe to the Alice in Wonderland school of psychology: "We're all mad here." "Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are." ~Lewis Carroll, "Alice in Wonderland"

Un libro que consigue su cometido: informar de manera precisa y visual. Es sin duda uno de los mejores libros para aquellos que desean aprender el “abc” de la psicología con infografías y medios visuales.

Recommend this book. Interesting, and we ordered a used copy, was still good

I read it and learned from it more.

Arrived very quickly Perfect shape As described Good deal I’m happy

Very nice book !!