Psychology, David G. Myers, 1986

Psychology Review

Psychology by David G. Myers is the bestselling gateway to the science of mind and behavior. Updated across many editions, it blends research, real world examples, and study tools that actually help. For you, this book offers a balanced, evidence first view of how we sense, learn, remember, feel, think, and relate. It is friendly in tone, careful with claims, and designed to stick.

Overview

The text organizes psychology into clear parts: methods, biology of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and memory, development, personality, disorders, and therapy. You will notice frequent application boxes and data visuals that translate statistics into stories. Key terms are introduced in context, review questions reinforce understanding, and classic studies sit beside current findings so you see the field as living science.

Summary

You begin with how psychologists ask and answer questions, then move into the nervous system and the brain as the platform for mind. Sensation and perception show how the world gets into us. Learning and memory explain habits and recall. Development tracks change across the lifespan. Social psychology examines conformity, persuasion, prejudice, and attraction. The final units cover psychological disorders and evidence based treatment. By the end you can read research critically and apply core ideas to everyday behavior.

Author

David G. Myers writes as a teacher who anticipates confusion and clears it with examples. You benefit from a warm style grounded in rigorous sourcing and from a layout that supports spaced practice rather than cramming.

Key Themes

You will see behavior as product of biology, cognition, and environment. You will learn that correlation does not equal causation. You will practice critical thinking with replication and effect sizes. You will recognize bias and the power of context in social life.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths: approachable prose, well curated studies, strong pedagogy with practice questions and visuals. Weaknesses: breadth can crowd depth in advanced topics, and some examples age as culture moves on. Overall: a reliable, engaging introduction that builds real literacy.

Target Audience

Ideal for first year students, non majors seeking a solid overview, and self learners who want psychology they can use at work and home.

Favorite Quotes

Short lines stand out: behavior is biopsychosocial, extraordinary claims require strong evidence, perception is constructed.

Takeaways

For you, the key takeaway is method over myth: ask good questions, look for data, notice context. With that habit, psychology becomes a toolkit for clearer thinking and kinder living.