Putting Psychology in Its Place ─ Critical Historical Perspectives

The third edition of Putting Psychology In Its Place builds on the previous two editions, introducing the history of Psychology and placing the discipline within a historical context. It aims both to answer and raise questions about the role of Psychology in modern society, by critically examining issues such as how Psychology developed, why psychoanalysis had such an impact and how the discipline has changed to deal with contemporary social issues such as religion, race and gender.
This new third edition contains two completely new chapters: "Emotion: The Problem or the Whole Point?" and "Funding and Institutional Factors." An expanded epilogue has also been added which incorporates a discussion of the conceptual issues raised in the book and the volume now corresponds with the new BPS requirements for undergraduate courses. Other chapters, including those on Psychology and the Brain, Social Psychology and the Psychology of Madness, as well as those on gender, religion and race, have been substantially revised.
Putting Psychology In Its Place is imaginatively written and accessible to all. It is an invaluable introductory text for undergraduate students of the history of Psychology and will also appeal to postgraduates, academics and anyone interested in Psychology or the history of science.

Graham Richards recently retired from his posts as Director of the British Psychological Society’s History of Psychology Centre and Professor of History of Psychology at Staffordshire University. His previous publications include Psychology: The Key Concepts (2008), ‘Race’, Racism and Psychology: Towards a Reflexive History (1997) and On Psychological Language (1989), all published by Routledge.

Part 1. Origins and Theories. 1. Introduction: Psychology and History. 2. Before Psychology: 1600-1850. 3. Founding Psychology: Evolution and Experimentation. 4. William James and the Origins of American Psychology. 5. Behaviourism. 6. Gestalt Psychology. 7. Cognitive Psychology. Part 2. Some Topics. 8. Looking at Perception. 9. Psychology and the Brain. 10. Memory: Some Points to Remember. 11. Emotion: The Problem or the Whole Point? 12. Personality: Psychology and Who You Are. 13. Social Psychology. 14. Applied Psychology. Part 3. Psychology's Subject. 15. Psychology, Madness and the Meanings of Psychological Distress. 16. Psychological Uses of Animals. 17. Psychology and the Child 18. Psychology and Gender. Part 4. Two General Issues. 19. Some Problems With Measurement. 20. Psychology and Language. Part 5. Four Cultural Entanglements. 21. Funding and Institutional Factors. 22. Psychology Meets Religion 23. Psychology and 'Race'. 24. Psychology and War. Part 6. Closure - Or Not? 25. Conceptual Issues: A Resumé. 26. Epilogue.