Jarrett, C (2011) 30 second psychology East Sussex, UK: Ivy Press

This book was created for the general public and those who do not teach psychology. There are basic concepts that will acquaint the reader with the fundamentals of the field. Further, the graphics are attractive to the general public as a page is usually a collage of simplified definitions and pictures that conjure “modernism.”

There are 7 divisions that display the field. Many will be interested in the source of some of those ideas often spoken in common parlance. There are also profiles of the women and men of psychology who made the necessary contributions.

This is a list of some of the most used ideas often discussed in the public realm. “Lake Woebegone Effect””10,000 hour rule” “birth order” false memories” “Pavlov’s dogs” Placebo effect” “group think” “bystander effect””stereotype”  and numerous others.

It is now common place for citizenry to know some of the major terms of both psychology( internal dimensions)

 and sociology(relationships.) What this book provides is a quick introduction or reminder of where all the small talk came from in terms of its source and examples from the research.

30 SECOND PSYCHOLOGY  is part of a series of books on all or many of the disciplines one might take in undergraduate school.

Although there are many schools and subdivisions some of the schools now thought in the past are much less used. There appears to be around 250 psychotherapies.

One that is not used as much is psychoanalysis. In this instance, a patient  lays down and “free associates” saying whatever is on their mind. The analyst then helps guide the individual to more   pro-social or less destructive behavior. At the moment of this writing, Freud’s id (wants something immediately) super-ego (expresses moral constrictions) and ego (negotiates between the first two) is an important task in finding these components or similarities in the brain and nervous system. Thus, psycho-biologists are trying find the right location(s)  within the brain. Defense mechanism are also thought to be importantant like “denial” “rationalization” and related.

Perhaps the most exciting aspects of the field are that nature and nurture debates have died. Further, psychology, sociology, and biology are coming together.

This is an excellent book.

Prof. Joel Snell

Kirkwood College