Free Download | Transforming Psychology: Gender in Theory and Practice | PDF

Author : Stephanie Riger | Over the last two decades, a rich, diverse, yet sometimes contradictory body of research has been gathered under the general rubric of "psychology of women." This burgeoning literature represents several disciplines, among them psychology, psychiatry, sociology, political science, and women's studies. 

To bring sense to this agglomeration of views, both for the layperson and the student, the author looks at research in this area as a social process and refutes the notion that science can be objective about its search for universal truths. 

She asks us to reflect on how we choose among explanations

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Free Download | A Psychology of Human Strengths: Fundamental Questions and Future Directions for a Positive Psychology | PDF

Author : Lisa G. Aspinwall, Ursula M. Staudinger

In A Psychology of Human Strengths, great minds of contemporary psychology set a research agenda for the scientific study of human strengths. In this volume scholars in a variety of psychology fields have each directed their attention to positive psychology and focused their work through a lens of human strengths. In many cases, their findings have turned "established wisdom" on its head. What results is a comprehensive volume with remarkable breadth, depth, and balance — one that provides a forward-looking forum for the discussion of the purpose, pitfalls, and future of the psychology of human strengths.

This volume is a stellar collection of intriguing and diverse commentaries on historical and contemporary research on human strengths. It is a must-read for those looking for new ways of thinking about such topics as intelligence, judgment, volition, social behavior, close relationships, development, aging, and health as well as applications to psychotherapy, education, organizational psychology, gender, politics, creativity, and other realms of life.

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Free Download | Development of Achievement Motivation | PDF

Author : Allan Wigfield, Jacquelynne Eccles

This book discusses research and theory on how motivation changes as children progress through school, gender differences in motivation, and motivational differences as an aspect of ethnicity. Motivation is discussed within the context of school achievement as well as athletic and musical performance.

Key Features
* Coverage of the major theories and constructs in the motivation field
* Focus on developmental issues across the elementary and secondary school period
* Discussion of instructional and theoretical issues regarding motivation
* Consideration of gender and ethnic differences in motivation

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Free Download | Psychology of Physical Activity: Determinants, Well-Being and Interventions

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In today's urbanised and technologised society, physical activity is becoming an increasingly peripheral part of our daily lives. This new edition is updated to reflect new findings and current research directions, and includes full textbook features, such as key points and chapter summaries.

A dedicated accompanying website provides lecturers and students with extensive supporting materials, including slide presentations and self-test questions."Psychology of Physical Activity" is a comprehensive account of our psychological knowledge about physical activity covering: motivation and the psychological factors associated with activity or inactivity the feel-good factor: the psychological outcomes of exercising, including mental health illness and clinical populations interventions and applied practice in the psychology of physical activity current trends and future directions in research and practice. This textbook is essential for students of sport and exercise science, exercise physiology, health psychology, occupational therapy and physical education.

Tuesday, May 03, 2011 | 0 comments | Read More

Free Download | The Psychology of Happiness: A Good Human Life

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When Thomas Jefferson placed "the pursuit of happiness" along with life and liberty in The Declaration of Independence he was most likely referring to Aristotle's concept of happiness, or eudaimonia. Eudaimonia is not about good feelings but rather the fulfillment of human potentials. Fulfillment is made possible by virtue; the moderation of desire and emotion by reason.

The Psychology of Happiness is the first book to bring together psychological, philosophical, and physiological theory and research in support of Aristotle's view. It examines the similarity between Aristotle's concept of virtue and modern cognitive theories of emotion. It discusses the discovery of human potentials, the development of virtue and its neurological basis, the mistaken idea that fulfillment is selfish, and several other issues related to the pursuit of a good human life.

Sunday, May 01, 2011 | 0 comments | Read More