Psychology for Kids: The Science of the Mind and Behavior

by Jacqueline B. Toner, Claire A. B. Freeland

Overview

This exciting new book introduces kids to the science of psychology, with chapters on the brain, personality, intelligence, emotions, social relationships, and more.

Accompanied by colorful illustrations of psychology's big ideas and lots of hands-on experiments to try at home, there's no better way to dive into the fascinating science of the mind. Why do we sleep? What are feelings? How do we make decisions, and how do we learn from them? Psychology helps us ask and answer these big questions about ourselves, others, and the world around us.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433832109
Publisher:	Magination Press, American Psychological Association
Publication date:	08/03/2021
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 10.25(h) x (d)
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

About the Author

Jacqueline B. Toner, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, having earned her PhD from the University of Virginia and served as chief facilitator for a medical resources project with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Carnegie Mellon University.

Claire A. B. Freeland, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, working for more than thirty-five years with youth and their families. She is interested in bringing the general principles of cognitive–behavioral therapy to families everywhere.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Exploring Psychology

Chapter 1 What Is Psychology? 8

Chapter 2 Where's the Proof? 16

Part 2 Mind and Body Working Together

Chapter 3 Is Putting On Your Socks a Superpower? 26

Chapter 4 How Does the Brain Work? 36

Part 3 The One and Only Me

Chapter 5 What Makes Me "Me"? 50

Chapter 6 What Does It Mean to Be a Boy or a Girl? 62

Part 4 Learning and Growing

Chapter 7 How Did You Learn That? 74

Chapter 8 What Does It Mean to Be Smart? 84

Chapter 9 How Do You Remember? 96

Chapter 10 How Do We Think? 106

Chapter 11 How Do You Change As You Grow? 116

Part 5 Understanding Feelings

Chapter 12 How Do You Feel? 128

Chapter 13 What Motivates You? 138

Part 6 Caring for Yourself

Chapter 14 What Is Stress? 150

Chapter 15 Why Do You Spend So Much Time Sleeping? 160

Part 7 Taming Emotions

Chapter 16 What Helps People Do Well? 170

Chapter 17 What About When It All Feels Like Too Much? 180

Part 8 Living With Others

Chapter 18 Why Are Other People So Important? 192

Chapter 19 How Can You Understand Other People's Experiences? 202

Chapter 20 Is Conflict Part of Being Human? 212

Part 9 Planning for a Better World

Chapter 21 Can Psychology Help Save Planet Earth? 224

Glossary 234

Index 248

About the Authors 256

Editorial Reviews

2021-06-11
This kid-friendly introduction to psychology describes what the science is, what psychologists do, and how they do it.

Chapter by chapter, the authors, who are clinical psychologists, cover a broad range of topics including the brain, cognition, gender and identity, learning and growing, personality, intelligence, emotions, managing stress, and relationships. In short, readable, colorfully illustrated segments adorned with ample text boxes, they explain concepts and issues, offer examples of research, and suggest ways readers can do their own investigations. Important vocabulary is bolded and explained in context. Some of these words and phrases will probably be familiar, such as autism spectrum, eating disorders, and ADHD. Others are more technical, and still others emerge from the history of the field, such as bystander effect, cognitive dissonance, operant conditioning, and multiple intelligences. The writers deftly connect their subject with their audience, posing questions, inviting action, and regularly summarizing important points. Unusually, they conclude with a chapter about environmental issues and how psychologists work to “encourage behaviors that help to preserve the natural world.” Cheerful digital illustrations include people of various ages representing a racial and ethnic variety. Unfortunately, laudable attempts to address racial bias and its impact are undermined by sentences that reinforce stereotypes, such as “Some kids of color or kids from less affluent communities might be smarter than IQ tests can show.”

A useful and engaging overview of the science of mind and behavior. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews