,‘Histories of psychology often come in three varieties: as the history of a school
of psychology, as a history of the great men, or as the sequence of facts, or
discoveries. But science doesn’t start with facts, or schools or great scholars.
Science starts with “why-questions,” with “how-do-we know-questions,” with
“what-questions,” and “is-it-true-that-questions.” This is what attracts me in
Hyland’s approach. He starts with the questions that were asked some time ago
by scholars, and with the questions students will ask when they want to know
how puzzles and problems of being human became the scientifc problems of
psychology.’
René van Hezewijk, Emeritus Professor of Psychology
of the Open University of the Netherlands
‘A History of Psychology in Ten Questions is an inspired way of covering cru-
cial questions in the history of the discipline. Students often come away from a
foundational history course with a confusing hodge-podge of facts and names,
but Michael Hyland instead engages the reader by examining the key questions
that constitute this fascinating journey from philosophy to science. Without
eschewing psychology’s major challenges, this volume will enlighten as well
as delight those trying to understand the sprawling feld that the discipline has
become.’
Henderikus Stam, Professor Emeritus, University of Calgary, USA
‘Having taught history and systems of psychology for many years, I can say
that this is the best book on the subject that I have ever read. Besides being eye-
opening and informative, it is reader friendly and exceptionally entertaining,
including some very clever cartoons illustrating points made in the text. Were
I once again to teach a course on the history of psychology and the philosophy
of science, this is certainly the textbook I would choose.’
Irving Kirsch, PhD, Harvard Medical School, USA
,
, A History of Psychology
in Ten Questions
The second edition of this student-friendly book uses the history of psychology
as a backdrop to provide a commentary on key historical developments and
modern dilemmas, whilst encouraging readers to think about questions afect-
ing life today.
How do you know if something is true? How do you explain and control
behaviour? What is the relation between psychology and physiology? How will
artifcial intelligence afect humanity? This book answers these and other ques-
tions by covering a wide range of topics in psychology, including neuroscience,
personality, behaviourism, cognitive and humanistic psychology, qualitative
methodology, inheritance and hermeneutics, all brought up to date with recent
research. Drawing on the author’s own teaching, the book is structured around
ten key questions where the history of psychology provides insight into modern
life. Accessible for all readers, each chapter is also equipped with a ‘Lesson for
modern life’ and nine ‘Essays and discussion topics’ so that readers can apply
these ideas to their own thought practice. These provide interesting topics for
discussion around issues that afect life and society.
This insightful text encourages readers to question their own lives and the
wider society by providing an engaging introduction to debates in history and
contemporary society. The book is also the ideal resource for undergraduate
students of psychology taking CHIPS and other history of psychology modules,
as well as for anyone generally interested in learning more about this fascinat-
ing subject.
Michael Hyland worked as a lecturer and later professor of health psychology
at the University of Plymouth, UK, retiring in 2018 after 44 years of teaching
history and theory in psychology.
of psychology, as a history of the great men, or as the sequence of facts, or
discoveries. But science doesn’t start with facts, or schools or great scholars.
Science starts with “why-questions,” with “how-do-we know-questions,” with
“what-questions,” and “is-it-true-that-questions.” This is what attracts me in
Hyland’s approach. He starts with the questions that were asked some time ago
by scholars, and with the questions students will ask when they want to know
how puzzles and problems of being human became the scientifc problems of
psychology.’
René van Hezewijk, Emeritus Professor of Psychology
of the Open University of the Netherlands
‘A History of Psychology in Ten Questions is an inspired way of covering cru-
cial questions in the history of the discipline. Students often come away from a
foundational history course with a confusing hodge-podge of facts and names,
but Michael Hyland instead engages the reader by examining the key questions
that constitute this fascinating journey from philosophy to science. Without
eschewing psychology’s major challenges, this volume will enlighten as well
as delight those trying to understand the sprawling feld that the discipline has
become.’
Henderikus Stam, Professor Emeritus, University of Calgary, USA
‘Having taught history and systems of psychology for many years, I can say
that this is the best book on the subject that I have ever read. Besides being eye-
opening and informative, it is reader friendly and exceptionally entertaining,
including some very clever cartoons illustrating points made in the text. Were
I once again to teach a course on the history of psychology and the philosophy
of science, this is certainly the textbook I would choose.’
Irving Kirsch, PhD, Harvard Medical School, USA
,
, A History of Psychology
in Ten Questions
The second edition of this student-friendly book uses the history of psychology
as a backdrop to provide a commentary on key historical developments and
modern dilemmas, whilst encouraging readers to think about questions afect-
ing life today.
How do you know if something is true? How do you explain and control
behaviour? What is the relation between psychology and physiology? How will
artifcial intelligence afect humanity? This book answers these and other ques-
tions by covering a wide range of topics in psychology, including neuroscience,
personality, behaviourism, cognitive and humanistic psychology, qualitative
methodology, inheritance and hermeneutics, all brought up to date with recent
research. Drawing on the author’s own teaching, the book is structured around
ten key questions where the history of psychology provides insight into modern
life. Accessible for all readers, each chapter is also equipped with a ‘Lesson for
modern life’ and nine ‘Essays and discussion topics’ so that readers can apply
these ideas to their own thought practice. These provide interesting topics for
discussion around issues that afect life and society.
This insightful text encourages readers to question their own lives and the
wider society by providing an engaging introduction to debates in history and
contemporary society. The book is also the ideal resource for undergraduate
students of psychology taking CHIPS and other history of psychology modules,
as well as for anyone generally interested in learning more about this fascinat-
ing subject.
Michael Hyland worked as a lecturer and later professor of health psychology
at the University of Plymouth, UK, retiring in 2018 after 44 years of teaching
history and theory in psychology.
