Knowing Yourself Inside Out For Self-Direction (Multiple Perspectives of Psychology)

Jerry Cross, Diablo Valley College,
and Pauline Bondonno Cross

List: $34.95 374 pages Illustrated
Fourth Edition

ISBN 978-0-9610820-2-4

Study Guide/Workbook, Instructor's Manual

Knowing Yourself Inside Out For Self-Direction offers new perspectives in psychology, encouraging students to develop a deeper understanding of basic topics, and providing a conceptual framework for learning, while developing critical thinking through an innovative multiple perspectives approach. This new edition of Knowing Yourself Inside Out connects the ideas with real-world examples for student retention, an approach advocated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in its blueprint for science and social science education.

It’s a unique approach for an introductory text, providing whole theories in developmental, psychoanalytical, self-actualization, learning theory, socio-cultural, and Jungian approaches. The final chapter applies six theories and the multiple perspectives approach to current sample topics: terrorism, identity and globalization. The authors create a structure for students to process ideas through relevant examples with a wide-ranging and candid assessment of the consequences of human behavior. Critical thinking is encouraged within the underlying structure of scientific questioning and the alternating multiple perspectives approach.

Knowing Yourself Inside Out for Self-Direction is designed to reach and motivate students while teaching the fundamental underlying principles of psychology. It provides the opportunity for the reader to combine the insights of major theories into a multiple perspectives approach to psychology for maximizing its usefulness in understanding one’s own unique life situation. It is filled with real-life examples, written in a personally meaningful, motivating style. It is grounded in a strong academic approach based on thirty years of teaching psychology, making accessible aspects of psychology often omitted or deemed too difficult for the introductory student.

This is a particularly dynamic and productive period in the field of psychology as neuroscientists, with recent technological advancements, incorporate Freud's ideas in their work; psychologists research the relationship of stress to longevity and illness; social psychologists search for answers to explain the violence at Abu Ghraib Prison and the larger social issue of bullying; while cultural psychologists study the underlying dynamics of cultural competency. There are many applications of psychology relevant to our lives. Fromm's theory of destructiveness, for example, may provide a useful perspective to comprehend the violence that took place at Columbine High School, as well as terrorism.

Today, accelerating global forces are challenging both individual and group identities. There is no single theory of psychology that fully explains the individual and the uniqueness of the human experience. The focus is to step out of everyday attitudes, emotions and conditioned responses that can limit transformation and growth. The book is designed to eliminate thinking of oneself in the context of a particular concept, model or point of view and to open one's thinking for greater self-direction.

The Theories include:

• Developmental Psychology: Erikson, Piaget, Montessori
• Psychoanalytic: Freud–The Unconscious World
• Self-Actualization/Humanistic Psychology: Rogers, Maslow
• Conditioning/Behaviorism–Stress
• Social Psychology: Fromm–Social Forces, Cults, Terrorists
• Universal / Collective Unconscious: Jung–Symbols, Mythology

Comments From Colleagues:

"Unlike most college textbooks it helps students to build the conceptual scaffolding they need to understand and apply the concepts and theories of psychology. It is a terrific, student friendly textbook."
Professor Jane Halonen at Alverno College

"The theories are presented in understandable language without compromising the academic integrity of the research of the underlying classic studies. I have used this book for several years as a supplement to the human behavior in the social environment textbook. My students and I appreciate the skill of the authors as they have presented the material."
Dr. Andrew Edwards, Cleveland State University

"You have the rare ability to take abstract concepts and explain them in clear ordinary language. Because it's presented so clearly you don't have to think a lot about it. Because you understand it, you can apply it to the situations it fits."
Professor David Brady at the University of Phoenix

"Students like the book. It invites them into a relationship by looking at themselves as well as the content. The book stimulates and provokes introspection and serves as a mirror, resulting in greater awareness of self and others."
Dr. Larry Foster at Cleveland State University

"(Students) love it! It's a lot more readable than some of the more technical jargon…more relevant to what they need to know to understand general aspects of behavior and self concepts."
Professor Robert Canuel of Bristol Community College

"Amazingly unbiased," or "I was thrilled to find this book available. It fits beautifully with what I have been doing for years...Please keep this book in print.... At last, an introductory text which speaks to real people!" or "A core book to cover the basics without requiring a lot of explanation by the instructor." or "I didn't know Jung could be presented so well at such an introductory level."
Other faculty members

Comments From Students:

"This is the first time I understand where the ideas (of psychology) come from," or "I'm retaining it, applying it and using it in my life. Surprising, because usually I just study to pass the test. You get to live it with the stories vicariously, versus just facts." or "It's so clearly written and so easy to understand." "It helps me to understand our other text." "I don't want to stop reading," and "It uses real-life examples that show you how the processes work." "I've read 'Knowing Yourself' several times. I re-read it whenever I'm having difficulties." and "I learned more from your book about myself than I did from a year of therapy."

Expanded and updated fourth edition includes:

In-depth applications and theoretical explanations of such currently relevant topics as Columbine High School violence, bullying, cultural competency, identity, globalization, terrorists and cults.

Photos of great thinkers in psychology, cultural diversity, and experiments which expand and deepen our understanding of psychology and ourselves.

Expanded sections on perception and the scientific method.

Original diagrams by the author to clarify concept.

Tools to deal with everyday issues such as stress in the modern world and to develop an understanding of the underlying unity of diverse cultures.

Personally meaningful/High interest: develops a meaningful context before introducing terms, reaches a wide range of student abilities and interests through realistic, real-life examples.

Conversational and in-depth.

Relevant to current economic and social conditions.

Foundation for further study: used in introductory courses in psychology,
adjustment, growth, personality, human development, and critical thinking.

A comprehensive core text which covers the underlying ideas of
psychology without requiring a lot of explanation.

Retention: students report success with their study of psychology because
they can relate to the examples, enjoy the book and understand the concepts.

Psychology Educational Course Package

We are happy to provide qualified college faculty with a copy from our product line, provided the product is being considered for course adoption. Please use school address. We cannot ship to home addresses.

Text: Knowing Yourself Inside Out For Self-Direction
(Multiple Perspectives of Psychology)
Fourth Edition. List price: $34.95
(college bookstores receive a 20% discount).
ISBN 978-0-9610820-2-4

Instructor's Guide and Test Bank written by the author.

Student Study Guide/Workbook (author written) to accompany text.
List price: $8.95 (25% discount to College Bookstores).
ISBN 0-9610820-4-6

Purchase: To purchase the book online click here.

Complimentary examination copy request click here.