Summary: Richard Gross turns his expert eye to the psychology of human nature in a contemplative account encompassing cognition, consciousness, language, time perception, sense of mortality and human society. This book will help you to consider the unique aspects of being human and to understand the biological underpinnings for the intriguing and distinct behaviours and experiences common to human beings.The book is enhanced throughout by: - its logical arrangement of topics, with key questions, issues for additional focus and reflection points highlighted throughout- useful chapter introductions and summaries to provide clarity and insight- diagrams to help explain difficult concepts- detailed selection of references and useful sources including works from the fields of psychology, philosophy, religion and literatureThis book is essential reading for students of psychology and related disciplines as well as general readers seeking insights into one of the most enduring questions to have faced humankind throughout history.
The complex ideas encountered in this book are supported throughout by questions for reflection, ensuring that key concepts are understood and further meditation facilitated.Includes an expert selection of references to recommended reading and useful websites, making this text an essential stepping stone into the wider literature.Chapters are structured logically and topics within them made manageable by subdivision, ending with helpful summaries to provide an account of unmatched clarity and insight.Where appropriate issues benefit from diagrammatic explanation alongside the text, aiding understanding and enlivening the presentation.A key purchase for students of psychology for additional inspiration and background to the core modules of an undergraduate degree.
Table of Contents: 1. Introduction: Quantitative or qualitative difference?2. The genetics of being human3. The human brain: What makes it so special?4. Consciousness and self-consciousness5. Cognition: Hauser's hypothesis6. Language: Do only humans have it?7. Memory and the perception of time8. Fear of death and other 'facts of life'9. Culture: The crucial feature?
About the Author(s): Richard Gross
Readership: Psychology students as well as philosophy students and those with an interest in human nature
Reviews:
'Richard Gross has done an excellent job compiling all the relevant information into a "right-riveting-accessible-read." The book...combines the psychological and philosophical agreeably without bias and really makes you think about what makes us humans special. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever thought about themselves, their mind and why we do the things we do; or anyone who needs an initial outlook on human uniqueness in general.'
