Introduction

Summary

This introduction starts with a description of what is included in this book and how it is structured. The reader’s attention is then drawn to the role of examples and case studies in explaining psychological principles.

Since several differing approaches to promoting psychological change are included in this book, some reasons for all of them being effective are presented.

Like any other area of knowledge, psychology is a product of history. It has also developed in a certain community of scholars who influence each other and who are influenced by the wider society to which they belong. One way of critically appraising psychology as an intellectual discipline is to look at the effects on it of history, the scholarly community and society.