Is it possible for one human mind to study another human mind? This question lies at the heart of psychology. When you look back at the towering figures of psychology such as James, Freud, and Jung, it’s easy (in hindsight) to see how their own presuppositions influenced their work.

The mind is a slippery subject.

In the last few decades, fMRI scanners have improved our observational techniques, allowing us to see the brain at work in real time. Still, rigorous case studies, interviews, and behavioral experiments continue to provide insight into the way our minds work.

In Psychology, Gillian Butler and Freda McManus have written a high-level overview of the science while at the same time digging into some of the fascinating experiments that have shaped the field. They begin by asking the four fundamental questions of psychologists (13):

1. What gets into the mind? (perception and attention)
2. What stays in the mind? (learning and memory)
3. How do we use what is in the mind? (thinking, reasoning, and communicating)
4. Why do we do what we do? (motivation and emotion)

After this foundation is laid, the authors explore the things that differentiate people from each other (13):

1. Developmental psychology
2. Differences in psychological makeup
3. Abnormal psychology
4. Social psychology

Each chapter is filled with fascinating observations. Take this study on subliminal perception, for example:

Two spots of light are shown on a screen, and in one of them a word is written so faintly that it cannot be consciously perceived. Subjects judge the brightness of the spots as dimmer when there is an emotionally unpleasant word hidden in the light than when the word is pleasant or neutral. This has been called perceptual defence because it potentially can protect us from unpleasant stimuli. (24)

While reading that, I had visions of the massive screen that flashed words during U2’s Zoo TV Tour. It’s no wonder that their 1990s live show had the emotional impact that it did!

This real world application is why I find psychology so fascinating—it is supremely practical. I experienced a number of “a-ha” moments while reading—so that’s why I behave the way I do!

Butler and McManus’s entry into Oxford’s “Very Short Introduction” series orients the novice to the field while inspiring further study.

Butler, Gillian, and Freda McManus. Psychology: A Very Short Introduction. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.