From the founding of psychology to the rise of cognitivism, from psychoanalysis to social constructionism, the wide-ranging history of psychology appears in this lucid, insightful textbook. The authors trace the development of the discipline against the backdrop of the intellectual, social, and political contexts in which it emerged. They go on to address critical topics of debate in contemporary psychology, such as biological determinism, folk psychology, and much more. The result is an ideal work for psychology courses, both general surveys and seminars and specialized classes that call for a general background text.