Cognition: The Thinking Animal

Fully revised and updated for the fifth edition, Cognition offers an approachable yet deep introduction to the science of the mind. Avoiding the pitfall of a grab bag of phenomena, Willingham and Riener survey key mental processes such as memory, language, and problem-solving and connect them to experimental process. This new edition has been fully revised and updated with new references, figures, and experiments, with particular attention to the intersection of cognition and culture. Written in a down-to-earth narrative prose that avoids jargon, addresses the reader directly, and cracks a few jokes, Cognition offers an accessible introduction that is ideal for students of all levels.

Table of Contents:
Preface; 1. Cognitive psychologists' approach to research; 2. Methods of cognitive psychology; 3. Visual perception; 4. Attention; 5. Sensory and working memory; 6. Long-Term memory structure; 7. Long-Term memory processes: Memory encoding; 8. Long-Term memory processes: Memory retrieval; 9. Concepts and categories; 10. Language structure; 11. Language processing; 12. Decision making and reasoning; 13. Problem solving; Glossary; References; Index.

About the Author :
Daniel T. Willingham is Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he has taught since 1992. He has won multiple department and university teaching awards. His research focuses on the application of cognitive principles to K-16 education, and his work on that subject has appeared in twenty-three languages. In 2017, he was appointed by President Obama to serve as a Member of the National Board for Education Sciences. Cedar Riener is Professor of Psychology at Randolph-Macon College, where he was awarded the college's highest teaching award in 2021. His primary area of research focuses on our perception of the natural world and how the state of our body influences our perception. He has also written about applying research in cognitive science to education. He teaches courses in Cognition, Perception, Introduction to Psychology, History of Psychology, and several unique seminar courses.

Review :
'A model textbook - well-reasoned, engaging, clear, and accurate. The enhanced discussion of the role of culture in cognition is an exciting addition in this edition. A wonderful resource for students and instructors alike.' Nora S. Newcombe, Temple University 'The fifth edition of Cognition: The Thinking Animal builds on the strengths of the excellent previous editions. Willingham & Riener combine their broad knowledge of cognitive psychology with an accessible writing style that will both inform and engage students. The new material on culture and cognition is a terrific addition. I highly recommend this outstanding text.' Daniel L. Schacter, Harvard University 'Via excellent writing and compelling illustrations, Cognition: The Thinking Animal provides a historical and modern-science overview of the wonders and complexities of human cognition.' Robert A. Bjork, University of California 'This is a great textbook with a well-structured format and clear language. It provides a solid foundation for students to understand what's happening inside the black box.' Yuan Li, Georgia Southern University