Brian M. Hughes – författare

What if psychology isn’t as liberal as we think?Psychology is often seen as a progressive discipline — a champion of social justice, diversity, and liberal values. But this provocative book challenges that assumption. It argues that psychology, from its historical entanglements with eugenics and colonialism to its modern-day focus on individualism, has long served to reinforce the status quo.Even as many psychologists identify as politically liberal, the field’s methods, theories, and institutions often promote a worldview that downplays inequality, pathologizes dissent, and resists structural change. Psychology’s emphasis on personal responsibility, resilience, and self-help frequently aligns more closely with conservative ideals than with progressive ones.This book explores how the myth of a “liberal bias” in psychology has been weaponised in today’s culture wars — and how it distracts from the field’s real political blind spots. It asks: what would it mean for psychology to truly live up to its promise of promoting human welfare?Accessible, deeply researched, and sharply argued, Psychology’s Quiet Conservatism is essential reading for anyone interested in how science shapes society — and how society shapes science.

This revision guide provides concise coverage of the central topics within Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology, presented within a framework designed to help you focus on assessment and exams.  The text encapsulates all the subject matter listed in the BPS Qualifying Examination syllabus for Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology.  The sequence of chapters is organised temporally, and focuses on how the major conceptual issues in psychology have been handled over time.  Further, in each case, the relevance of historical discourses to contemporary psychology is emphasised. 

Sample questions, assessment advice and exam tips drive the organisation within chapters so you are able to grasp and marshal your thoughts towards revision of the main topics.  Features focused on critical thinking, practical applications and key research will offer additional pointers for you in your revision process and exam preparation.

A companion website provides supporting resources for self testing, exam practice, answers to questions in the book, and links to further resources.

Discover the ultimate revision guide for psychology students to help you excel in your assessments!

Psychology Express: Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology, 2nd edition is a concise, comprehensive and engaging guide, packed with resources that will help you to plan, prepare and practice for all your undergraduate assessments in this subject.

The guide covers all core concepts you need to know in accordance with QAA and BPS subject guidelines, addressing historical and contemporary perspectives within psychology. It provides a framework for success through features such as topic maps, revision checklists, key terms, summaries of key studies and further reading suggestions.

To make your revision even more effective you can assess your progress with test questions, compare your answers with answer guidelines and evaluate sample answers to improve your own assessment technique.

This revision guide is part of the Psychology Express series, covering the complete knowledge base of psychology, designed to complement your lectures, seminars, and additional reading to make sure that you are confident going in to all of your assessments. Preparing for different types of assessments can be challenging, but this guide will give you all of the tools you need to succeed in your assignments. Whether you''re facing exams, research papers, presentations, or group projects, you''ll find valuable tips and strategies to excel.

To support your learning journey, a companion website provides additional resources for self-testing and answers to questions in the book.

The Psychology of Brexit examines the psychological causes, catalysts, and consequences of Brexit. Unlike most cultural upheavals, Brexit is not the result of accidental tragedy or spontaneous economic turmoil. Rather, it exists because people decided to make it exist. It is a product of human psychology – shaped in critical ways by people’s perceptions, preferences, choices, self-images, attitudes, ideas, assumptions, group relations, and reasoned (or ill-reasoned) conclusions. This book discusses how reasoning biases and illusions of control propel – and pollute – the perspective of both Leavers and Remainers. It shows how social stereotypes and motivated irrationality help otherwise groundless beliefs thrive in everyday culture, leading to group polarisation and echo-chamber reasoning. It reveals the way cultural biases like sexism influence how Brexit politicians are portrayed and perceived. And it explores the psychological impact of Brexit – its effect on social attitudes, future thinking, and collective and individual mental health. In this compelling new book, psychologist Brian Hughes examines what scientific psychology reveals about the dynamics of Brexit, what Brexit teaches us about ourselves, and what we can do to deal with its short-term impact and long-term fallout.

The Psychology of Brexit examines the psychological causes, catalysts, and consequences of Brexit. Unlike most cultural upheavals, Brexit is not the result of accidental tragedy or spontaneous economic turmoil. Rather, it exists because people decided to make it exist. It is a product of human psychology – shaped in critical ways by people’s perceptions, preferences, choices, self-images, attitudes, ideas, assumptions, group relations, and reasoned (or ill-reasoned) conclusions. This book discusses how reasoning biases and illusions of control propel – and pollute – the perspective of both Leavers and Remainers. It shows how social stereotypes and motivated irrationality help otherwise groundless beliefs thrive in everyday culture, leading to group polarisation and echo-chamber reasoning. It reveals the way cultural biases like sexism influence how Brexit politicians are portrayed and perceived. And it explores the psychological impact of Brexit – its effect on social attitudes, future thinking, and collective and individual mental health. In this compelling new book, psychologist Brian Hughes examines what scientific psychology reveals about the dynamics of Brexit, what Brexit teaches us about ourselves, and what we can do to deal with its short-term impact and long-term fallout. 

In diesem fesselnden Buch untersucht der Psychologe Brian Hughes, was die wissenschaftliche Psychologie über die Dynamik des Brexit enthüllt, was der Brexit uns über uns selbst lehrt und was wir tun können, um mit seinen kurzfristigen Auswirkungen und langfristigen Folgen umzugehen. Anders als die meisten kulturellen Umwälzungen ist der Brexit nicht das Ergebnis einer zufälligen Tragödie oder eines spontanen wirtschaftlichen Aufruhrs. Vielmehr existiert er, weil die Menschen beschlossen haben, ihn zu vollziehen. Er ist ein Produkt der menschlichen Psychologie - in entscheidender Weise geprägt von den Wahrnehmungen, Vorlieben, Ideen, Selbstbildern, Gruppenzugehörigkeiten und mehr oder minder begründeten Schlussfolgerungen der Menschen. Im Buch wird erörtert, wie Denkfehler und Kontrollillusionen die Sichtweisen sowohl der Leaver als auch der Remainer verzerren. Es zeigt wie ansonsten unbegründete Überzeugungen in der Alltagskultur gedeihen. Außerdem erforscht der Autor die psychologischen Auswirkungen des Brexit - auf soziale Einstellungen, Zukunftsdenken und die kollektive und individuelle psychische Gesundheit.

In diesem fesselnden Buch untersucht der Psychologe Brian Hughes, was die wissenschaftliche Psychologie über die Dynamik des Brexit enthüllt, was der Brexit uns über uns selbst lehrt und was wir tun können, um mit seinen kurzfristigen Auswirkungen und langfristigen Folgen umzugehen. Anders als die meisten kulturellen Umwälzungen ist der Brexit nicht das Ergebnis einer zufälligen Tragödie oder eines spontanen wirtschaftlichen Aufruhrs. Vielmehr existiert er, weil die Menschen beschlossen haben, ihn zu vollziehen. Er ist ein Produkt der menschlichen Psychologie - in entscheidender Weise geprägt von den Wahrnehmungen, Vorlieben, Ideen, Selbstbildern, Gruppenzugehörigkeiten und mehr oder minder begründeten Schlussfolgerungen der Menschen. Im Buch wird erörtert, wie Denkfehler und Kontrollillusionen die Sichtweisen sowohl der Leaver als auch der Remainer verzerren. Es zeigt wie ansonsten unbegründete Überzeugungen in der Alltagskultur gedeihen. Außerdem erforscht der Autor die psychologischen Auswirkungen des Brexit - auf soziale Einstellungen, Zukunftsdenken und die kollektive und individuelle psychische Gesundheit.

What if psychology isn’t as liberal as we think?Psychology is often seen as a progressive discipline — a champion of social justice, diversity, and liberal values. But this provocative book challenges that assumption. It argues that psychology, from its historical entanglements with eugenics and colonialism to its modern-day focus on individualism, has long served to reinforce the status quo.Even as many psychologists identify as politically liberal, the field’s methods, theories, and institutions often promote a worldview that downplays inequality, pathologizes dissent, and resists structural change. Psychology’s emphasis on personal responsibility, resilience, and self-help frequently aligns more closely with conservative ideals than with progressive ones.This book explores how the myth of a “liberal bias” in psychology has been weaponised in today’s culture wars — and how it distracts from the field’s real political blind spots. It asks: what would it mean for psychology to truly live up to its promise of promoting human welfare?Accessible, deeply researched, and sharply argued, Psychology’s Quiet Conservatism is essential reading for anyone interested in how science shapes society — and how society shapes science.