Understanding Psychology is written around the philosophy that an effective textbook must be oriented to students�informing them, engaging them, exciting them about the field, and expanding their intellectual capabilities�because when students understand psychology, they learn psychology. No matter what brings students into the introductory course and regardless of their initial motivation, Understanding Psychology, Eighth Edition, draws students into the field and stimulate their thinking. This revision integrates a variety of elements that foster students� understanding of psychology and its impact on their everyday lives. It also provides instructors with a fully integrated supplements package to objectively gauge their students� mastery of psychology�s key principles and concepts and to create dynamic lectures.
Robert S. Feldman is Dean in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Feldman, who is winner of the College Distinguished Teacher award, has also taught courses at Mount Holyoke College, Wesleyan University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
As Dean, Feldman is responsible for developing, administering, and promoting the academic programs of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. In this position, he is involved with supporting students, faculty, and staff of the college, as well as developing programs that benefit our faculty and undergraduate and graduate students.
Previously, Feldman was Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Psychology, where he initiated the Research and Mentoring Program. Feldman regularly teaches introductory psychology to classes ranging in size from 20 to nearly 500 students. He also has served as a Hewlett Teaching Fellow and Senior Online Teaching Fellow, and he frequently gives talks on the use of technology in teaching. He initiated distance learning courses in psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Feldman also founded and continues to direct Power-Up for Succes, a first-year experience course for students.
A Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society, Feldman received a B.A. with High Honors from Wesleyan University and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is winner of a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar and Lecturer award and has written more than 100 books, book chapters, and scientific articles. In addition, he is on the Board of Directors of the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences (FABBS).
His books, which have been translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and other languages, include The Liar in Your Life, Understanding Psychology, Essentials of Understanding Psychology, Fundamentals of Nonverbal Behavior, Development of Nonverbal Behavior in Children, Social Psychology, Development Across the Life Span, and P.O.W.E.R. Learning: Strategies for Success in College and Life. His research interests include honesty and deception and impression management. His research has been supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Disabilities and Rehabilitation Research.
Feldman's spare time is most often devoted to serious cooking and earnest, if not entirely expert, piano playing. He also loves to travel. He has three adult children and lives with his wife, also a psychologist, overlooking the Holyoke mountain range in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts.
