Psychology: From Inquiry to Understanding, Canadian Edition, 6th edition

Published by Pearson Canada (February 25, 2026) © 2027
  • Scott O. Lilienfeld
  • Steven Jay Lynn
  • Laura L. Namy
  • Ken M. Cramer
  • Rodney Schmaltz

Title overview

For courses in Introductory Psychology.

Provide the framework to go from inquiry to understanding

Psychology: From Inquiry to Understanding continues to emphasize the importance of scientific-thinking skills and teaches students how to test their assumptions and motivates them to use scientific thinking skills to better understand the field of psychology in their everyday lives. Students will emerge with the “psychological smarts,” or open-minded skepticism, needed to distinguish psychological misinformation from credible, useful psychological information.

From presenting documentary-style videos produced by award-winning documentarians, to creating interactive demonstrations, to asking students to test their ability to distinguish supported from unsupported claims, this edition maintains the vision and tone students enjoyed in the previous editions. In addition, it introduces exciting interactive opportunities for students to apply their knowledge as they learn. We have also significantly updated the content by integrating new findings, highlighting fresh debates and challenges to psychology (e.g., the replicability crisis), and introducing new sections on emerging areas of research.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Challenge Your Assumptions polls, located at the start of every chapter, ask students what they believe they know about psychology, and instantaneously compare their responses with those of other students taking the course. These questions also serve to preview the key topics that will be discussed in each chapter. 
  • Each chapter is organized around Numbered Learning Objectives, which are listed at the start of each major section. (All instructor supplements are also keyed to these learning objectives.) The in-chapter assessment material is also organized around these objectives. Students' understanding of important terminology is enhanced with our new Glossary Flashcards. 
  • Colour-coded biological art and animations orient students at both the micro and macro levels as they move throughout the text and forge connections among concepts. Interactive photo captions test students on their scientific-thinking skills and invite them to evaluate whether the photo is an accurate depiction of psychological phenomena.

New to this Edition

  • Fully revised “Evaluating Claims” scenarios prompt students to use scientific thinking skills to evaluate claims they are likely to encounter in various forms of media. This feature makes use of a fully interactive branching narrative in which readers navigate the scenario by making individual choices.
  • Authored by Dr. Deborah Saucier, our Indigenous perspectives consultant, we have added 10 modules on Indigenous perspectives in psychology. Integrated within the chapters, these modules highlight issues and research of importance to Indigenous communities in Canada.
  • Exciting and up-to-date links from the chapter topics to what’s going on in the world are included, like whether psychotherapy is as effective when conducted online, or the relative social benefits of playing video games. We will keep these stories and current events fresh from time to time in the online text.
  • More than 40 in-chapter videos have been selected for this edition. These videos cover a variety of key topics in introductory psychology, from animating complex psychological concepts to demonstrating experiments to diagnosing and classifying disorders.
  • Every chapter has been refreshed with the latest peer-reviewed research, helping students connect core concepts to the most recent scientific findings.

Key features

Digital Assets in MyLab Psychology

  • AI Study Tool.Designed for students who want to save time and study efficiently, this eText includes Pearson’s new genAI study tool. When they open their eText, students can click the AI icon (available on any page) and request summaries, explanations, or practice questions. This tool offers consistent guidance when needed and provides quick, personalized support and feedback by referencing content from their Pearson text.
  • Transform your course with Interactive Reading Assignments. Boost student engagement with all-in-one assignments in MyLab® that combine eTextbook readings, multimedia, assessments, and your own content. Help students stay organized and save time by creating a dynamic learning experience that drives academic success.
  • Videos and interactives integrated directly into the narrative get students learning actively, making it more likely that they’ll retain what they’ve read.
  • Video quizzes offer students opportunities to further their knowledge by applying concepts and testing their understanding. Instructors can share videos accompanied by time-stamped multiple-choice questions.
  • MediaShare integration makes it easier than ever for students and instructors to share and comment on speeches, as well as other videos, documents, images, and more. Users can upload original content for peer and instructor feedback or embed YouTube content with just a few clicks. Having these share-and-comment tools available directly within MyLab makes for an even more interactive learning experience.
  • In the News boxes bring currency into your classroom with author-written content that connects key concepts with real-life current events. Annually our authors add new or revised content or data to ensure that your students have relevant examples to help them engage with the course.
  • Using a highly personalized, algorithmically driven process, Dynamic Study Modules continuously assess student performance and provide additional practice in the areas where they struggle the most. Each Dynamic Study Module, accessed by computer, smartphone, or tablet, promotes faster learning and long-term retention.

Table of contents

  1. 1. Psychology and Scientific Thinking
  2. 2. Research Methods
  3. 3. Biological Psychology
  4. 4. Sensation & Perception
  5. 5. Consciousness
  6. 6. Learning
  7. 7. Memory
  8. 8. Thinking, Reasoning, Language, and Intelligence
  9. 9. Human Development
  10. 10. Emotion and Motivation
  11. 11. Stress, Coping, and Health
  12. 12. Social Psychology
  13. 13. Personality
  14. 14. Psychological Disorders
  15. 15. Psychological and Biological Treatments

Author bios

Scott O. Lilienfeld received his BA in psychology from Cornell University in 1982 and his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1990. He completed his clinical internship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1986 to 1987. He was assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at SUNY Albany from 1990 to 1994 and is now Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Psychology at Emory University and a visiting professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia. He is a Fellow of the Association of Psychological Science and was the recipient of the 1998 David Shakow Award from Division 12 (Clinical Psychology) of the American Psychological Association (APA) for Early Career Contributions to Clinical Psychology. More recently, he received the James McKeen Cattell Award from the Association for Psychological Science for outstanding career contributions to applied psychology and the Ernest Hilgard Award from APA Division 1 (General Psychology) for the integration of psychology across disciplines. Dr. Lilienfeld is president of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology within Division 12 and past president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy. He is editor of Clinical Psychological Science and until recently was a regular columnist for Scientific American Mind magazine. He has authored or coauthored fourteen books and more than 350 journal articles and chapters. Dr. Lilienfeld has also been a participant in Emory University’s “Great Teachers” lecturer series, a Distinguished Speaker for the Psi Chi Honor Society at the annual APA convention, and a keynote speaker at numerous national and international conventions.

Steven Jay Lynn received his BA in psychology from the University of Michigan and his PhD in clinical psychology from Indiana University. He completed an NIMH Postdoctoral Fellowship at Lafayette Clinic, Detroit, Michigan, in 1976 and is now Distinguished Professor of Psychology at SUNY Binghamton, where he was the director of the Psychological Clinic (2007–2016). Dr. Lynn is a fellow of numerous professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science, he is a diplomate in clinical and forensic psychology (ABPP), and he was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award of the State University of New York for Scholarship and Creative Activities. Dr. Lynn has authored or edited 22 books and more than 350 other publications, and was named on a list of “Top Producers of Scholarly Publications in Clinical Psychology PhD Programs” (2000–2004/Stewart, Wu, & Roberts, 2007, Journal of Clinical Psychology). Dr. Lynn is the founder and editor of Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice (APA), and he has served on 11 other editorial boards, including the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. Dr. Lynn’s research has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Ohio Department of Mental Health. His research has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New Scientist Magazine, Discover Magazine, CBS Morning Show, ABC’s 20/20, Discovery Channel, and the Academy Award-winning documentary, Capturing the Friedmans.

Laura L. Namy received her BA in philosophy and psychology from Indiana University in 1993 and her PhD in cognitive psychology at Northwestern University in 1998. She is now Director of the Center for Mind, Brain, and Culture at Emory University where she is also Professor of Psychology and Core Faculty in Linguistics. She recently completed a three-year term at the National Science Foundation as a Program Director in the Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences Division. She is past editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cognition and Development and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Her research focuses on the origins and development of verbal and nonverbal symbol use in young children, sound symbolism in natural language, and the role of comparison in conceptual development.

Ken Cramer received his Ph.D. at the University of Manitoba in 1995. He is a full professor in the department of psychology at the University of Windsor in Southwestern Ontario. He has been honoured with various teaching awards at the local, provincial, and national levels, including the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association’s Teaching Award and, in 2009,the prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship. His research interests include topics in personality and social psychology as well as issues in education, such as the impact of Maclean’s rankings on student welfare and innovative classroom techniques such as the nonlinear lecture style and the efficacy of learning modules and class-room voting devices.

Rodney Schmaltz received his Ph.D. at the University of Alberta in 2007.He is an associate professor in the department of psychology at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. His research focuses on pseudo scientific thinking, with an emphasis on strategies to promote and teach scientific skepticism. He also conducts research on workplace productivity and self-control, with a focus on evidence-based approaches to improve performance and reduce common workplace and student stressors. In 2019, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award, which is one the highest honours at MacEwan University. He is the past Chair of the Research Ethics Board at MacEwan University. and has worked with government agencies on topics such as ethics review in emergency situations (e.g., during infectious disease outbreaks), and the role of lay representatives in government organizations, such as funding agencies and ethics review boards.

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