5 Best Psychology Books For Understanding The Human Psyche

Jonathan Haidt, an instructor of social psychology, created The Happiness Hypothesis to make his investigation into the notion of moral underpinnings more approachable. In this book, Haidt examines the “Great Ideas” of historical thinkers like the Buddha, Plato, and even Jesus to show how they might be applied in the context of modern psychological research.

Haidt begins by outlining the fundamental principles of classical teachings on virtue, happiness, and personal fulfillment. This introduces the conclusions Haidt drew from these discoveries in order to create his own “10 Great Ideas” about happiness and relate them to contemporary life. Even though traditional wisdom has stood the test of time, it is important to adapt it to contemporary circumstances. For instance, Plato, the Messiah, and Buddha did not waste hours on Instagram doom scrolling or putting off tasks.

Dr. Robert B. Cialdini’s influential psychology book Influence, initially published in 1984, was reissued in 2021 as Influence, New, and Expanded. It includes new research, instances, and ideas, particularly in relation to the internet era. Cialdini offers seven applicable principles of persuasion you can employ in your daily life, supported by his 35 years of influencing scientific research (the most recent being “Unity”). 

Each one of the seven tenets is covered in its own chapter, which explains how it works, the situations in which it applies most effectively, and—most importantly—how you may use it in your personal life. If you’re trying to find a psychology book that can teach you more about the modern practice of ethical persuasion. 

Sometimes it seems like we’re always running to put out fires as they start. Of course, it is fairly tiring constantly responding to issues without a moment to catch your breath and get ready for the next one. Breaking the cycle of reaction and beginning to prevent issues before they arise is how Dan Heath proposes to do it in Upstream. 

Knowing the psychological causes behind it is the first step in resolving this. For instance, “problem blindness” is one force that Heath cites as being significant. This phenomenon occurs when a problem persists for a long enough period of time that you start to perceive it as “normal” and, as a result, cease “seeing” it (or, naturally, attempting to repair it).  Thankfully, the commonality across these case studies is straightforward: all that was required of them was a mentality shift.

Can you find your way around an office? Can you accept defeat? Do you know who you are? You’ve probably wondered these things, whether you’re ready to graduate or have been out of high school for some time. 

With the explicit goal of providing people with the skills and self-knowledge to succeed in the modern world, Alain de Botton’s response to issues like these is appropriately dubbed The School of Life. The School of Life has a chapter for everything you need, from boosting your productivity at work to dealing with interpersonal conflict. You will acquire resiliency to life’s challenges and become an expert in emotional intelligence with the aid of this emotional education, no doubt.

You’ll enjoy Eric Berne’s depiction of healthy and unhealthy social relationships in Games People Play. Berne asserts that we engage in “social games” constantly, including power struggles with superiors, extramarital affairs, marital escapades, and rivalries within friendships. 

Berne reveals the several forms of mind games that anyone may engage in in status competitions, the game turns into a back-and-forth “I know better” game, and partners are susceptible to playing mental games where they each say the other is holding them back. In addition to naming these interactions, Berne reveals their hidden significance as sneaky ruses and tricks that control our life. These original and well-timed discoveries are what made this psychology book so influential.