Essentials of Psychology offers many of the signature features included in the Sixth Edition of Bernstein et al., such as Thinking Critically, Focus on Research, and Linkages, in a concise, 14 chapter format. Extensive pedagogical support and a renewed emphasis on active learning encourage students to master concepts through interaction with the material. This "learn by doing" focus engages them by illustrating concepts in figures and photos, highlighting key points in the margin, and formally involving students in an active review--either in a writing exercise or a personal activity. In addition, the text content reflects the latest research, important in the field and of high interest to students. Topics include how drugs effect the brain, what determines and shapes personality, sources of sexual orientation, the effects of stress on health, the origins of intelligence, and more. The integrated pedagogical system helps students master the material using a PQ4R method: preview, question, read, recite, review, and reflect. Each chapter adheres to this structure, beginning with an outline and preview questions, continuing with marginal glossaries and instructional captions for read/recite; and finishing with In Review study charts and an Active Review. This built-in study guide provides students with a linkages diagram, chapter summary, a Learn by Doing section, Step into Action, a review of key terms, and a multiple choice self-test. New! An Industrial/Organizational Psychology chapter is available for inclusion in a custom text. New! An improved, integrated supplements package includes an automatic student CD with each new text; extensively revised PowerPoint slides on the instructor CD and online; more depth and variety of materials on the student and instructor web sites; an updated test bank; and the Houghton Mifflin Psych in Film DVD, featuring film clips from popular movies that help illustrate concepts in psychology. New! An increased number of "Applying Psychology" photos highlight every day applications of psychological research. Thinking Critically sections use a 5-step approach to one topic per chapter to help students develop critical-thinking skills. Focus on Research sections apply the 5-step approach to a research topic, making the scientific aspect of the discipline more accessible and underscoring science as the basis of the field. Linkages throughout the text help students understand the connections among different subfields of psychology across the chapters. New! Eduspace is Houghton Mifflin\'s online learning tool. Powered by Blackboard, Eduspace is a customizable, powerful and interactive platform that provides instructors with text-specific online courses and content. The Bernstein et al. Psychology course features homework exercises for each chapter, PowerPoint presentation/lecture slides, NetLabs and Web tutorials as well as links to personal learning activities.