Clayton, Essentials of Psychology, Second Edition

Psychology exists all around us. In Essentials of Psychology 2e, authors Krisstal D. Clayton, Gregory J. Privitera, and Saul Kassin take students on a journey from the laboratory to the real world, demonstrating the breadth of applications of psychological science to everyday life. In every chapter, students assume the role of a psychologist, carrying out experiments, making predictions, and investigating the results. Compelling storytelling, real-life examples, and the authors’ applied pedagogy encourage critical thinking and engagement throughout. In the new edition, the authors expand the coverage of research methods and scientific thinking, while addressing what matters most to today's students—from social media's psychological impact to evidence-based sleep strategies—preparing them to be smart consumers of information.

Driven by Kristtal Clayton's hands-on experience with her students in the classroom, the new second edition has been streamlined and updated with new references that are interesting and engaging. It's also accompanied by Sage Vantage, a learning platform designed for engagement and reading accountability. Essentials of Psychology 2e will be available for Summer 2026 courses.

Interested in learning more about this exciting new edition? Please enter your contact information below to request early access to draft chapters.

Cheers,
Sage Psychology Team