The Chinese edition of Zimbardo's Psychology Core Concepts (8th edition) was released by Posts & Telecom Press in August 2022. "The book has always been a landmark work since its publication," says Fu Xiaolan, director of the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the Translator's Preface. "This edition is by no means a simple routine revision or a quick update, but a very important one, with nearly half of the content revised and added". Bookdao interviewed one of the translators of the 8th edition of Psychology Core Concepts, Zhao Ke to introduce the collaboration mechanism of the translator team and the features of the 8th edition of the book.
Translator of Zimbardo's Psychology Core Concepts, 8th Edition, Zhao Ke
Since its first edition in 1999, Psychology Core Concepts, updated to its 8th edition, has continuously become the best-selling psychology textbook in the world. It has become the most popular introductory psychology book for Chinese readers since the 5th edition was introduced to China in 2008. With a very lively and interesting writing style and arrangement, sections such as "Psychology in Life", "Applying Psychological Knowledge to Learn Psychology", and "Hands-on Practice", explain the core concepts and key issues of psychology - giving students the motivation and tools to master introductory psychology.
Psychology Core Concepts contains 14 topics that need to be studied for an introduction to psychology, including Mind, Behavior, and Psychological Science; Biopsychology, Neuroscience, and Human Nature; Sensation and Perception; Learning and Human Nurture; Memory; Thinking and Intelligence; Development over the Lifespan; States of Consciousness; Motivation and Emotion; Personality; Social Psychology; Psychological Disorders; Therapies for Psychological Disorders; and Stress, Health & Well-Being.
When it comes to the strengths of the book, there is none greater than its author Philip Zimbardo, who is the recipient of the American Psychological Association's Ernest R. Hilgard Lifetime Achievement Award. He has taught at several prestigious American universities, including Stanford University, where he served the longest and retired. His name appears in any general psychology textbook. One of his books - Psychology and Life is also a classic that has gained worldwide fame. He was known for his Stanford Prison Experiment, which examined the effects of situational variables on participants' reactions and behaviors in a prison environment, including congenital and acquired abuse tendencies. In the summer of 1971, Zimbardo and colleagues built a mock prison in the basement of Stanford University and recruited 24 mentally and physically stable volunteers for a 14-day experiment. The experiment showed that the environment can gradually change a person's personality, while the situation can immediately change a person's behavior.
On the occasion of the publication of Psychology Core Concepts (8th edition), Philip Zimbardo has written a new preface, especially for Chinese readers at the request of the People’s Posts and Telecommunications Press. In the preface, he introduces the revisions made in the 8th edition. He points out that each chapter of this edition has significant updates, which include the latest research in current psychology, as well as the most challenging controversies. Each chapter begins with a problem to be solved, drawing the reader's attention to a specific issue. Each chapter features 5-12 new sections or updates. This edition also reinforces the impact on terrorism, the impact of culture on individual disillusionment, the negative effects of being isolated from other students, the latest research on job burnout, and more.
The team of translators for Psychology Core Concepts (8th edition) is very strong. People’s Posts and Telecommunications Press Puhua invited Fu Xiaolan, director of the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, to lead the translation. Fu organized 14 professors and researchers of psychology nationwide to translate one chapter each. All of them are experienced in translation and specialized in the topic assigned. Fu undertook the translation of the first chapter herself and wrote the "Translator's Preface". Zhao Ke, the translator of Chapter 9, "Motivation and Emotion", was interviewed by BOOKDAO to provide readers with a comprehensive introduction to the team’s translation approach and the collaboration mechanism, and underly the special features adored by common readers.
The classic 8th edition follows the "use of psychology to learn psychology"
BOOKDAO: What do you think is the most attractive essence of Psychology Core Concepts (8th edition)? Why is it commonly used as a psychology textbook around the world?
Zhao Ke: I think this book focuses on integrating the latest results of scientific research with real-life problems. A titan of psychology, Zimbardo is a legend in his own right, as the designer of the famous Stanford Prison Experiment. Psychology Core Concepts (8th edition) is the brainchild of Mr. Zimbardo, which accumulated nearly 50 years of his research and teaching experience. I think its uniqueness lies in the fact that the book followed the principle of "using psychology to learn psychology", which makes it systematic, integral, and highly readable.
BOOKDAO: The 8th edition, updated by Zimbardo in his 80s, is known as the classic edition, with nearly 50% of revised content. Why is the revision ratio of the 8th edition so high?
Zhao Ke: Psychology is a science in which researchers have never stopped searching for the truth. On one hand, new psychological concerns will emerge as society develops, such as how violence in video games affects adolescents. On the other hand, researchers are developing a deeper understanding of psychological issues as research continues, such as trends in drug use among adolescents and adults. This extensive update focuses on bringing the latest and best scientific research and theory to the reader in close conjunction with current issues of personal values in society.
Combination of specialty and interest, selected translators to complete high-quality work
BOOKDAO: The book was head translated by Fu Xiaolan, director of the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with 14 other scholars in the field of psychology from 9 different research and teaching institutes. From your perspective, can you introduce us to the cooperation mechanism of the translation team? As the 5th and 7th editions of this book were also introduced into China, were there any revisions (e.g. in terminology) in the translations by the translators in addition to the revisions by the original authors? What are the new highlights in the 8th edition compared to previous ones?
Zhao Ke: This book is led by the director of the Institute of Psychology, researcher Fu Xiaolan, which reflects the authority of the book's translation. Ms. Fu and the other 14 scholars in the compilation work are translators themselves as well as the best in front-line scientific research work. In the selection of translators for each chapter, both specialties and interests were taken into account to ensure the best match. After receiving the task, communications and discussions were held repeatedly among the translators, including topics such as how to avoid plagiarism from the previous edition. Each translator went through word by word and sentence by sentence, paying special attention to readability and striving for credibility and elegance. After completing the translation, three rounds of review and proofreading sessions were organized, in which the translators checked each other’s work critically from a scientist prospect. Feedback were incorporated into the translation so that the quality of the book was greatly improved after the process. As a final step, Ms. Fu reviewed the whole book from beginning to end once again. These are the valuable experiences accumulated by the team collaboration over the years, and also the original intention to deliver high-quality content to readers.
BOOKDAO: You are responsible for translating chapter 9 of the book, "Motivation and Emotion". Please tell us about your opportunity to become the translator of this chapter and what are the core elements of this chapter.
Zhao Ke: My chapter focuses on motivation and emotion, and I chose to translate this chapter mainly because of my interests. The core of this chapter is to help people understand human motivation and emotion so that we can better understand ourselves. Motivation, the driving force behind human behavior, is an inherent tendency to behave. Although the central issue of motivational priorities has been addressed by Instinct Theory, Fixed-action patterns, Drive Theory, and Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the author then introduces a new theory combining Maslow's hierarchy with evolutionary psychology which concludes motivational priorities are not fixed but set by functional, proximal, and development factors. The chapter then elucidates the two systems of the brain that process emotions, conscious and unconscious. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence in social interactions and how to manage one's emotions well.
The psychology of "more readable than a novel", readers will benefit a lot from reading
BOOKDAO: Some people on social media have said that this introductory psychology book is "more readable than a novel". As the translator, do you think this is media hype, or do you agree with this statement?
Zhao Ke: I agree. The main reason is that readers will benefit a lot. In novels, it is the stories that immerse readers through the protagonist’s perspective. while this book makes readers feel as though they have lived through the events in which many problems and confusions that ones were facing could happen to themselves. This book not only increases the knowledge of psychology, but more importantly, allows readers to reflect on their own lives, improve their cognitive abilities, and enhance their level of thinking. At the same time, the whole book is lively and entertaining, and of insight and fun that one can't help but love it. During the translation, I could not help but read it again and again, which shows the endless charm of the book.
BOOKDAO: I heard that the 8th edition has achieved very good sales in a short period since released. Besides the successful marketing work, what do you think resonates with the current trend of society?
Zhao Ke: First and foremost, this book is written at a very high standard and covers a wide range of contents, and the chapters are all essential. The 14 chapters cover everything from basic perception to memory and consciousness, emotion and society, and are a living encyclopedia of psychology. At the same time, the selling figure is in line with the background of the current era. Most people in modern society are facing increased uncertainty, which leads to a higher level of anxiety and depression. In particular, with the global pandemic raging, business and social life are greatly affected, and the public is inevitably in psychological turmoil. I suggest that every individual should acquire certain psychological knowledge and skills at this time so that they can cope with the challenges that arise and achieve inner peace. This book brings out a powerful response - "psychology is useful" at the right time. Finally, as Mr. Zimbardo mentioned, I hope that readers will find it useful and become guardians of human psychological wisdom for the next generation.