Psychology is a fascinating topic, but it can be a treacherous subject to study if you aren't well-grounded in a Biblical worldview. The premise of many psychology theories is atheist and evolutionist in origin. Dr. Tim Rice has written Psychology: A Christian Perspective to provide a safe textbook for Christian high school students. Psychology: A Christian Perspective is exactly what it says in the title - a Christian explanation of a subject that is often presented in a completely secular way.

Dr. Rice's textbook is a spiral-bound softcover text, 256 pages in length. The majority of the text covers the basics of how the mind works, memory, learning, human development, and personality. The textbook concludes with an introduction to abnormal psychology, social psychology, treatment and research methods.

The chapter titles are:

1. What is Psychology?
2. A Christian Worldview
3. Psychology's History and Worldview
4. The Brain and Nervous System
5. Sensation and Perception
6. Motivation and Emotion
7. Learning and Memory
8. Human Development
9. Consciousness
10. Thinking, Language and Intelligence
11. Personality
12. Abnormal Psychology
13. Treatment
14. Social Psychology
15. Research Methods

Psychology: A Christian Perspective is organized similarly to many college level introduction to psychology textbooks. This allows a student to easily reference Dr. Rice's book during their college study of psychology for a refresher on the Christian worldview of a subject. Each chapter in the book includes applicable Scripture verses, a chapter summary, and review questions. There is a free teacher's guide available for download at the Homeschool Psych website.

My high school daughter and I appreciate the Christian worldview on psychology topics as they are presented in this textbook. It has been extremely helpful for my daughter's psychology study. We have chosen to use it alongside a secular psychology textbook, because my daughter felt that Dr. Rice's book didn't explain the topics completely. At times, the text focuses more on the Christian viewpoint of a subject, than it does on explaining that concept. My daughter felt that reading a secular textbook side-by-side with Psychology: A Christian Perspective gave her the most thorough study of psychology from a Christian viewpoint. I was comfortable with my daughter using both textbooks, though I was not comfortable with her reading the secular book by itself.

As I read through Dr. Rice's textbook, I felt that it explained the concepts adequately. However, I have studied psychology previously, so I have a well of knowledge to draw from as I read. Had we not already owned another psychology textbook, I don't think my daughter would have requested to use both. I do feel that Psychology: A Christian Perspective can stand on its own, even though I allowed my daughter to use it alongside a secular textbook.

Some families may not feel comfortable allowing their child to also read a secular textbook. For that family, Psychology: A Christian Perspective will still introduce the student to the study of psychology, without compromising their Christian beliefs or introducing their students to a secular worldview. It is a well-written textbook that meets a need in the homeschool community. I definitely recommend it to other families seeking a homeschool credit for high school, or for families desiring a Christian worldview explanation to accompany their child's public school or college psychology class.

Product review by April Elstrom, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, February, 2012