I'll attempt at a simple example and crappy analogy.
 = x^2)
 = (x+1)^2 )
Originally we have coordinates:
, (-1, 1), (0,0), (1,1), (2,4), (3,9))
But now we have:
, (-1, 0), (0,1), (1,4), (2,9), (3,16))
Here's an attempt at an analogy, where we're travelling along the curve for lols trying to get to a certain coordinate. So let's say we're starting at x=-2, moving along in a right-wards direction (increasing x-value) and we're trying to get to a point where the y-value is 9.
So for the original p(x), as we travel along from x=-2 the y-values are x^2. So we're starting at x=-2 and we trace along left to right until we reach our destination, which in this case is the coordinate (3,9)
For the p(x+1), for the x-value we're on, we now have a value of 1 added onto it, kind of like a speed boost I guess. So this means we're going to get to a y-value of 9 quicker right? Since we're tracing along from left to right, and we're reaching the destination quicker, this means that the value would be more to the left than it was for p(x).
If we had p(x-1), we're going to take longer to reach that coordinate with a y-value of 9. Continuing the analogy, it'd be like if something was stuck on your shoe and you had to travel along slower.
I hope that made sense (not too sure if it did).