Synopses & Reviews
Distinguished by its current-events emphasis, strong diversity coverage, and engaging connections drawn between social psychology and students' everyday lives, Social Psychology, Eighth Edition, remains one of the most scholarly and well-written texts in its field. Integrating classic and contemporary research, the text also includes comprehensive coverage of social cognition and evolutionary psychology, and features authoritative material on social psychology and the law. For this edition, Saul Kassin and Steven Fein welcome Hazel Rose Markus to the author team. In addition, coverage of culture and diversity are integrated into every chapter by Hazel Rose Markus, a leader and respected researcher in the study of cultural psychology.
About the Author
Saul Kassin is Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Born and raised in New York City, he graduated from Brooklyn College. After receiving his Ph.D. in personality and social psychology from the University of Connecticut, he spent one year at the University of Kansas and two years at Purdue University. In 1984, he was awarded a prestigious U.S. Supreme Court Judicial Fellowship, and in 1985 he worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Psychology and Law Program at Stanford University. Kassin is author of the textbook Psychology (fourth edition) and has coauthored or edited a number of scholarly books, including Developmental Social Psychology, The Psychology of Evidence and Trial Procedure, and The American Jury on Trial. His research interests are in social perception and influence, and their applications to police interrogations and confessions, eyewitness testimony, jury decision-making, and other aspects of law. Steven Fein is Professor of Psychology at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts. Born and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey, he received his A.B. from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Michigan. He has been teaching at Williams College since 1991, with time spent teaching at Stanford University in 1999. His edited books include Emotion: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Readings in Social Psychology: The Art and Science of Research, Motivated Social Perception: The Ontario Symposium, and Gender and Aggression: Interdisciplinary Approaches. He recently completed a term on the executive committee of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology. His research interests concern stereotyping and prejudice, suspicion, and sociocultural and motivational influences on person perception. Hazel Rose Markus is the Davis-Brack Professor in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. She also co-directs the Stanford Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. Before moving to Stanford in 1994, she was a professor at the University of Michigan where she received hr he PhD. The focus of her work is on how the self-system including current conceptions of self and possible selves structure and lend meaning to experience. Born in England of English parents and raised in San Diego, California she has been persistently fascinated by how nation of origin, region of the country, gender, ethnicity, race, religion and social class shape self and identity. With her colleague Shinobu Kitayama at the University of Michigan she has pioneered the experimental study of how culture and self influence one another. Markus was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1994 and is a Fellow of APS, APA and Division 8. Some of her recent co-edited books include Culture and Emotion: Empirical Studies of Mutual Influence; Engaging Cultural Differences: The Multicultural Challenge in Liberal Democracies; and Just Schools: Pursuing Equal Education in Societies of Difference.
Table of Contents
1. WHAT IS SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY? What Is Social Psychology? From Past to Present: A Brief History of Social Psychology. Social Psychology in a New Century. 2. DOING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH. Why Should You Learn About Research Methods? Developing Ideas: Beginning the Research Process. Refining Ideas: Defining and Measuring Social Psychological Variables. Testing Ideas: Research Designs. Ethics and Values in Social Psychology. PART II: SOCIAL PERCEPTION 3. The Social Self. The Self-Concept. Self-Esteem. Self-Presentation. Epilogue: The Multifaceted Self. 4. Perceiving Persons Observation: The Elements of Social Perception. Attribution: From Elements to Dispositions. Integration: From Dispositions to Impressions. Confirmation Biases: From Impressions to Reality. Social Perception: The Bottom Line. 5. Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination. The Nature of the Problem: Persistence and Change. Causes of the Problem: Intergroup and Motivational Factors. Causes of the Problem: Cognitive and Cultural Factors. A Threat in the Air: Effects on the Targets of Stereotypes and Prejudice. Reducing Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination. PART III: SOCIAL INFLUENCE. 6. Attitudes. The Study of Attitudes. Persuasion by Communication. Persuasion by Our Own Actions. Changing Attitudes. 7. Conformity. Social Influence as "Automatic". Conformity. Compliance. Obedience. The Continuum of Social Influence. 8. Group Processes. Fundamentals of Groups. Individuals in Groups: The Presence of Others. Group Performance: Problems and Solutions. Conflict: Cooperation and Competition Within and Between Groups. PART IV: SOCIAL RELATIONS. 9. Attraction and Close Relationships. Being with Others: A Fundamental Human Motive. Close Relationships. The Initial Attraction. 10. Helping Others. Evolutionary and Motivational Factors: Why Do People Help? Situational Influences: When Do People Help? Personal Influences: Who Is Likely to Help? Interpersonal Influences: Whom Do People Help? The Helping Connection. 11. Aggression. PART V: APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. 12. Law. Jury Selection. The Courtroom Drama. Jury Deliberation. Posttrial: To Prison and Beyond. Perceptions of Justice. Closing Statement. 13. Business. Personnel Selection. Performance Appraisals. Leadership. Motivation at Work. Economic Decision Making. 14. Health. Stress and Health. What Causes Stress? How Does Stress Affect the Body? Processes of Appraisal. Ways of Coping with Stress. Treatment and Prevention. The Pursuit of Happiness.