Social psychology [6th ed] / Sharon S. Brehm, Saul Kassin, Steven Fein

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The most up-to-date account of social psychology, this text introduces key concepts through balanced coverage of classic studies, contemporary research, and current social issues. The authors bring vivid examples to reflect social psychology concepts in real life. The use of current events, social issues, and evocative photographs makes the text more compelling to students by helping them relate concepts to their own lives and to see the world through the eyes of a social psychologist. Increased coverage of cross-cultural research and sociocultural perspectives includes studies of sexual orientation, ostracism, Milgram in the 21st century, and social relations over the Internet. These viewpoints are examined through topics such as the social self, personal and group perception of attitudes, conformity and obedience, interpersonal behavior, and group influences. The authors relate current references throughout the text—such as 9/11 and its aftermath, the Supreme Court's 2003 ruling on affirmative action, and the "celebrity" trials of Martha Stewart and Kobe Bryant—directly to social psychology. Icons in the text reference video footage available on the new Houghton Mifflin Social Psych in Film DVD/VHS (for instructors) and video stills on the student CD-ROM. Expanded coverage of the use of social neuroscience techniques includes brain imaging techniques to explore social psychology questions.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Reader
• Note: Each chapter concludes with a Review and Key Terms
• Beginning with Chapter Three, each chapter opens with Putting Common Sense to the Test, a set of true-false questions designed to assess the student's intuitive beliefs about material later contained in that chapter
• The answers to these questions are revealed in a marginal box after the topic is presented in the text, with a more detailed explanation of the answers appearing in the Review section at the back of each chapter
• The Common Sense feature is also presented as an interactive exercise on the Student CD-ROM, to further reinforce the student's understanding of the text material
• 1 Introduction 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
• I 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 Stereotypes Prejudice Sexism Racism A Threat in the Air
• Effects on Stigmatized Targets Reducing Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
• II Social Influence
• 6 Attitudes The Study of Attitudes Persuasion by Communication Persuasion by Our Own Actions
• 7 Conformity Social Influence as "Automatic" Conformity Compliance Obedience The Continuum of Social Influence
• 8 Group Processes Collective Processes
• The Presence of Others Group Processes
• Interacting with Others Cooperation, Competition, and Conflict
• Responding to Differences
• III Social Relations
• 9 Attraction and Close Relationships Being with Others
• A Fundamental Human Motive The Initial Attraction Close Relationships
• 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?
• Reactions to Receiving Help The Helping Connection
• 11 Aggression What Is Aggression?
• Cultural and Gender Differences Origins of Aggression Situational Influences on Aggression Media Effects
• Scenes of Violence Intimate Violence
• Trust Betrayed Reducing Violence
• IV Applying Social Psychology
• 12 Law Jury Selection The Courtroom Drama Jury Deliberation Posttrial
• To Prison and Beyond Justice
• A Matter of Procedure?
• Closing Statement
• 13 Business Personnel Selection Performance Appraisals Leadership Motivation 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