Principles of Social Psychology

Originally published in 1987 this third edition won praise from students and instructors alike for its challenging "no nonsense" approach to the field. Thoroughly updated to reflect current research of the time, the text retains the qualities that had become its hallmarks: a cognitive approach to the process of socialization, and an emphasis on the ideas that give the discipline continuity. It offers clear, conceptually integrated discussions of all of the major topics in social psychology from the time. Shaver's focus on the concepts of social psychology provides a framework for students to develop their own applications. The principles of social behavior are presented in the text in the same way they develop in the individual moving from internal processes (social perception, self-recognition) to external issues (the environment, the law) that influence behavior. Shaver weaves contemporary issues into his treatment of basic theories, using examples from everyday situations. His supple writing engages students in the complexity of social behavior, and is one reason this title remained one of the most highly regarded texts in the field at the time.

Preface 1. Social Psychology: Accounting for Social Behavior 2. Theory and Method 3. Elements of Social Perception 4. Social Cognition: Construction of a Social Reality 5. Attitude Organization and Cognitive Consistency 6. Persuasion and Attitude Change 7. The Self 8. Reinforcement and Fairness in Social Exchange 9. Positive Forms of Social Behavior 10. Competition and Aggression 11. Social Influence 12. The Individual and the Group 13. The Environment and Social Behavior 14. Social Psychology and Criminal Justice. Methodological Appendix: Research Procedures in Social Psychology. Glossary. References. Author Index. Subject Index.