Social, group or collective psychology Books

Book SynopsisThis annual series reflects the dynamism of social psychology in Europe and the attention now being paid to European ideas and research. This volume will further the international exchange of ideas by providing an outlet for substantial accounts of theoretical and empirical work that have not been previously published in English.Table of ContentsContributors Acknowledgments Intention-Behaviour relations: A Conceptual and Empirical Review(Paschal Sheeran) Ambivalence and Attitudes (Mark Connor and Paul Sparks) Expanding the Assessment of Attitude Components and Structure: TheBenefits of Open-ended Measures (Victoria M. Esses and GregoryR.Maio) Shifting Standards and Contextual Variation in Steroptyping (MonicaBiernat and Elizabeth R. Thompson) A Group By Any Other Name - The Role of Entitativity in Group Perception (David L. Hamilton,Steven J. Sherman and Luigi Castelli) The Meaning and Consequences of Perceived Discrimination inDisadvantaged and Privileged Social Groups (Michael T. Schmitt andNyla R. Branscombe) Goal-based Explanations of Actions and Outcomes (JohnMcClure) The Self in Relationships: Whether, How and When Close Others Putthe Self "in Its Place" (Constantine Sedikides, W. Keith Campbell,Glenn D. Reeder and Andrew J. Elliot) Prospects, Pitfalls and Plans: A Proactive Perspective on SocialComparison Activity (Lisa G. Aspinwall, Douglas L. Hill andSamantha L. Leaf) Social and Cognitive Influences in Group Brainstorming: PredictingProduction Gains and Losses (Paul B. Paulus, Karen Leggett Dugosh,Mary T. Dzindolet, Hamit Coskun and Vicky L. Putnam.) Author Index Subject Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis annual series reflects the dynamism of social psychology in Europe and the attention now being paid to European ideas and research. Although open to authors of all nations, it furthers the international exchange of ideas by including substantial accounts of work not previously published in English.Table of ContentsContributors Acknowledgements Intention-Behaviour Relations: A Conceptual and Empirical Review(Paschal Sheeran) Ambivalence and Attitudes (Mark Conner and Paul Sparks) Expanding the Assessment of Attitude Components and Structure: TheBenefits of Open-Ended Measures (Victoria M. Esses and Gregory R.Maio) Shifting Standards and Contextual Variation in Stereotyping (MonicaBiernat and Elizabeth R. Thompson) A Group By Any Other Name. The Role of Entitativity in GroupPerception (David L. Hamilton, Steven J. Sherman and LuigiCastelli) The Meaning and Consequences of Perceived Discrimination inDisadvantaged and Privileged Social Groups. (Michael T. Schmitt andNyla R. Branscombe) Goal-based explanations of actions and outcomes (JohnMcClure) The Self in Relationships: Whether, How and When Close Others Putthe Self "in Its Place" (Constantine Sedikides, W. Keith Campbell,Glenn D Reeder and Andrew J Elliot) Prospects, Pitfalls and Plans: A Proactive Perspective on SocialComparison Activity (Lisa G. Aspinwall, Douglas L. Hill andSamantha L. Leaf) Social and Cognitive Influences in Group Brainstorming: PredcitingProduction Gains and Losses (Paul B. Paulus, Karen Leggett Dugosh,Mary T. Dzindolet, Hamit Coskun and Vicky L. Putman) Author and Subject Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisIntended as the group therapy equivalent to Bergin and Garfield''s The Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change. Renowned contributors offer a comprehensive survey of all empirical evidence concerned with process and outcome in group therapy. Contains both general considerations and applications to specific disorders and with determinate populations.Table of ContentsPartial table of contents: CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS. Group Psychotherapy: Research and Practice (A. Fuhriman & G.Burlingame). STRUCTURAL ENTITIES IN GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY. Client Variables (W. Piper). Therapist Variables in Group Psychotherapy Research (R.Dies). THERAPEUTIC COMPONENTS OF THE GROUP ECOSYSTEM. Group Development (K. MacKenzie). Therapeutic Factors: Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Mechanisms (E.Crouch, et al.). SPECIAL APPLICATIONS AND POPULATIONS. Progress in Short-Term and Time-Limited Group Psychotherapy:Evidence and Implications (S. Budman, et al.). Inpatient Group Therapy (R. Klein, et al.). Epilogue (G. Burlingame & A. Fuhriman). Indexes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring the ''Golden Era'' of economic growth between 1950 and 1973, mortality and physical illness declined in developed countries, but a number of psychosocial disorders increased. The authors of this volume search out the causes of the increased disorder in young people and target the disorders that rise in frequency in the teenage years: crime, alcohol and drug abuse, depression, anorexia and bulimia, and suicide. The extensive research findings on the mechanisms that lead to each of the disorders are reviewed. In addition, the authors consider a wide range of social and economic changes as possible explanations of trends in the disorders: the changing process of adolescent development, the family, the economy, the labour market, the mass media, and moral concepts and values are all discussed in depth. This international group of researchers bring together, for the first time, under the auspices of the Academia Europaea, data for a range of psychosocial disorders on time trends, on Table of ContentsPartial table of contents: OBJECTIVES AND METHODS. Causal Concepts and Their Testing (M. Rutter). Individual Development and Social Change (G. Caprara & M.Rutter). CHANGING CONDITIONS AND INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT. Changing Family Patterns in Western Europe: Opportunity and RiskFactors for Adolescent Development (L. Hess). Living Conditions in the Twentieth Century (D. Smith). Media and Problem Behaviours in Young People (E. Wartella). THE TARGET DISORDERS. Youth Crime and Conduct Disorders: Trends, Patterns and CausalExplanations (D. Smith). Secular Trends in Substance Use: Concepts and Data on the Impact ofSocial Change on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (R. Silbereisen, etal.). Depressive Disorders: Time Trends and Possible ExplanatoryMechanisms (E. Fombonne). CONCLUSIONS. Time Trends in Psychosocial Disorders of Youth (D. Smith & M.Rutter). Towards Causal Explanations of Time Trends in PsychosocialDisorders of Youth (M. Rutter & D. Smith). Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEuropean Review of Social Psychology Volume 8 Edited by Wolfgang Stroebe Utrecht University, The Netherlands and Miles Hewstone University of Wales, Cardiff, UK The European Review of Social Psychology is an annual series that reflects the dynamism of social psychology in Europe and the attention now paid to European ideas and research. Although open to authors from all nations, one of its major purposes is to further the international exchange of ideas by providing an outlet for substantial accounts of theoretical and empirical work that has not been previously published in English. With the help of an editorial board consisting of senior scholars from various European countries and the USA, the editors invite outstanding researchers to contribute to these volumes. The emphasis of these contributions is on critical assessment of major areas of research and of substantial individual programmes of research as well as on topics and initiatives of contemporary interest and originality. ThTable of ContentsCognitive Dissonance Theory: A Radical Review (R.-V. Joule & J.-L. Beauvois). Affect, Attitudes and Decisions: Let's Be More Specific (J. van der Pligt, et al.). Affective Priming (K. Klauer). Hindsight Bias: Impaired Memory or Biased Reconstruction? (D. Stahlberg & A. Maass). Cognitive and Social Consequences of the Need for Cognitive Closure (D. Webster & A. Kruglanski). The Context/Comparison Model of Social Influence: Mechanisms, Structure and Linkages that Underlie Indirect Attitude Change (W. Crano & E. Alvaro). The Group as a Basis for Emergent Stereotype Consensus (S. Haslam, et al.). Outgroup Prejudice in Western Europe (T. Pettigrew, et al.). Indexes. Contents of Previous Volumes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRecent years have seen a rapid expansion of the number of psychologists and applied social scientists working or training in applied settings such as mental health, health promotion, education, work and organisations, management and marketing.Table of ContentsCoding Attributions. Attributions in Clinical Settings. Attributions at Work. Consumer Beliefs and Behaviours. Future Trends and Research. References. Further Reading. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMany countries have reduced dramatically the proportion of patients in psychiatric hospitals in favour of community care. The demand for mental health care in the community keeps growing, and cannot be met by traditional, conventional services alone.Table of ContentsTHE THEORETICAL, PRACTICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT. Challenges and Opportunities for Professionals. UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL SUPPORT. Making Sense of Social Support. Measuring Social Support. IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS. Clinical Interventions. Proximal Interventions. Distal Interventions. EVALUATING SOCIAL SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS. Evaluation of Social Support Interventions. Reflections and Implications. References. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThese are the first two volumes in an important new five-book series derived from sections of the international bestseller, Handbook of Personal Relationships, Second Edition, by Steve Duck.Table of ContentsPersonal Relationships and Social Psychology (W. Ickes & S.Duck). An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Relationships (D. Kenrick& M. Trost). A Process Model of Adult Attachment Formation (D. Zeifman & C.Hazan). Perspectives on Interracial Relationships (S. Gaines & W.Ickes). Interdependence in Personal Relationships (C. Rusbult & X.Arriaga). Self-expansion Motivation and Including Other in the Self (A. Aron& E. Aron). Self-presentational Perspectives on Personal Relationships (M.Leary & R. Miller). Methods of Studying Close Relationships (W. Ickes). On the Statistics of Interdependence: Treating Dyadic Data withRespect (R. Gonzalez & D. Griffin). Embracing the Social in Personal Relationships and Research (L.Acitelli, et al.). References. Indexes.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe 1980s saw the peak of a moral panic over fantasy role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. This book explores both the history and the sociological significance of this panic. It is suitable for those with an interest in religion, popular culture, and social behavior, both in the classroom and beyond.Trade Review"Dangerous Games presents a detailed and multi-layered history of the social realities surrounding Role Playing Games (RPGs), analyzing a complex legacy of cultural and religious epistemologies, in order to argue that the corresponding moral panic over such games is itself a form of dangerous corrupted play. . . . Overall, Dangerous Games is an important read for students and scholars of contemporary history, religion, popular culture, and mythology." * Nova Religio *"Dangerous Games is a necessary interjection into the conversation between fantasy role-playing and the hysteria over violent-themed play . . . [and] charges players to keep rolling on, and for those who question such games to reflect on what exactly they find so repugnant from an exploration of imagination and play." * Reading Religion *"Worth reading for the detailed and nuanced history of fantasy role-playing games in and of itself, the book’s supplementary focus on tragic events that were widely linked to role-playing games is engrossing. . . . But Laycock’s greatest achievement is shooting a silver bullet straight into the heart of moral, media and satanic panics by positing that society’s discomfort with role-playing games is rooted in a discomfort with imagination." * Times Higher Education *"This book deserves a place in the library of any scholar of games as cultural texts—and especially those interested in religion and games." * American Journal of Play *"This book will be useful for those who wish to explore the intersections of religion and popular culture. . . .clear and convincing." * Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsPreface. "You Worship Gods from Books!" Introduction. Fantasy and Reality PART I. THE HISTORY OF THE PANIC 1. The Birth of Fantasy Role-Playing Games 2. Dungeons & Dragons as Religious Phenomenon 3. Pathways into Madness: 1979--1982 4. Satanic Panic: 1982--1991 5. A World of Darkness: 1991--2001 PART II. INTERPRETING THE PANIC 6. How Role-Playing Games Create Meaning 7. How the Imagination Became Dangerous 8. Rival Fantasies Conclusion. Walking between Worlds Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow corporate denial harms our world and continues tothreatenour future. Corporations faced with proof that they are hurting people or the planet have a long history of denying evidence, blaming victims, complaining of witch hunts, attacking their critics' motives, and otherwise rationalizing their harmful activities. Denial campaigns have let corporations continue dangerous practices that cause widespread suffering, death, and environmental destruction.And, by undermining social trust in science and government, corporate denial has made it harder for our democracy to function. Barbara Freese, an environmental attorney, confronted corporate denial years ago when cross-examining coal industry witnesses who were disputing the science of climate change.She set out to discover how far from reality corporate denial had led society in the past and what damage it had done. Her resulting, deeply-researched book is an epic tour through eight campaigns of denial waged by industries defending Trade Review"A detailed look at how corporations faced with evidence that they’re ruining the earth have found a way to distort the truth and pump out propaganda that supports their business." -- Joe Rogan, * Joe Rogan Experience *“An exhaustive chronicle of white-collar true crime.” * Los Angeles Review of Books *"Succeeds in providing a fascinating, well-documented, intelligently structured and morally instructive account of some cleverly selected and patently egregious cases of precisely the kind of ‘self-deception’ and ‘hypocrisy’ that . . . have been preoccupying Western ethicists for generations." * European Legacy *Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Dangerous Phenomenon 1. A “More Pleasing Representation”: The Alternate Reality Crafted by the Slave Lobby 2. “A Wonderful Stimulant”: Radium, Risk, and Responsibility 3. “The Nut behind the Wheel”: Carmakers Avoiding Blame for Highway Deaths 4. “How Wrong One Can Be”: Bias, Tribalism, and Leaded Gasoline 5. “Our Free Enterprise System Is at Stake”: CFCs, Ideology, and Manipulated Uncertainty 6. “Psychological Crutches”: Tobacco’s Mass Production of Denial 7. “Bottom Line. Nothing Else Matters”: The Financial Crisis and a Culture of Exploitation 8. A “Deceitful, Hysterical, Out-of-Control Rampage”: Fossil Fuels, Climate Denial, and Distrust Building Conclusion: Shifting the Social Norm toward the Public Interest Acknowledgments Notes Major Works Cited in Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisCommenced in 1958 with 142 young women who were seniors at Mills College, the Mills Study has become the largest and longest longitudinal study of women's adult development, with assessments of these women in their twenties, forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies. Women on the River of Life synthesizes five decades of research to paint a picture of women's personality and development across the lifespan. The book explores questions of family, work, life-path, maturity, wisdom, creativity, attachment, and purpose in life, unfolding in the context of a rapidly changing historical period with far-reaching consequences for the kinds of lives women would envision for themselves. Helson and Mitchell breathe life into abstract theories and concepts with the real-life stories and voices of the study's participants. Woven throughout the book are the authors' reminiscences on the profound endeavor of sustaining a longitudinal study of women's lives through time.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction and Overview 1. How the Mills Study Came About 2. Transforming into a Study of Women’s Adult Development 3. Sustaining Fifty Years of the Mills Study Part I. Early Adulthood 4. The Roots of Creativity in Women 5. The Social Clock Projects 6. Marriage and Motherhood 7. Illustrating Two Developmental Theories 8. Loevinger’s Theory of Ego Development Part II. Major Influences 9. The Enormous Impact of Gender Expectations 10. The Sweep of History: Individualism, Gay Liberation, the Counterculture 11. The Astonishing Importance of Personality Part III. Middle Age 12. The Social Clock in Middle Age 13. Ups and Downs in Middle Age 14. Whatever Happened to Creativity in Women? 15. Women’s Prime of Life Part IV. Developmental Achievements 16. The Centrality of Attachment 17. Paths of Development: Three Conceptions of Positive Mental Health 18. Wisdom 19. Generativity and Individuation: Tasks of the Second Half of Life Part V. The Crown of Life 20. Answering Four Questions about Creative Personality 21. The Place of Purpose in Life in Women’s Positive Aging: Women with Low Purpose 22. The Place of Purpose in Life in Women’s Positive Aging: Women with High Purpose 23. Late Adulthood: The Third Age Complete Published Work of the Mills Study References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe History of the Family concerns the changing interactions between family and social, political and religious structures over the last thousand years of European history. The family is usually described in terms of patterns of kinship, inheritance, and relations between sexes and generations.Table of ContentsThe meaning of family; the role of the ancestors; the politics of family; the arranged marriage; the nature of passion; the economics of the household; the rise of domesticity.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is the first to synthesise this exciting new area for undergraduates. Taking a topic-based approach, it emphasises the social contexts of development and the developmental aspects of social reasoning and social behaviour.Trade Review"This is an excellent book in many respects. It provides a detailed review of a wide range of issues of concern to developmental and social psychologists. It further provides a basis for a theoretical and methodological integration of these two branches of psychological investigation..... It is easily accessible, thoughtfully organized and clearly written. It will be of interest to teachers and researchers in these areas and will provide an invaluable sourcebook for students." British Journal of Developmental Psychology "... this book is notable for its strengths and remarkable as the work of one person. It is also an accurate reflection of a wide range of theory and research in basic developmental and social psychology and, especially, the points of intersection of those specialities." Contemporary Psychology "All in all, Durkin's book constitutes a thorough, well-organized and impeccably referenced textbook... Developmental Social Psychology is an invaluable source for any undergraduate studying developmental psychology, and all the more so for the novel connections it invites the student to make between the social and developmental literature." BPS Developmental Psychology Section Newsletter, Spring 98 "Durkin's textbook provides a representative overview of the discipline, one which addresses developmental psychology's Achilles heel, the child's relation with the social world. Developmental Social Psychology belongs to that genre of core undergraduate textbooks with representative chapters on infancy, language, social cognition, adolescence, moral development, adulthood and old age, and I have little doubt that it will be hailed as a comprehensive introduction to developmental psychology with a social-psychological orientation." Michael A. Forrester, British Journal of PsychologyTable of Contents1. Introduction. 2. Social Life and Infancy. 3. Attachment to Others. 4. Family and Peers. 5. The Development of Gender. 6. Language Development I: Origins and Course. 7. Language Development II: Social Dimensions of Acquisition and Use. 8. The Development of Non-verbal Communication. 9. Social Cognition I: Understanding the Social World. 10. Social Cognition II: Social Reasoning and Societal Knowledge. 11. Social Cognition III: Social Interaction and Cognitive Development. 12. The Development of Aggression. 13. The Development of Prosocial Behaviour. 14. Moral Development. 15. Adolescence I: Transitions. 16. Adolescence II: Entering the Adult World. 17. Adolescence III: Problems. 18. Adulthood I: Development, Relationships and Roles. 19. Adulthood II: Middle Age and the Later Years.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHealth and the Sociology of Emotions offers an appraisal of the current lively debates which challenge the contribution of the sociology of emotion to health, and of sociology of health and illness to a sociological understanding of emotion.Trade Review"The observations made here support the editors' view that the sociology of emotions and the sociology of health and illness have much to offer each other. Considered together, they open up new avenues of thought and the prospect of some enlightening medical studies." --Sheila Hawker, University of SouthamptonTable of ContentsIntroduction (Veronica James, University of Nottingham; and Jonathan Gabe, Royal Holloway, University of London). Theoretical Issues. 1. Biomedicine, holistic health and the emotionally reflexive body in "late" modernity (Gillian Bendelow and Simon Williams, University of Warwick). 2. C. Wright Mills meets Prozac: the social emotions approach to an understanding of health and illness (Margot Lyon, Australian National University, Canberra). Methodology. 3. Plans, intentions and emotions: reflections on a methodological problem encountered in a study of teenage pregnancy (Andrew Finlay, Dorothy Whittington, Nicola Shaw and Monica McWilliams, Universities of Dublin and Ulster; Northern Health and Social Service Board). 4. Is there a reciprocal relationship between emotions as expressed in first person fieldwork accounts and the sociology of emotion? (Liz Young and Ray Lee, Royal Holloway, University of London). Social Construction. 5. Emotional labour, order and emotional power in care assistant work (Geraldine Lee-Treweek, University of Manchester). 6. Social construction of emotion and health promotion: the case of nursing (Pam Smith and Abigail Masterson, RCN Institute of Advanced Nursing Education). 7. Trust, uncertainty and consumerist models of health care delivery (Deborah Lupton, University of Western Sydney). 8. Exploring emotional expression in medical examinations: a transcript-based analysis (Bill Yoels, University of Alabama at Birmingham).

Read more less

Book SynopsisSocial identity has been at the heart of European experimental social psychology for the past 25 years, and has been of growing interest in North America during the past decade where research in the field has expanded significantly. This text fills the need for an overview of recent developments in social identity theory, covering both theoretical and empirical work.Table of ContentsForeword: John C Turner (Australia National University). 1. Social Identity Theory: Where Are We Now?: John C Turner. 2. An Introduction to the Contributors: Naomi Ellemers, Russell Spears and Bertjan Doosje. 3. Types Of Identity Threats And Their Self Esteem Consequences: Nyla Branscombe (University of Kansas), Naomi Ellemers, Russell Spears and Bertjan Doosje. 4. Dealing With Deprivation: The Role of Social Identity Salience: Heather Smith (Berkeley) and Russell Spears. 5. Commitment and the Context of Intergroup Perceptions: Russell Spears, Naomi Ellemers and Bertjan Doosje. 6. Identity Needs and Contextual Restrictions: Naomi Ellemers, Manuela Barreto (Free University, Amsterdam) and Russell Spears. 7. Social Identity, Social Norms and Social Influence: Tom Postmes (University of Amsterdam), Russell Spears and Martin Lea (University of Manchester). 8. Linguistic Communication Biases in Intra and Intergroup Contexts: Russell Spears, Daniel Wigboldus (Free University, Amsterdam) and Gun Semin (Free University, Amsterdam). 9. Group Commitment and Intergroup Behavior: Bertjan Doosje, Naomi Ellemers and Russell Spears. 10. Affect, Commitment and Collective Effort: Naomi Ellemers, Jaap Ouwerkerk (Free University, Amsterdam) and Dick de Gilder (University of Amsterdam). 11. Group Distinctiveness and Intergroup Discrimination: Russell Spears, Tony Manstead (University of Amsterdam) and Jolanda Jetten (University of Amsterdam).

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis authoritative handbook provides a cutting-edge overview of classic and current research as well as an assessment of future trends in the field of interpersonal processes. Ensures thorough and up-to-date coverage of all aspects of interpersonal processes Includes contributions by academics and other experts from around the world to ensure a truly international perspective Provides a comprehensive overview of classic and current research and likely future trends Fully referenced chapters and annotated bibliographies allow easy access to further study Now available in full text online via xreferplus, the award-winning reference library on the web from xrefer. For more information, visit www.xreferplus.comTrade Review"Providing lively, state-of-the-art coverage about the vibrant interpersonal core of social psychology, this outstanding collection of original chapters puts the 'social' front and center in social psychology. Written by an all-star lineup of contributors, it is essential reading for social psychologists. Each chapter provides a scholarly overview of a cutting-edge research program and should enlighten readers for years to come. This superb volume is chock-full of thought-provoking discussion and stimulating ideas."—Professor Harry Reis, University of RochesterTable of ContentsSeries Editors' Forword Preface Part I: Cognition/Attribution 1. Attributions in Close Relationships: From Balkanization to IntegrationFrank D. Fincham 2. Cognition and the Development of Close RelationshipsBenjamin R. Karney, James K. McNulty, and Thomas N. Bradbury 3. Cognitive Representations of Attachment: The Content and Function of Working ModelsNancy L. Collins and Lisa M. Allard 4. The Structure and Function of Ideal Standards in Close RelationshipsJeffry A. Simpson, Garth J.O. Fletcher, and Lorne Campbell 5. Seeking a Sense of Conviction: Motivated Cognition in Close RelationshipsSandra L. Murray Part II: Social Motivation 6. Integrating Social Psychological Research on Aggression within an Evolutionary-based FrameworkNeil M. Malamuth and Tamara Addison 7. Helping and AltruismJohn F. Dovidio and Louis A. Penner 8. The Death and Rebirth of the Social Psychology of NegotiationMax H. Bazerman, Jared R. Curhan, and Don A. Moore 9. Motivational Aspects of Empathic AccuracyWilliam Ickes and Jeffry A. Simpson Part III: Affect/Emotion 10. Understanding People's Perceptions of Relationships is Crucial to Understanding their Emotional LivesMargaret S. Clark, Julie Fitness, and Ian Brissette 11. Emotional Intelligence: Conceptualization and MeasurementPeter Salovey, Alison Woolery, and John D. Mayer 12. Emotional Experience in Close RelationshipsEllen Berscheid and Hilary Ammazzalorso 13. The Status of Theory and Research on Love and CommitmentBeverly Fehr Part IV: Social Influence and Comparison 14. Interdependence in Close RelationshipsCaryl E. Rusbult, Ximena B. Arriaga, and Christopher R. Agnew 15. Social Comparison and Close RelationshipsBram P. Buunk and Frans L. Oldersma Part V: Self and Identity 16. An Evolutionary-Pyschological Approach to Self-esteem: Multiple Domains and Multiple FunctionsLee A. Kirkpatrick and Bruce J. Ellis 17. Is Loving the Self Necessary for Loving Another? An Examination of Identity and IntimacyW. Keith Campbell and Roy F. Baumeister 18. The Self We Know and the Self We Show: Self-esteem, Self Presentation, and the Maintenance of Interpersonal RelationshipsMark R. Leary 19. Self-expansion Model of Motivation and Cognition in Close Relationships and BeyondArthur Aron, Elaine N. Aron, and Christina Norman Part VI: Methods 20. A Statistical Framework for Modeling Homogeneity and Interdependence in GroupsRichard Gonzalez and Dale Griffin Part VII: Applications 21. Attachment Style and Affect Regulation: Implications for Coping with Stress and Mental HealthMario Mikulincer and Victor Florian 22. Marital Therapy and Social Psychology: Will We Choose Explicit Partnership or Cryptomnesia?Steven R. H. Beach and Frank D. Fincham Subject Index Author Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe attachment bond that develops between infant and mother is the first of many intimate relationships we form throughout life, and as such it has been the focus of much research. But how does the quality of the secure base phenomena that defines this bond vary among individuals and across cultures? What methods can be used to asses its presence and characteristics? Following an interview with Mary S. Ainsworth, the originator of the concept of secure base, this new Monograph brings together eleven papers that consolidate our understanding of the empirical advances that have occurred in attachment research. The collection is organized into three sections. Part One includes papers on the generalizability of attachment theory and data, including cross-cultural research. Part Two addresses both normative and individual differences among mothers, children, caregivers, and their interactionsand methods for the valid assessment of these. Part Three examines the mental repres

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is a social psychological inquiry into identity in modern society. * Starts from the social psychological premise that identity results from interaction in the social world. * Reviews and integrates the most influential strands of contemporary social psychology research on identity.Trade Review"Provocative and persuasive, Bernd Simon's Identity in Modern Society addresses critical issues in understanding the nature of identity, building bridges between the experience in individual, social, societal and cultural contexts. The result is a theoretically sophisticated analysis, one that will likely shape the agenda for generations of scholarly inquiry on the antecedents and consequences of identity." Mark Snyder, McKnight Presidential Chair in Psychology, University of Minnesota "An essential and landmark text for students and researchers alike. Beautifully crafted, eloquently argued, refreshing and provocative in all the best ways, it is testament to rare and masterful scholarship. Each chapter — including Turner’s foreword — has something powerful and significant to say and makes the reader think. Every aspiring psychologist should read this book to appreciate the richness both of this topic and of social psychology as a whole." S. Alexander Haslam, Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology, University of Exeter "In this engaging and thought provoking volume, Bernd Simon presents a multi-level, trans-disciplinary analysis of the importance of individual and collective identity, and their interrelationship, in a social world. Distinguished by its scope, depth and insight, this book draws on classic and contemporary research in social psychology and related disciplines to offer a new theoretical synthesis and to tackle issues of practical as well as conceptual importance." Jack Dovidio, Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Colgate University "There is a lot to like about this book. Perhaps most importantly it provides a thoughtful and wide ranging perspective on the concepts of self and identity. These ideas are then used as a framework within which to understand a series of important aspects of modern society, ranging from the problems of minority and majority groups in diverse societies to the roots of collective identity and collective action. This book will be of interest to a broad audience including both social psychologists and those concerned with a wide variety of current and emerging social issues. I recommend it to anyone seeking a comprehensive examination of psychological approaches to the study of identity." Tom Tyler, University Professor of Psychology, New York University "Although written primarily within the academic social psychological community, this book is an accessible account of developments in the field as they reflect wider social concerns." Scientific and Medical Network Review, Spring 2004Table of ContentsList of Figures. List of Tables. Foreword by John C. Turner. Preface. 1. Introduction. Approaching Identity as a Scientific Concept. Human Consciousness. The Social Conditions of Human Existence. A Brief Overview of Subsequent Chapters. Summary. 2. The Social Psychology of Identity: Sociological and Psychological Contributions. Sociological Contributions. Psychological Contributions. Summary. 3. Identity in Modern Society: An Integrative Approach. Theoretical Background and Levels of Identity Analysis. A Self-Aspect Model of Identity (SAMI). Identity and (Post)Modernity. Identity, Phenomenology and Accuracy. Functions and Processes of Identity. Summary. 4. Antecedents of Individual and Collective Identity. Person Variables. Social Context Variables. The Interplay of Individual and Collective Identities. Summary. 5. Identity in Minority-Majority Contexts. Self-Interpretation. Social Information Processing. Well-being. Intergroup Behaviour. Summary. 6. Identity in Intercultural Contact. Models of Intergroup Contact. Immigration, Identity and Social Integration. Right-Wing Extremism and National Identity. Cultural Differences and Racism: A Comment. Summary. 7. Identity, Mobilization and Participation. Identity and Social Movement Participation. Identity, Organizational Participation and Intragroup Co-operation. Identity and Volunteerism. Summary. 8. Conclusions and Future Directions. Identity and Action. Identity and Power. References. Author Index. Subject Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is a social psychological inquiry into identity in modern society. Starts from the social psychological premise that identity results from interaction in the social world. Reviews and integrates the most influential strands of contemporary social psychology research on identity. Brings together North American and European perspectives on social psychology. Incorporates insights from philosophy, cognitive neuroscience, psychology, cultural studies, anthropology and sociology. Places social identity research in a variety of real-life social contexts. Trade Review"Provocative and persuasive, Bernd Simon's Identity in Modern Society addresses critical issues in understanding the nature of identity, building bridges between the experience in individual, social, societal and cultural contexts. The result is a theoretically sophisticated analysis, one that will likely shape the agenda for generations of scholarly inquiry on the antecedents and consequences of identity." Mark Snyder, McKnight Presidential Chair in Psychology, University of Minnesota "An essential and landmark text for students and researchers alike. Beautifully crafted, eloquently argued, refreshing and provocative in all the best ways, it is testament to rare and masterful scholarship. Each chapter — including Turner’s foreword — has something powerful and significant to say and makes the reader think. Every aspiring psychologist should read this book to appreciate the richness both of this topic and of social psychology as a whole." S. Alexander Haslam, Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology, University of Exeter "In this engaging and thought provoking volume, Bernd Simon presents a multi-level, trans-disciplinary analysis of the importance of individual and collective identity, and their interrelationship, in a social world. Distinguished by its scope, depth and insight, this book draws on classic and contemporary research in social psychology and related disciplines to offer a new theoretical synthesis and to tackle issues of practical as well as conceptual importance." Jack Dovidio, Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Colgate University "There is a lot to like about this book. Perhaps most importantly it provides a thoughtful and wide ranging perspective on the concepts of self and identity. These ideas are then used as a framework within which to understand a series of important aspects of modern society, ranging from the problems of minority and majority groups in diverse societies to the roots of collective identity and collective action. This book will be of interest to a broad audience including both social psychologists and those concerned with a wide variety of current and emerging social issues. I recommend it to anyone seeking a comprehensive examination of psychological approaches to the study of identity." Tom Tyler, University Professor of Psychology, New York University "Although written primarily within the academic social psychological community, this book is an accessible account of developments in the field as they reflect wider social concerns." Scientific and Medical Network Review, Spring 2004Table of ContentsList of Figures. List of Tables. Foreword by John C. Turner. Preface. 1. Introduction. Approaching Identity as a Scientific Concept. Human Consciousness. The Social Conditions of Human Existence. A Brief Overview of Subsequent Chapters. Summary. 2. The Social Psychology of Identity: Sociological and Psychological Contributions. Sociological Contributions. Psychological Contributions. Summary. 3. Identity in Modern Society: An Integrative Approach. Theoretical Background and Levels of Identity Analysis. A Self-Aspect Model of Identity (SAMI). Identity and (Post)Modernity. Identity, Phenomenology and Accuracy. Functions and Processes of Identity. Summary. 4. Antecedents of Individual and Collective Identity. Person Variables. Social Context Variables. The Interplay of Individual and Collective Identities. Summary. 5. Identity in Minority-Majority Contexts. Self-Interpretation. Social Information Processing. Well-being. Intergroup Behaviour. Summary. 6. Identity in Intercultural Contact. Models of Intergroup Contact. Immigration, Identity and Social Integration. Right-Wing Extremism and National Identity. Cultural Differences and Racism: A Comment. Summary. 7. Identity, Mobilization and Participation. Identity and Social Movement Participation. Identity, Organizational Participation and Intragroup Co-operation. Identity and Volunteerism. Summary. 8. Conclusions and Future Directions. Identity and Action. Identity and Power. References. Author Index. Subject Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisCultural Diversity: Its Social Psychology shows how social psychology can contribute to contemporary debates about immigration and multiculturalism. Shows how social psychology can contribute to contemporary debates about immigration and cultural diversity. Helps readers to understand the processes that have shaped modern societies and the diversity issues they are facing. Reviews research into the socio-psychological factors facilitating or hindering the emergence of plural societies. Focuses on intergroup relationships what happens when people migrate, how they adapt, and what changes are produced by their presence. The issues discussed are contextualised within the traditional accounts of the nation-state, European integration and North American and Australian experiences. Student-friendly features include boxes, summaries, lists of key words, suggestions for further reading and a glossary. Trade Review"At last, a social psychology text that is devoted to understanding the rapidly changing and multicultural nature of liberal democratic societies! Increasing cultural diversity and the forces of globalisation have brought significant challenges to the ways in which nation states manage and organise the coexistence of diverse cultural groups. This book draws on the best that social psychological theory and research has to offer to examine how dominant and non-dominant groups negotiate the complex social and psychological processes implicated in living together within the boundaries of the nation. Students and scholars of social psychology will welcome this innovative application of theories in the field to understand the complex and diverse societies in which we live." Dr Martha Augoustinos, Department of Psychology, Adelaide University "Considering the increased multiculturalism of most societies around the world, nothing could be more timely than this text that discusses the latest social psychological thinking and research. The book is a clear and scholarly work suitable for undergraduate and graduate students unfamiliar with the field. In an accessible and engaging style, Chryssochoou addresses the central issues and debates, discusses in detail some of the key concepts and most salient research, and offers an explanation of classic approaches and theories. The breath of its coverage of the literature is impressive and will help to stimulate further research in the field and also provides the wider audience of social scientists with an excellent introduction to what social psychology has to offer." Dr Maykel Verkuyten, Utrecht University "Far too many texts in social psychology spend so much time outlining answers that they forget to explain why the questions matter in the first place. Xenia Chryssochoou's great achievement in this book is to make us care about the issues that our theories are oriented to and hence make us want to engage with those issues. She addresses what is perhaps the most pressing social issue of our time: how can people live together in culturally diverse societies? She uses this to address the contribution of a broad range of social psychological theories. Her writing is scholarly and balanced and clear. But perhaps most importantly, it is what we sorely lack and urgently need: a passionate social psychology." Professor Stephen Reicher, School of Psychology, St. Andrews University "The tendency to oversimplify cultural differences is a common one, but Chryssochoou manages subtlety and theoretical sophistication in addressing one of the defining issues of our times: how to develop thriving multicultural communities. With succinct summaries of the methods and results of groundbreaking studies and cogent theoretical snapshots in panels and appendices, Chryssochoou does student readers a great service. And by considering immigration from the perspectives of immigrants themselves as well as members of the receiving culture, she moves all of us perceptibly closer to understanding the social and psychological prerequisites for a better, more diverse societal life." Dr John T. Jost, New York University and Stanford University "Until now, no attempts have been made to integrate the many different research traditions that social psychologists use to study cultural diversity. This situation is now changed. Xenia Chryssochoou uses a method of triangulation to link, in a common frame, studies on different aspects of acculturation such as the reciprocal views of cultural minorities and majorities together with processes described by main theories in social psychology. Her book on Cultural Diversity: Its Social Psychology is unique for its exhaustive treatment of the social psychological aspects of the relationships between different cultural groups as well as for the innovative devices used to structure and transmit the message." Willem Doise, Professor of Social Psychology, University of Geneva "An excellent textbook introducing the central issues surrounding the social psychological processes within multicultural societies, with a particular emphasis on migration and ethnic minorities. The perspectives of immigrants and hosts are both examined, with case studies, theoretical snapshots and sidebar definitions of key terms. Later chapters consider issues of living together in a multicultural society and the future of the nation-state within supranational groupings. A book that will interest the general reader as well as the student of social psychology." Scientific and Medical Network Review, Spring 2004 "The book aims to understand the principles of the interaction between the individual and the social in order to understand the functioning of our societies and the constitution of culture." Sage Race Relations AbstractsTable of ContentsForeword by Serge Moscovici vii Preface ix Acknowledgments xiii Introduction xv What is Social Psychology About? xvi Social Psychology and the Study of Multicultural Societies xviii Cultural Memberships and Understanding of the Social World xx Beliefs About Acculturation: The Coexistence of Different Cultures Under the Same Political and Social Organization xxiv 1 Moving Into New Environments: The Perspective of People Belonging to Non-Dominant Cultural Groups 1 Managing Change, Unfamiliar Environments, and Experiences: Acculturation as a Major Life-Change Event 4 Transmitting and Retaining One’s Cultural Values, and Challenges to Perceptions of the World and of the Self 12 Becoming a Member of the ‘‘New Society’’: Dealing with Devalued/Minority Identities, Prejudice, and Discrimination 20 2 Receiving Immigrants, Perceiving the Other: Reactions of People Belonging to Dominant Cultural Groups 33 Social Psychological Theories of Prejudice 35 Representations of Groups: Stereotypes and Social Categorization 42 Prejudice Linked to Racial Differentiation 45 Constructing ‘‘Otherness’’: Extreme Problematizations of the Outgroup 52 Feeling Threatened: Identity, Change, and Resources 60 3 Living Together in Culturally Diverse Societies 66 Reducing Prejudice: Contact and Categorization Issues 67 Relationships Between Groups: Issues of Negative and Positive Interdependence and Power 73 Superordinate Memberships: The Battle for Group Beliefs 85 4 Towards Cultural Diversity: Representations, Identity, and Social Influence 97 The Nation-State: A Powerful Ingroup 99 Supranational Groups, Multiple Identities, and Founding Myths: Developing New Projects 112 In the Name of Identity: Self-Knowledge and the Politics of Rights, Claims, and Recognition in Culturally Diverse Societies 121 Theoretical Snapshots 128 References 181 Index 209

Read more less

Book SynopsisConvention was immediately recognized as a major contribution to the subject and its significance has remained undiminished since its first publication in 1969. Lewis analyzes social conventions as regularities in the resolution of recurring coordination problems-situations characterized by interdependent decision processes in which common interests are at stake. Conventions are contrasted with other kinds of regularity, and conventions governing systems of communication are given special attention.Trade Review"This book is my attempt at an analysis of our common, established concept of convention, so that you will recognize that it explains what you must have in mind when you say that language is governed by conventions. Language is only one among many activities governed by conventions that we did not create by agreeing and that we cannot describe." David Lewis "Readers will be indebted to the author of this book." Philosophical Quarterly "The notion of convention has served philosophers since Aristotle as a convenient exploration of the arbitrary character of referential word meaning. In 1936 Willard Quine, pursuing the notion of analyticity, called attention to the emptiness of this explanation. David Lewis has attempted to re-establish the notion of convention as a partial explanation of analytic truth [and his] explication of "convention" is a tour de force of Humean analysis." Philosophy and Rhetoric "This book has been published for quite some time. Its significant contribution is no longer in question [and it will] remain a central reference for discussions on the nature of conventions. An excellent book for teaching purposes." Australasian Journal of PhilosophyTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Foreword by W.V. Quine. Introduction. I. Coordination and Convention. Sample Coordination Problems. Analysis of Coordination Problems. Solving Coordination Problems. Convention. Sample Conventions. II. Convention Refined. Common Knowledge. Knowledge of Conventions. Alternatives to Convention. Degrees of Convention. Consequences of Conventions. III. Convention Contrasted. Agreement. Social Contracts. Norms. Rules. Conformative Behavior. Imitation. Meaning of Signals. IV. Convention and Communication. Sample Signals. Analysis of Signaling. Verbal Signaling. Conventional Meaning of Signals. V. Conventions of Language. Possible Languages. Grammars. Semantics in a Possible Language. Conventions of Truthfulness. Semantics in a Population. Conclusion. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a practical guide for those involved in teaching and learning about bereavement, loss and managing change. It takes readers through the theory and the process, and integrates the information into practice.Trade Review"A stimulating and practical book, aimed at students working with those experiencing grief, loss and bereavement in a wide range of settings. The book provides a refreshing approach to a difficult and often harrowing subject." Nursing StandardTable of ContentsPreface;. Acknowledgements;. List of Contributors;. Introduction;. A theoretical framework for understanding loss and the helping process;. Identity and power;. Personal mortality;. Bullying: coercion and control;. A search for understanding - murder and violence;. The effects of sexual violence on individuals and families;. Suicide: an exploration;. Job Loss;. Portrait of family grief;. Changing the emphasis on death - issues surrounding organ donation;. Mass disaster;. Anger, assertiveness and aggression;. Preparing children for loss and bereavement;. Community rites and the process of grieving;. Afterword;. References and Bibliography;. Glossary;. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat do we mean when we refer to our “identity,” and how do we represent it in the stories we tell about our lives? Is “identity” a sustained private core, or does it change as circumstances and relationships shift? Mishler explores these questions through analyses of in-depth interviews with five craftartists.Trade ReviewStorylines is as much a narrative of Elliot Mishler’s love affair with the crafts and his own craft as a researcher in narratives of identity, as it is a richly textured account of the creative forces in the lives of the five craft artists he interviewed. On the basis of these interviews…[he] concludes that life narratives are not factual histories of the past but rather constructions that can only emerge in the dialogic process of talking about one’s life trajectory and personal identity to a participant listener… Mishler’s celebration of the craft artist and non-alienated labor is eloquently moral and well worth the effort… Expect to be alternately enchanted, challenged, bewildered, sometimes even disoriented and finally enlightened. -- Louise J. Kaplan * American Craft *In this case, the researcher’s affinity with the artists’ lives is clear and, to my mind, makes the work on theory more readable and more credible because it emerges from Mishler’s own story…ultimately, readers can learn more about difference from a researcher like Mishler, who has carved from more than a decade’s research an unusual book that is both personal and professional in scope, philosophy, and evidence. -- Claire Badaracco * Journal of Communication *In the last two decades, there has been a significant shift in the study of persons and social life, away from counted-data methods to a focus on the life-story or narrative. Much of this shift has been a result of Elliot Mishler’s pioneering contributions. In this newest book, Mishler explores the meaning of the ‘hand-made’ for artisans devoting their lives to crafts, and in the process, enlarges both theory and method of human science study. This is truly a fascinating, sophisticated, and important study and one unique in showing the significance of taking seriously a reflexive and dialogic perspective in the study of identity. -- Bertram J. Cohler, University of ChicagoTable of ContentsPreface 1. Studying the Lives and Work of Craftartists: Identity and Narrative 2. Sources and Routes: Variable Pathways in Identity Formation 3. Contingencies and Turning Points: Discontinuities in the Life Course 4. Tensions and Contradictions: Revisiting Claims for Coherence in Life Stories 5. Identities in/as Relationships within the Family and at Work 6. Narrative Studies of Identity: A Forward Look Notes References

Read more less

Book SynopsisTanney challenges not only the cognitivist approach that has dominated philosophy and the special sciences for fifty years, but metaphysical-empirical approaches to the mind in general. Rules, Reason, and Self-Knowledge advocates a return to the world-involving, circumstance-dependent, normative practices where the rational mind has its home.Trade ReviewJulia Tanney provides an impressive critical analysis of the metaphysical ideas and arguments that shape contemporary philosophy of mind. Rules, Reason, and Self-Knowledge is essential reading for anyone with serious interests in the philosophy of mind, in philosophy of language, and in questions about the place of normativity in nature. -- Cora Diamond, University of VirginiaJulia Tanney's Rules, Reason, and Self-Knowledge is a radical challenge to the cognitivist paradigm in contemporary analytic philosophy of mind posed from within the paradigm itself. Tanney's grasp of theory is that of an insider, and the depth and comprehensiveness of her arguments will make the book virtually impossible to ignore. -- Stephen C. White, Tufts University

Read more less

Book SynopsisPsychologist John Jost has spent decades researching poor people who vote for policies of inequality and women who think men deserve higher salaries. He argues that the persecuted often justify and defend the very social systems that oppress them because doing so serves a fundamental need for certainty, security, and social acceptance.Trade ReviewWhy do some in the working class vote against their economic interests? Why do some women support Trump? In this long-awaited volume, summarizing 25 years of work, Jost explains why some members of subordinate groups adopt and defend positions objectively at odds with their best interests. A model of social science research, A Theory of System Justification brings the theoretical and empirical rigor of the academy to bear on real-world issues. For those seeking a better grasp of the times in which we live, Jost’s book is appointment reading. -- Christopher S. Parker, author of Change They Can’t Believe InA definitive synthesis of nearly three decades of pathbreaking research on the stubborn human tendency to embrace and defend oppressive systems. In prose that is both erudite and compelling, Jost reveals the insidious role of human psychology in producing and maintaining our most vexing social injustices, from economic inequality and sexual harassment to racial hierarchies and climate change. A Theory of System Justification will be a game-changer for lawyers, policymakers, activists, organizers, and anyone seeking to unearth the deeply rooted sources of our most profound social problems. In short, I can think of no more timely or valuable book. -- Jon Hanson, Harvard Law SchoolSystem justification theory is one of social and psychological science’s most audacious attempts to address scientifically a problem at the heart of philosophy: the problem of ideology. Why do we so often accept the structural conditions into which we are born, conditions that make life less just for us and those around us? In this book, the culmination of decades of research, John Jost, its pioneer, summarizes a quarter-century of its discoveries and challenges. It is an essential resource. -- Jason Stanley, author of How Fascism WorksJost’s theory has far-reaching implications, and he offers numerous insights that political activists and social justice advocates can use to promote change…An essential resource for anyone who would like to better understand human cognition and behavior. -- Evan A. Valdes * Journal of Constructivist Psychology *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAmerican social critics in the 1970s seized on narcissism as the sickness of the age. But they missed the psychoanalytic breakthrough that championed it as the wellspring of ambition, creativity, and empathy. Elizabeth Lunbeck's history opens a new view on the central questions faced by the self struggling amid the crosscurrents of modernity.Trade ReviewLunbeck’s primary interest here is the intellectual history of narcissism and, as such, her book is mainly devoted to a taxonomy of its various definitional twists and turns among psychoanalysts through the decades since Freud first addressed the subject in 1914. But for this reader it is her rehearsal of the use and misuse of the term in the 1970s that is the richest part of her book. Not only is it immensely evocative of the times themselves, but it also traces beautifully the way a valuable concept that includes a necessary stage of human development became permanently identified as a personality disorder that swallowed whole the larger, far more generous idea of the self that had been developing in the West for fifty years and more, into which narcissism should only have been enfolded… A time, like a human being, can never be the sum of its disabilities, and the business of the historian is to place those disabilities in illuminating perspective. Elizabeth Lunbeck’s book does this beautifully. -- Vivian Gornick * Boston Review *[A] prodigiously researched reconstruction of the story of narcissism… Lunbeck is exceptionally good at disentangling these often arcane psychoanalytic arguments and their reverberations in postwar social theory; she’s also very good on the intersections of saving, spending, and desiring in both psychoanalysis and consumer culture. What [Christopher] Lasch got wrong, she says, was imagining that [psychoanalyst Heinz] Kohut, who invariably sided with gratification over renunciation, was a compatriot; he was anything but. The consequence, she thinks, has been the popularization of the malignant narcissist and the overall neglect of the positive aspects of narcissism in our current conceptions. -- Laura Kipnis * Harper’s *Energetic and rigorously researched. -- Helen Tyson * Literary Review *Offers a fascinating, in-depth intellectual history of narcissism and how it has informed the public discussion of what Americans have valued… For the reader who reads in order to develop their own insights into American culture, this resource is an indispensable treasure. Like all the best histories there is enough material here to keep anyone who finds herself wondering how America became associated with concepts like identity politics, counterculture, self-esteem and gratification—or anyone curious about the ubiquitous and slippery concept of narcissism—busy for days. -- Anita Felicelli * PopMatters *[Lunbeck] has written an impressively researched history of the idea of narcissism in U.S. intellectual and cultural life and found the concept unfairly maligned. -- Robert Reynolds * Times Higher Education *A tour de force. Lunbeck brilliantly tracks the decades-long transformation of narcissism from a complex Freudian concept to a master term of 1970s social critique. Along the way, she masterfully delineates the ways narcissism has been used to explain such culturally freighted phenomena as homosexuality, women’s fashion, consumer culture, and youth revolt. This is social criticism at its best. -- George Chauncey, Yale UniversityA penetrating intellectual history of perhaps the most important decade of American psychoanalysis. Lunbeck reveals the basic machinery of psychoanalytic discourse in the context of historical and cultural movements of the fin de siècle. It is a highly entertaining and deeply edifying read. -- Peter Fonagy, University College LondonLunbeck brilliantly conveys the ins and outs of narcissism in the past century. With a historian’s insight, she marshals sources from the popular press to the academic and psychoanalytic literature to produce a highly readable book that will be of very great interest to a broad range of readers. -- Anton O. Kris, Harvard Medical School

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow did humans acquire cognition more powerful than a hunting-gathering primate needed to survive? Combining state-of-the-art research with forty years of writing about language evolution, Derek Bickerton resolves a crucial problem that both biology and cognitive science have ignored: how animal thinking escaped the prison of the here and now.Trade ReviewBickerton is the grand seigneur of the topic of language evolution among the linguists. He writes so bloody well that one turns green with envy. He is a mastermind of the field, period. -- Eörs Szathmáry, Professor of Biology in the Department of Plant Taxonomy & Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, BudapestMore than Nature Needs is terrific, provocative, controversial, up-to-date, and written with a refreshing take-no-prisoners attitude. Theories of the evolution of language are notoriously hard to test, but Bickerton's, which embeds a serious critique of contemporary linguistics, is well worthy of serious consideration. A top-notch effort by a leader in the field, in the middle of his ninth decade. -- Gary Marcus, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Language and Music at New York UniversityWide-ranging…A novel inquiry into the evolution of language…Deeply thought-provoking…Highly stimulating. -- Stephen Levinson * Science *

Read more less

Book SynopsisExamines how governments could use research data on what makes people happy - in a variety of policy areas to increase well-being and improve the quality of life for their citizens. This title looks at the policy implications for economic growth, equality, retirement, unemployment, health care, family programs, education, and government quality.Trade ReviewOne of Fiscal Times Best Books for 2010 "Compelling."--David Brooks, New York Times "With his clear analysis and outside-the-box ideas, Bok encourages thoughtful consideration of what we should want for ourselves and expect from our government."--Sarah Halzack, Washington Post "Careful and cogent... Bok believes ... that the American government, which is in no danger of tranquilizing its citizens, can and should design policies to enhance their happiness."--Glenn C. Altschuler, Boston Globe "Delving into the burgeoning field of happiness research, former president of Harvard University Bok (The State of the Nation) sifts through scientific studies on how societal well-being indications can and should be used to shape social and political policy... Bok's arguments on how good government, access to education, and adequate child care make for a pleasanter society are incontrovertible, and he initiates an important, jargon-free discussion of American public policy, especially when its aims contradict or diminish the public weal."--Publisher's Weekly "Bok addresses how happiness research could inform US policy. The first three chapters unpack the claims of happiness psychologists, evaluate reliability and discuss policy application. The remainder address happiness in relation to economic growth, inequality, financial hardship (retirement, healthcare and job loss), suffering (chronic pain, sleep disorder and depression), marriages and families, education and the quality of government. The debate on happiness, Bok concludes, 'will be an accomplishment of enduring importance to humankind'."--Paul Stenner, Times Higher Education "Mr. Bok's rich, challenging, remarkable new book is remarkably solid. For it is based not on the empty aphorisms so beloved by lazy and second-rate pseudo-philosophers. There is a surprisingly massive quantity of serious statistical and sociological research that has been done on the subject of happiness in both prosperous and developing societies, and Mr. Bok draws liberally and impressively upon it. His conclusions are remarkable and well worth heeding... This is a remarkable, original, provocative and brilliant book. Anyone who wants to be happy, or to share their happiness with others, should snap it up at once."--Martin Sieff, Washington Times "Bok reviews a wide range of surveys that consistently associate levels of happiness or satisfaction with several demographic and social variables... Bok concludes that the scientific evidence on well-being is now robust enough for politicians to start taking action."--Felicia Huppert, Nature "[Bok asks] whether governments should really try to maker their citizens happier. Answer: yes, not through promoting economic growth, but through environmental policies, healthcare, and strengthening marriage and the family."--Glenda Cooper, Prospect Magazine "Provides insights into the mysteries of happiness."--Phillip Longman, Washington Monthly "Bok, former president of Harvard, outlines the work of 'happiness scholars' and suggests that their findings would be an 'eminently defensible way' of informing public policy, at least as valuable as opinion polls or economic indexes. Among the most significant findings he cites is that an increase in wealth does not correlate with an increase in happiness and that rising inequality has not caused a decrease. From these and other points, Bok argues for many general and specific policy measures that, he believes, would add to the sum of happiness in the United States... Readers will find him in turn provocative and quixotic."--Bob Nardini, Library Journal "[A] sweeping study of behavioural research and public policy... This is a book that leaders of developing nations obsessed with economic growth will find puzzling and troubling, but not as much as market economists will."--Stephen Matchett, Australian "Okay, I hear your protests, your gut telling you that Bok is a naive professor with his head in the clouds. Skeptical myself, I found his book full of surprises. Example: The growing inequality of incomes in the United States has not made Americans more dissatisfied than in previous times. Only one group is upset by this growing disparity--wealthy Americans! See what I mean? Counterintuitive conclusions, like this one, abound."--Mandy Twaddell, Providence Journal "Relatively light and accessible... Although Bok is partisan, his is a good introduction to the subject. He accurately outlines the findings of the research while questioning its shortcomings."--Daniel Ben-Ami, Spiked Review of Books "[This] is a careful, helpful book. It brings together the key findings in the area of happiness research--a relatively new discipline of the social sciences that uses surveys and polls to measure well-being... The Politics of Happiness is not a complete answer... It does however, add the methodology and reasoning of modern social science to the profound insights of ancient moral and political philosophy."--Nitin Pai, Pragati, Indian National Interest Review "Bok explores a number of new studies related to the concept of happiness and then painstakingly asks whether and how government can do much to increase human happiness... The Politics of Happiness raises a number of challenges to our assumptions."--Debbie Bruno, Roll Call "This book is clear and nicely written and provides a fascinating overview of what does--and doesn't--contribute to the wellbeing of people in the Western world."--Miriam Cosic, Australian "Bok's summary of the available research is skillful and to the point."--Tevi Troy, Claremont Review of Books "A book policymakers and people in governance should read. So that there can be more happiness all around."--Vaidehi Nathan, Organiser "This book offers a fresh look at the surprisingly not-so-elusive quality of happiness and why economic policy can make a difference where it counts. Bok has a smooth and convincing narrative style, and he weighs his arguments carefully."--Maureen Mackey, Fiscal TimesTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction 1 CHAPTER 1: What Investigators Have Discovered 9 CHAPTER 2: The Reliability of Research on Happiness 32 CHAPTER 3: Should Policy-Makers Use Happiness Research? 45 CHAPTER 4: The Question of Growth 63 CHAPTER 5: What to Do about Inequality 79 CHAPTER 6: The Threat of Financial Hardship 99 CHAPTER 7: Relieving Suffering 124 CHAPTER 8: Marriages and Families 139 CHAPTER 9: Education 156 CHAPTER 10: The Quality of Government 179 CHAPTER 11: The Significance of Happiness Research 204 Notes 213 Index 247

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow might happiness research affect government policy in the United States - and beyond? This book examines how governments could use the rapidly growing research data on what makes people happy - in a variety of policy areas to increase well-being and improve the quality of life for all their citizens.Trade ReviewOne of Fiscal Times Best Books for 2010 "Compelling."--David Brooks, New York Times "With his clear analysis and outside-the-box ideas, Bok encourages thoughtful consideration of what we should want for ourselves and expect from our government."--Sarah Halzack, Washington Post "Careful and cogent... Bok believes ... that the American government, which is in no danger of tranquilizing its citizens, can and should design policies to enhance their happiness."--Glenn C. Altschuler, Boston Globe "Delving into the burgeoning field of happiness research, former president of Harvard University Bok (The State of the Nation) sifts through scientific studies on how societal well-being indications can and should be used to shape social and political policy... Bok's arguments on how good government, access to education, and adequate child care make for a pleasanter society are incontrovertible, and he initiates an important, jargon-free discussion of American public policy, especially when its aims contradict or diminish the public weal."--Publisher's Weekly "Bok addresses how happiness research could inform US policy. The first three chapters unpack the claims of happiness psychologists, evaluate reliability and discuss policy application. The remainder address happiness in relation to economic growth, inequality, financial hardship (retirement, healthcare and job loss), suffering (chronic pain, sleep disorder and depression), marriages and families, education and the quality of government. The debate on happiness, Bok concludes, 'will be an accomplishment of enduring importance to humankind'."--Paul Stenner, Times Higher Education "Mr. Bok's rich, challenging, remarkable new book is remarkably solid. For it is based not on the empty aphorisms so beloved by lazy and second-rate pseudo-philosophers. There is a surprisingly massive quantity of serious statistical and sociological research that has been done on the subject of happiness in both prosperous and developing societies, and Mr. Bok draws liberally and impressively upon it. His conclusions are remarkable and well worth heeding... This is a remarkable, original, provocative and brilliant book. Anyone who wants to be happy, or to share their happiness with others, should snap it up at once."--Martin Sieff, Washington Times "Bok reviews a wide range of surveys that consistently associate levels of happiness or satisfaction with several demographic and social variables... Bok concludes that the scientific evidence on well-being is now robust enough for politicians to start taking action."--Felicia Huppert, Nature "[Bok asks] whether governments should really try to maker their citizens happier. Answer: yes, not through promoting economic growth, but through environmental policies, healthcare, and strengthening marriage and the family."--Glenda Cooper, Prospect Magazine "Provides insights into the mysteries of happiness."--Phillip Longman, Washington Monthly "Bok, former president of Harvard, outlines the work of 'happiness scholars' and suggests that their findings would be an 'eminently defensible way' of informing public policy, at least as valuable as opinion polls or economic indexes. Among the most significant findings he cites is that an increase in wealth does not correlate with an increase in happiness and that rising inequality has not caused a decrease. From these and other points, Bok argues for many general and specific policy measures that, he believes, would add to the sum of happiness in the United States... Readers will find him in turn provocative and quixotic."--Bob Nardini, Library Journal "[A] sweeping study of behavioural research and public policy... This is a book that leaders of developing nations obsessed with economic growth will find puzzling and troubling, but not as much as market economists will."--Stephen Matchett, Australian "Okay, I hear your protests, your gut telling you that Bok is a naive professor with his head in the clouds. Skeptical myself, I found his book full of surprises. Example: The growing inequality of incomes in the United States has not made Americans more dissatisfied than in previous times. Only one group is upset by this growing disparity--wealthy Americans! See what I mean? Counterintuitive conclusions, like this one, abound."--Mandy Twaddell, Providence Journal "Relatively light and accessible... Although Bok is partisan, his is a good introduction to the subject. He accurately outlines the findings of the research while questioning its shortcomings."--Daniel Ben-Ami, Spiked Review of Books "[This] is a careful, helpful book. It brings together the key findings in the area of happiness research--a relatively new discipline of the social sciences that uses surveys and polls to measure well-being... The Politics of Happiness is not a complete answer... It does however, add the methodology and reasoning of modern social science to the profound insights of ancient moral and political philosophy."--Nitin Pai, Pragati, Indian National Interest Review "Bok explores a number of new studies related to the concept of happiness and then painstakingly asks whether and how government can do much to increase human happiness... The Politics of Happiness raises a number of challenges to our assumptions."--Debbie Bruno, Roll Call "This book is clear and nicely written and provides a fascinating overview of what does--and doesn't--contribute to the wellbeing of people in the Western world."--Miriam Cosic, Australian "Bok's summary of the available research is skillful and to the point."--Tevi Troy, Claremont Review of Books "A book policymakers and people in governance should read. So that there can be more happiness all around."--Vaidehi Nathan, Organiser "This book offers a fresh look at the surprisingly not-so-elusive quality of happiness and why economic policy can make a difference where it counts. Bok has a smooth and convincing narrative style, and he weighs his arguments carefully."--Maureen Mackey, Fiscal TimesTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction 1 CHAPTER 1: What Investigators Have Discovered 9 CHAPTER 2: The Reliability of Research on Happiness 32 CHAPTER 3: Should Policy-Makers Use Happiness Research? 45 CHAPTER 4: The Question of Growth 63 CHAPTER 5: What to Do about Inequality 79 CHAPTER 6: The Threat of Financial Hardship 99 CHAPTER 7: Relieving Suffering 124 CHAPTER 8: Marriages and Families 139 CHAPTER 9: Education 156 CHAPTER 10: The Quality of Government 179 CHAPTER 11: The Significance of Happiness Research 204 Notes 213 Index 247

Read more less

Book SynopsisMost of us are taught from a young age to be winners and avoid being losers. But what does it mean to win or lose? Does winning make us happy? This title undertakes an unprecedented investigation of winning and losing in American society, what we are really after as we struggle to win, our collective beliefs about winners and losers, and more.Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Significant University Press Titles for Undergraduates for 2010-2011 "Using a good mix of sociological theory, psychological data, headliners, and anecdotes, Duina makes an excellent start at understanding this big issue and providing groundwork for additional explorations of the US's search for 'indefinite perfectibility'. The descriptions of Americans' pursuit of and beliefs regarding winning will make many blush with self-recognition. Duina's excellent new perspective on chasing the American dream offers much to reflect on."--Choice "Linguistically inquiring, sociologically penetrative, and culturally fascinating, Duina's book is part self-help manual, part critical inquiry into the American psyche, and wholly an essential guide to a misunderstood obsession."--Journal of American Studies "This book is important because it poses the question how much competition we really need in rich nations, with high levels of economic and cultural productivity. The answer to this question is relevant in discussions about the role of governments and about the optimal levels of liberalization or regulation of markets. Duina's suggestions to moderate and redirect competition by changing the American mind-set are valuable."--Jan Ott, Journal of Happiness Studies "Duina effectively explores the sociological embeddedness of competition from which winning and losing arise... The issues that are introduced have great interest for those teaching within social psychology or practicing within consulting psychology."--Richard Ackley and Lee Derryberry, PsycCRITIQUES "Winning is an important contribution to our current understanding and theorising about the individual and societal drive to compete... Winning is a valuable offering to all of us as we navigate competition, winning and losing in our own lives--and strive to assist those in our charge ... who also must come to grips with them."--Andrew J. Martin, Australian Review of Public AffairsTable of ContentsAcknowledgment ix PART 1 Introduction Chapter ONE: The Problem 3 PART 2 Th e Pursuit Chapter TWO: Differentiation 15 Chapter THREE: I Win, Therefore I Am Right 35 Chapter FOUR: The Quest for Space 54 Chapter FIVE: Powers and Limitations 76 PART 3 Our Beliefs Chapter SIX: Types of Winners and Losers 97 Chapter SEVEN: Process versus Outcomes 118 Chapter EIGHT: Injecting Value 138 Chapter NINE: Awareness and Competition 158 PART 4 Conclusion Chapter TEN: Our Restlessness 181 Notes 213 References 221 Index 233

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen it comes to politics, we often perceive our own beliefs as fair and socially beneficial, while seeing opposing views as merely self-serving. But in fact most political views are governed by self-interest, even if we usually don't realize it. Challenging our fiercely held notions about what motivates us politically, this book explores how self-Trade Review"[T]hought provoking."--John R. Hibbing, Science "[T]his disturbing book may provoke debate, dismay and considerable anger."--Kirkus "[A]n unusually witty and engaging academic book."--Ethan Epstein, National Journal "[I]nteresting throughout."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution "The Hidden Agenda of the Political Mind is provocative and often persuasive... Weeden and Kurzban remind us that self-interest is a complicated concept."--Glenn C. Altschuler, Huffington Post "The book is a thoughtful reminder that politics is often simply a contest over finite resources in which different voters want opposing things."--John McDermott, Financial Times "Authors Weeden and Kurzban have written a well-researched ... analysis of the political mind... [T]he book satisfies the intellectual demands of researchers and general readers. Perfect for fans of Thomas Frank's What's the Matter with Kansas?"--Library Journal "Weeden and Kurzban's book is well worth a read."--Anthony Randazzo, Reason "Weeden and Kurzban's argument will trouble those who believe that politics is about more than trying to find ways to satisfy one's interests."--Choice "[O]ne of the most interesting books I have read on politics in quite a while... A fascinating book."--Daniel Finkelstein, The Times (London) "The book makes an interesting contribution to our understanding of political attitudes and is accessible to a wide audience interested in political science... The Hidden Agenda of the Political Mind answers an important question and provides new depth to many of the popular theories on opinion formation and partisan attachments... By showing how self-interest factors into our decision making in ways we do not even consciously understand and how political parties exploit that to their advantage and by doing so in a way that is accessible outside an academic audience, the authors will likely make a significant contribution to the general understanding of public opinion."--Chad Murphy, The Journal of Politics "An important contribution to a field dominated by group-oriented explanations."--Christopher Weber, Political Science QuarterlyTable of ContentsPart I: Political Minds Chapter 1: Agendas in Action 3 Chapter 2: Investigating Interests 26 Chapter 3: Machiavellian Minds 44 Part II: Political Issues Chapter 4: Fighting over Sex: Lifestyle Issues and Religion 69 Chapter 5: Rules of the Game: Group Identities and Human Capital 96 Chapter 6: Money Matters: Redistribution and Hard-Times Programs 123 Part III: Political Coalitions Chapter 7: The Many Shades of Red and Blue 145 Chapter 8: The Republican Coalition 160 Chapter 9: The Democratic Coalition 176 Part IV: Political Challenges Chapter 10: An Uncomfortable Take on Political Positions 195 Acknowledgments 217 Appendixes 219 Data Appendix for Chapter 2 219 Data Appendix for Part II 236 Data Appendix for Chapter 4 251 Data Appendix for Chapter 5 268 Data Appendix for Chapter 6 287 Data Appendix for Chapter 8 304 Data Appendix for Chapter 9 321 Notes 343 References 351 Index 359

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the PROSE Award in Psychology and Applied Social Work, Association of American Publishers"

Read more less

Book SynopsisCan virtuous behavior be explained by nature, and not by human rational choice? "It's the animal in us," we often hear when we've been bad. But why not when we're good? Primates and Philosophers tackles this question by exploring the biological foundations of one of humanity's most valued traits: morality. In this provocative book, renowned primatoTrade Review"Frans de Waal defends against philosopher critics his view that the roots of morality can be seen in the social behavior of monkeys and apes... [H]e argues that human morality would be impossible without certain emotional buildings blocks that are clearly at work in chimps and monkey societies... Dr. de Waal sees human morality as having grown out of primate sociality, but with two extra levels of sophistication. People enforce their society's moral codes much more rigorously with rewards, punishments and reputation building. They also apply a degree of judgment and reason, for which there are no parallels in animals."--Nicholas Wade, The New York Times "De Waal is one of the world's foremost authorities on nonhuman primates, and his thoughtful contribution to Primates and Philosophers is enriched by decades of close observation of their behavior... He argues that humans are like their closest evolutionary kin in being moral by nature... [A]n impressively well-focused collection of essays."--John Gray, New York Review of Books "Celebrated primatologist Frans de Waal ... demonstrates through his empirical work with primates the evolutionary basis for ethics."--Publishers Weekly "Frans de Waal ... argues that ... morality is actually a gift from animal ancestors and that people are good not by choice but by nature... He argues that ... critics fail to recognize that while animals are not human, humans are animals."--Science News "Dutch-born psychologist, ethologist and primatologist Frans de Waal has spent his career watching the behavior of apes and monkeys, mostly captive troupes in zoos... His work ... has helped lift Darwin's conjectures about the evolution of morality to a new level... [De Waal argues that] sympathy, empathy, right and wrong are feelings that we share with other animals; even the best part of human nature, the part that cares about ethics and justice, is also part of nature."--Jonathan Weiner, Scientific American "Frans de Waal ... show[s] how elements of morality such as empathy, sympathy, community concern and a sense of fairness also exist in our closest primate relatives."--David Sloan Wilson, American Scientist "Exceptionally rich but always lucid... Intellectual soul food for biology-minded ethicists."--Ray Olsen, Booklist "In his new book, Primates and Philosophers, Frans de Waal argues that the origins of human goodness can be seen in apes and monkeys. He claims that we have evolved from a long line of social animals for whom close co-operation is 'not an option but a survival strategy'. Not only are we nice by nature, but our ancestors were too, ever since they came down from the proverbial trees."--Stephen Cave, Financial Times "Frans de Waal, an acclaimed primatologist, has much to say about what he considers the biological origins of morality. Unlike many recent antireligion writers such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett, who use the latest socio-biological research to campaign against religion, de Waal has no antireligious agenda. This both keeps his writing more focused and helps him avoid many of the argumentative errors of Dawkins and company...De Waal is a keen social observer, but he focuses mostly on what we can learn from what he knows best-the study of primates, including the human variety."--Joe Pettit, Commonweal "[A] remarkably interesting and rich set of reflections about the nature of morality, the social experiences of nonhuman primates, and the continuities and differences between the social experiences of human and nonhuman primates. The book can be read both as discussion on the nature of evolution and as a primer on ethical theory... All in all this is an extremely interesting book on a central human preoccupation-the question of our relationship with Nature-and is a demonstration that the collaboration of sympathetic points of view can produce a wider and wiser whole."--Eric Dayton, The StructuristTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction by Josiah Ober and Stephen Macedo ix PART I: Morally Evolved: Primate Social Instincts,Human Morality, and the Rise and Fall of "Veneer Theory" by Frans de Waal 1 Appendix A: Anthropomorphism and Anthropodenial 59 Appendix B: Do Apes Have a Theory of Mind? 69 Appendix C: Animal Rights 75 PART II: Comments: The Uses of Anthropomorphism by Robert Wright 83 Morality and the Distinctiveness of Human Action by Christine M. Korsgaard 98 Ethics and Evolution: How to Get Here from There by Philip Kitcher 120 Morality, Reason, and the Rights of Animals by Peter Singer 140 PART III: Response to Commentators: The Tower of Morality by Frans de Waal 161 References 183 Contributors 197 Index 201

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“This is essential reading for all who wish to understand how to help adolescents navigate the critical developmental task of identity formation in our diverse society. Below the Surface is a beacon of intergroup empathy and understanding, providing tangible strategies for thoughtful engagement in complicated but crucial conversations with young people.”—Carola Suárez-Orozco, coauthor of Learning a New Land“The authors of Below the Surface are rising stars in their field. In this fast-paced and accessible book, they engage with the research on race-ethnicity, social justice, and cross-cultural communications for adolescent and college-age youth development, and their analysis is on target. The wonderful final chapter alone is worth the entire book and should be required reading.”—William E. Cross Jr., University of Denver"This book is an absolute pleasure to read. It is timely and beautifully written by two scholars who have enjoyed a long and productive collaboration. The topics covered are a valuable review for researchers who study ethnic-racial identity development. What makes the volume especially appealing is that it also speaks to parents, educators, and anyone else committed to helping today’s youth navigate the joys and challenges of growing up in an increasingly diverse society."—Sandra Graham, University of California, Los AngelesBelow the Surface is a refreshing and comprehensive review of the current state of the research literature on ethnic-racial identity and socialization processes. It is a must-read for scholars interested in conducting research in the area as well as for practitioners committed to delivering effective educational services to adolescents.—Robert M. Sellers, University of Michigan “This amazing, brilliant book draws on a range of theories and findings to weave a narrative about race and ethnicity in the United States. The authors, both top-notch researchers in their field, bring together the goals of developing ethnic identity and positive intergroup interactions into one volume. Given the polarized conversation about race and ethnicity happening nationally and globally today, this compelling book could not be timelier.” —Melanie Killen, University of Maryland

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"The kind of ‘I dare you to follow my logic book’ that jumps from evolutionary game theory, to Balzac, to Donald Trump’s Twitter feed."---Hanna Rosin, Invisibilia"[Reputation] mixes crunchy intellectual provocations with literary allusions, catty takes on academic life and some juicy riffs."---Ian Leslie, New Statesman

Read more less

Trade Review"It is the somewhat gratifying lesson of Philip Tetlock's new book ... that people who make prediction their business--people who appear as experts on television, get quoted in newspaper articles, advise governments and businesses, and participate in punditry roundtables--are no better than the rest of us. When they're wrong, they're rarely held accountable, and they rarely admit it, either... It would be nice if there were fewer partisans on television disguised as "analysts" and "experts"... But the best lesson of Tetlock's book may be the one that he seems most reluctant to draw: Think for yourself."--Louis Menand, The New Yorker "The definitive work on this question... Tetlock systematically collected a vast number of individual forecasts about political and economic events, made by recognised experts over a period of more than 20 years. He showed that these forecasts were not very much better than making predictions by chance, and also that experts performed only slightly better than the average person who was casually informed about the subject in hand."--Gavyn Davies, Financial Times "Before anyone turns an ear to the panels of pundits, they might do well to obtain a copy of Phillip Tetlock's new book Expert Political Judgment: How Good Is It? How Can We Know? The Berkeley psychiatrist has apparently made a 20-year study of predictions by the sorts who appear as experts on TV and get quoted in newspapers and found that they are no better than the rest of us at prognostication."--Jim Coyle, Toronto Star "Tetlock uses science and policy to brilliantly explore what constitutes good judgment in predicting future events and to examine why experts are often wrong in their forecasts."--Choice "[This] book ... Marshals powerful evidence to make [its] case. Expert Political Judgment ... Summarizes the results of a truly amazing research project... The question that screams out from the data is why the world keeps believing that "experts" exist at all."--Geoffrey Colvin, Fortune "Philip Tetlock has just produced a study which suggests we should view expertise in political forecasting--by academics or intelligence analysts, independent pundits, journalists or institutional specialists--with the same skepticism that the well-informed now apply to stockmarket forecasting... It is the scientific spirit with which he tackled his project that is the most notable thing about his book, but the findings of his inquiry are important and, for both reasons, everyone seriously concerned with forecasting, political risk, strategic analysis and public policy debate would do well to read the book."--Paul Monk, Australian Financial Review "Phillip E. Tetlock does a remarkable job ... applying the high-end statistical and methodological tools of social science to the alchemistic world of the political prognosticator. The result is a fascinating blend of science and storytelling, in the the best sense of both words."--William D. Crano, PsysCRITIQUES "Mr. Tetlock's analysis is about political judgment but equally relevant to economic and commercial assessments."--John Kay, Financial Times "Why do most political experts prove to be wrong most of time? For an answer, you might want to browse through a very fascinating study by Philip Tetlock ... who in Expert Political Judgment contends that there is no direct correlation between the intelligence and knowledge of the political expert and the quality of his or her forecasts. If you want to know whether this or that pundit is making a correct prediction, don't ask yourself what he or she is thinking--but how he or she is thinking."--Leon Hadar, Business Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is a fascinating look at the way other people unconsciously determine our everyday behaviour and is a useful addition to the many works on how human psychology affects economic decision making." * Money Week *"Frank's points . . . raise some big questions. Which reminds us that economics cannot be a merely technocratic discipline."---Chris Dillow, Stumbling & Mumbling"This broadly themed book addresses the complexities of our social environments — for example, how group behavior gives rise to bullying — but a lot of what it discusses applies to worldwide environmental issues, too. The result is a combination of psychology and economics that illustrates how the human ‘herd instinct’ can be put to good use to solve the climate crisis and other problems."---John R. Platt, The Revelator"An invaluable new book. . . . If policy-makers have any sense, this book will be as important a manual in the 2020s as Nudge was in the 2010s."---Felix Martin, New Statesman"This erudite, provocative book is apt for reading now."---Julia Hobsbawm, Evening Standard"Extraordinarily timely: It’s an effort to show that the economics of social contagion could reshape the world, solving our hardest problems — from climate change to income inequality — and offering new ways to think about the power we have as individuals. Absent the pandemic, its argument might’ve seemed abstract, optimistic. But now we’ve seen it happen. We are watching a version of Frank’s thesis play out right now, in real time. In the wake of coronavirus, social pressure has driven perhaps the single fastest behavioral transformation in human history. It is the example and pressure we face from each other that has made social distancing so effective, so fast. And if social pressure can do that — what else can it do?"---Ezra Klein, Vox"Throughout his career, in influential books . . . Frank has examined the importance of status-seeking and social interactions in society and the economy. Continuing with that theme, Under the Influence argues that social context shapes choices far more than many people realize. . . . As usual, Frank’s book is full of information and insights that will interest even those who do not agree with his policy agenda."---R. M. Whaples, Choice

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is a truly original, highly insightful, and highly readable book on a vital yet largely unexplored question: who do we trust, why should we trust, and how should we trust. Let's stop ignoring the expert problem. This is not a book, but the birth of a branch of applied knowledge."—Nassim Nicholas Taleb"[Reputation] mixes crunchy intellectual provocations with literary allusions, catty takes on academic life and some juicy riffs."—Ian Leslie, New Statesman"Having a good reputation is crucial for individuals, groups, and even objects. Through wide-ranging and well-crafted examples—from wine tasting to academic prestige—Gloria Origgi offers a grand tour of how the social sciences illuminate the process of reputation formation. Reputations might be imperfect, but they are unavoidable, and Origgi's book can help us make them more reliable."—Hugo Mercier, coauthor of The Enigma of Reason

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is a fascinating look at the way other people unconsciously determine our everyday behaviour and is a useful addition to the many works on how human psychology affects economic decision making." * Money Week *"Frank's points . . . raise some big questions. Which reminds us that economics cannot be a merely technocratic discipline."---Chris Dillow, Stumbling & Mumbling"This broadly themed book addresses the complexities of our social environments — for example, how group behavior gives rise to bullying — but a lot of what it discusses applies to worldwide environmental issues, too. The result is a combination of psychology and economics that illustrates how the human ‘herd instinct’ can be put to good use to solve the climate crisis and other problems."---John R. Platt, The Revelator"An invaluable new book. . . . If policy-makers have any sense, this book will be as important a manual in the 2020s as Nudge was in the 2010s."---Felix Martin, New Statesman"This erudite, provocative book is apt for reading now."---Julia Hobsbawm, Evening Standard"Extraordinarily timely: It’s an effort to show that the economics of social contagion could reshape the world, solving our hardest problems — from climate change to income inequality — and offering new ways to think about the power we have as individuals. Absent the pandemic, its argument might’ve seemed abstract, optimistic. But now we’ve seen it happen. We are watching a version of Frank’s thesis play out right now, in real time. In the wake of coronavirus, social pressure has driven perhaps the single fastest behavioral transformation in human history. It is the example and pressure we face from each other that has made social distancing so effective, so fast. And if social pressure can do that — what else can it do?"---Ezra Klein, Vox"Throughout his career, in influential books . . . Frank has examined the importance of status-seeking and social interactions in society and the economy. Continuing with that theme, Under the Influence argues that social context shapes choices far more than many people realize. . . . As usual, Frank’s book is full of information and insights that will interest even those who do not agree with his policy agenda."---R. M. Whaples, Choice

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Based on her many years of work with two ant colonies, one in an arid desert and one in a lush tropical forest, Deborah M. Gordon has written a detailed, incisive account of the differences in their collective behaviours, and the extent to which behavioural patterns are influenced by their environment."---David M. Gascoigne, Travels With Birds

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Based on her many years of work with two ant colonies, one in an arid desert and one in a lush tropical forest, Deborah M. Gordon has written a detailed, incisive account of the differences in their collective behaviours, and the extent to which behavioural patterns are influenced by their environment."---David M. Gascoigne, Travels With Birds

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is the consequence of commodifying experiences?Trade Review‘Well written and extensively researched, this book is a must read for anyone seeking to understand the nature of consumption and experience in contemporary society' -- Garry Crawford, co-author of 'Video Games as Culture''An enlightening grand tour of the neoliberal experience economy. Probing beneath the ideological rhetoric of self-expressive consumer choices, Miles reveals how the psycho-social effects of the experience economy are governed by new forms of capitalist influence' -- Professor Craig Thompson, the James R. McManus-Bascom Professor in Marketing and the Gilbert and Helen Churchill Professor in the Marketing Department of the Wisconsin School of Business'Takes us on a powerful analytic journey that exposes the underpinning ideological processes that define who and what we are as citizens of a society driven by consumerism' -- Pauline Maclaran, Professor of Marketing & Consumer Research in the School of Management at Royal HollowayTable of ContentsPreface 1. Introducing the Experience Society 2. Consumption, Identity, Experience 3. Leisure and Tourism 4. Work Experience 5. Technologies of Self 6. Space, Place and the Architecture of Experience 7. The Spectacle of Sport 8. The Coffee Shop Experience 9. Consumer Capitalism Rebooted References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book offers an accessible and broadly conceived introduction to social psychology. Written in a lucid and lively style, it assumes no prior knowledge of the field, and is the ideal textbook to get students thinking about the subject.Table of Contents1. A Brief Introduction. PART I: The Social Individual. 2. Personality and the Self. 3. Cognition and Social Behaviour. 4. Emotion. 5. Language and Communication. PART II: Social Interaction and Relationships. 6. The Development of Social Relationships. 7. Interpersonal Relationships. 8. Interaction in Groups. 9. Altruism and Aggression. PART 111: Understanding the Social World. 10. The Development of Moral Reasoning. 11. Perceiving and Understanding People. 12. Attitudes and Actions. 13. Attitude Organization and Change. 14. Social Representations. PART IV: Social Issues. 15. Prejudice and Intergroup Relations. 16. The World of Paid Work. 17. Health and Illness. 18. Social Psychology and Policy. PART V: The Nature of Social Psychology. 19. Research Methods. 20. The Nature of Social Psychology. Glossary. Picture Credits. References. Name Index. Subject Index.

Read more less

Book Synopsisaeo An accessible sociological exploration of the problems affecting the majority of people living in modern societies, including the successful members of society. aeo Uses interviews with a diversity of successful people which provide highly articulate, vivid and memorable accounts of their lives.Trade Review'Outstanding ... the most clarifying work of sociology I've ever read ... essential.' Pat Kane, New Statesman and Society 'Stimulating analysis ... the great merit of Pahl's book is that his critique of post-modernist assumptions about the self and anxiety points up this misleading conflation of the soical and the psychological, and makes him aware of the misuses of 'tradition' and over-socialised conceptions of the individual.' Work, Employment and Society 'A characteristically bold and provocative text ... extremely interesting.' Time and Society 'One of the most stimulating and relevant works I have read for a long time.' SociologyTable of ContentsPreface. 1. Introduction: Mortality, the Individual and Society. 2. Success in Shame Cultures and Guilt Cultures. 3. Managing Without Success 1960-1990. 4. Styles of Success in Business. 5. The Neurosis of Success. 6. Success-Led or Anxiety-Driven?. 7. Working for Self Identity. 8. From Hoccleve's Complaint to the Anxious Class. 9. Seeking Balance. Appendix. Bibliography. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFriends can help to form the basic structure of our lives but we very often take them for granted. Friends can sometimes be regarded as an oppressive burden when they appear to be greedily demanding too much of us. How to get the balance right is a perennial concern and the subject of much fiction and drama.Trade Review'The success of books can be measured by their imagery. Ray Pahl, in this eloquent essay on the value and virtues of friendship, provides two images that stay in the mind. The first is of friendships as social convoys that accompany you through the hazards of life. The second is of friendships as personal communities, in which identity can be affirmed, and intimacy explored. Through both images you can clearly see the significance of circles of friends - never more important than in the confusions and complexities of the contemporary world.' Jeffrey Weeks, Professor of Sociology, South Bank University London 'Pahl, a warmly readable sociologist, muses over ideas of friendship found in thinkers such as Aristotle, La Rochefoucauld and Hume, and also those implied in literature and modern fiction. In a rather lovely image, he sees our set of friends as a "social convoy" that helps us on our way through life.' Steven Poole, The Guardian "What differentiates this book from other recent research and writing on friendship is that Pahl account of, and approach to, friendship is wide-ranging and unconstrained by disciplinary boundaries. The different literatures and traditions covered in this slim volume highlight the many sources from which information on friendship can be gained, including media commentary and analysis, psychological and philosophical literature and political and social theory." British Journal of SociologyTable of ContentsPreface. Introduction Chapter one: What is Friendship?;. Chapter Two: Friendship, Modernity and Trust;. Chapter Three; Friendship and the Self;. Chapter Four: Friendship in Context,. Chapter Five: Social Support, Social Capital and the Politics of Friendship. Conclusion. Further Reading. More Detailed References. Index

Read more less