One of the key scientific challenges is the puzzle of human cooperation. Why do people cooperate? Why do people help strangers, even sometimes at a major cost to themselves? Why do people want to punish people who violate norms and undermine collective interests? This book is inspired by the fact that social dilemmas, defined in terms of conflicts between (often short-term) self-interest and (often longer-term) collective interest, are omnipresent. The book centers on two major themes. The first theme centers on the theoretical understanding of human cooperation: are people indeed other-regarding? The second theme is more practical, and perhaps normative: how can cooperation be promoted? This question is at the heart of the functioning of relationships, organizations, as well as the society as a whole. In capturing the breadth and relevance of social dilemmas and psychology of human cooperation, this book is structured in three parts. The first part focuses on the definition of social dilemmas, along with the historical development of scientific theorizing of human cooperation and the development of social dilemma as a game in which to study cooperation. The second part presents three chapters, each of which adopts a relatively unique perspective on human cooperation: an evolutionary perspective, a psychological perspective, and a cultural perspective. The third part focuses on applications of social dilemmas in domains as broad and important as management and organizations, environmental issues, politics, national security, and health. Social Dilemmas is strongly inspired by the notion that science is never finished. Each chapter therefore concludes with a discussion of two (or more) basic issues that are often inherently intriguing, and often need more research and theory. The concluding chapter outlines avenues for future directions.

Emphasizing real-world examples, Komorita and Parks illustrate both the theoretical and the ecological relevance of social dilemmas, focusing on "exchange theory" to explain how conflicts are resolved. This book is appropriate for students of psychology, political science, and sociology.

Unlike clinical psychologists, social psychologists examine the group as a vehicle for interaction and performance. They are interested in such topics as how groups make decisions, how working with others influences individual performance, and how conflict arises and is resolved within and between groups.Group Performance and Interaction is the fir

Unlike clinical psychologists, social psychologists examine the group as a vehicle for interaction and performance. They are interested in such topics as how groups make decisions, how working with others influences individual performance, and how conflict arises and is resolved within and between groups."Group Performance and Interaction" is the first textbook to address the many recent changes in the field of groups and group decisionmaking from a social psychological perspective. Incorporated in this introductory survey are the latest developments in groups research as well as discussions on computers and groups, groups in the workplace, and jury decisionmaking. The topics--touching on the disciplines of social and industrial/organizational psychology--are developed around the twin themes of interaction and performance, or groups engaged in activities.Students of psychology, communications, and management, at both the undergraduate and graduate level, will find "Group Performance and Interaction" to be an invaluable text.

Emphasizing real-world examples, Komorita and Parks illustrate both the theoretical and the ecological relevance of social dilemmas, focusing on "exchange theory" to explain how conflicts are resolved. This book is appropriate for students of psychology, political science, and sociology.

One of the key scientific challenges is the puzzle of human cooperation. Why do people cooperate? Why do people help strangers, even sometimes at a major cost to themselves? Why do people want to punish people who violate norms and undermine collective interests? This book is inspired by the fact that social dilemmas, defined in terms of conflicts between (often short-term) self-interest and (often longer-term) collective interest, are omnipresent. The book centers on two major themes. The first theme is the theoretical understanding of human cooperation: are people indeed other-regarding? The second theme is more practical, and perhaps normative: how can cooperation be promoted? This question is at the heart of the functioning of relationships, organizations, as well as the society as a whole. In capturing the breadth and relevance of social dilemmas and psychology of human cooperation, this book is structured in three parts. The first part focuses on the definition of social dilemmas, along with the historical development of scientific theorizing of human cooperation and the development of social dilemma as a game in which to study cooperation. The second part presents three chapters, each of which adopts a relatively unique perspective on human cooperation: an evolutionary perspective, a psychological perspective, and a cultural perspective. The third part focuses on applications of social dilemmas in domains as broad and important as management and organizations, environmental issues, politics, national security, and health. Social Dilemmas is strongly inspired by the notion that science is never finished. Each chapter therefore concludes with a discussion of two (or more) basic issues that are often inherently intriguing, and often need more research and theory. The concluding chapter outlines avenues for future directions.

This book synthesizes research on groups from the fields of social psychology and clinical psychology and encourages collaboration among group researchers.   Researchers in group psychology and group psychotherapy rarely consider each other’s work, despite their clear areas of common interest. This book demonstrates how these separate but related lines of research can be used to inform and enrich each other. Led by two past presidents of APA’s Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy, this book features expert contributors who examine the interface between social or organizational research on groups and clinical research, as well as the application of findings in each area. They reveal that different kinds of groups are far more similar than they are different, and illustrate how group psychology as a line of inquiry and practice benefits from improved dialogue among its domains. For example, there is growing literature on how individual personality factors such as attachment can affect group processes and outcomes in group psychotherapy. Similarly, research on expectations of social inclusion and ostracism in groups has a long history in social psychology, and there is great potential for these areas of inquiry to inform future research in both clinical and social contexts.