`Could certainly be used as a stand-alone text. Aimed primarily at advanced undergraduates, it could also be read by others who may be prompted to identify yet further dimensions with which to map contemporary social psychology and define their position in relation to others' - The Psychologist This clearly structured textbook presents a broad overview of the key issues that underpin social psychology. These include: the nature of science and `psychology as science'; descriptive, emancipatory and critical theories; and the different ways in which social psychology is applied in the social and political world. Drawing upon a number of different perspectives, this volume will introduce students to the important debates around what constitutes valid argument and research in social psychology, its aims, scope and subject matter, and the degree to which social psychology can be said to be itself a social institution and a part of the network of social regulation and definition. Theory and Social Psychology is one of four books which form the core of The Open University's course Social Psychology: Personal Lives, Social Worlds.

Music is a tremendously powerful channel through which people develop their personal and social identities. Music is used to communicate emotions, thoughts, political statements, social relationships, and physical expressions. But, just as language can mediate the construction and negotiation of developing identities, so music can also be a means of communication through which aspects of people's identities are constructed. Music can have a profound influence on our developing sense of identity, our values, and our beliefs, be it from rock music, classical music, or jazz. Musical identities (MacDonald, Hargreaves and Miell, 2002) was unique in being in being one of the first books to explore this fascinating topic. This new book documents the remarkable expansion and growth in the study of musical identities since the publication of the earlier work. The editors identify three main features of current psychological approaches to musical identities, which concern their definition, development, and the identification of individual differences, as well as four main real-life contexts in which musical identities have been investigated, namely in music and musical institutions; specific geographical communities; education; and in health and well-being. This conceptual framework provides the rationale for the structure of the Handbook. The book is divided into seven main sections. The first, 'Sociological, discursive and narrative approaches', includes several general theoretical accounts of musical identities from this perspective, as well as some more specific investigations. The second and third main sections deal in depth with two of the three psychological topics described above, namely the development of and individual differences in musical identities. The fourth, fifth and sixth main sections pursue three of the real-life contexts identified above, namely 'Musical institutions and practitioners', 'Education', and 'Health and well-being'. The seventh and final main section of the Handbook - 'Case studies' - includes chapters which look at particular musical identities in specific times, places, or contexts. The multidisciplinary range and breadth of the Handbook's contents reflect the rapid changes that are taking place in music, in digital technology, and in their role in society as a whole, such that the study of musical identity is likely to proliferate even further in the future.

Music is a powerful means of communication. It provides a means by which people can share emotions, intentions, and meanings even though their spoken languages may be mutually incomprehensible. It can also provide a vital lifeline to human interaction for those whose special needs make other means of communication difficult. Music can exert powerful physical effects, can produce deep and profound emotions within us, and can be used to generate infinitely subtle variations of expressiveness by skilled composers and performers. This new addition to the music psychology list brings together leading researchers from a variety of academic and applied backgrounds. It examines how music can be used to communicate and the biological, cognitive, social, and cultural processes which underlie such communication. Taking a broad, interdisciplinary look at all aspects of communication, from the symbolic aspects of musical notation, to the use of music in advertising, the book is the first of its kind. It will be valuable for all those involved in music psychology, music education, and communication studies.

`The team has achieved an admirable overall coherence in representing the range of ideas, methodologies and modes of analysis that will be found in this area of social life.... it is likely to find a place on the reading lists of many future social psychology courses' - Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology Relationships play a central part in people's lives, and a number of exciting interdisciplinary perspectives have recently emerged to shed new light on what it means to be in a relationship with another human being. This volume offers an authoritative yet accessible examination of a wide variety of these perspectives, drawing from a broader than usual range of material and including considerable reference to clinical contexts and case-studies. Overall, this book provides an introduction to the cutting edge of research about human relationships and interactions, engaging readers in a debate central not only to academic researchers and clinicans but to their own lives. This is the course text for The Open University course Social Psychology: Personal Lives, Social Worlds (D317).

A clearly written textbook, Social Interaction and Personal Relationships explores the interactions between people as they develop relationships with each other and examines what lies behind the behavior we can observe from these interactions. The contributors probe the main themes that arise from the study of social and personal relationships, including power, change and development, function, levels of analysis, the construction of meaning, and autonomy/choice. Each theme is illustrated in the opening chapter with accounts of a range of relationships, such as parent/child, disabled person/caregiver, and therapist/client relationships. The text concludes with invited readings from outstanding scholars in the field. Social Interaction and Personal Relationships provides an excellent examination of relationships and their social context that will guide students in their study of social psychology as well as sociology and human relationships.

Music is a powerful means of communication. It provides a means by which people can share emotions, intentions, and meanings even though their spoken languages may be mutually incomprehensible. It can also provide a vital lifeline to human interaction for those whose special needs make other means of communication difficult. Music can exert powerful physical effects, can produce deep and profound emotions within us, and can be used to generate infinitely subtle variations of expressiveness by skilled composers and performers.
This new addition to the music psychology list brings together leading researchers from a variety of academic and applied backgrounds. It examines how music can be used to communicate and the biological, cognitive, social, and cultural processes which underlie such communication. Taking a broad, interdisciplinary look at all aspects of communication, from the symbolic aspects of musical notation, to the use of music in advertising, the book is the first of its kind. It will be valuable for all those involved in music cognition, music education, and communication studies.

Music is a tremendously powerful channel through which people develop their personal and social identities. Music is used to communicate emotions, thoughts, political statements, social relationships, and physical expressions. But, just as language can mediate the construction and negotiation of developing identities, so music can also be a means of communication through which aspects of people's identities are constructed. Music can have a profound influence on our developing sense of identity, our values, and our beliefs, whether from rock music, classical music, or jazz. Different research studies in social and developmental psychology are beginning to chart the various ways in which these processes occur, and this is the first book to examine the relationship between music and identity.

The first section focuses on Developing Musical Identities, and deals with the ways in which individuals involved in musical participation develop personal identities that are intrinsically musical. Chapters include: 'The self identity of young musicians', 'Musical identities and the school environment' and 'Personal identity and music: a family perspective'. The second section deals with Developing Identities Through Music and contains chapters on 'Gender identity and music', 'National identity and music' and 'Music as a catalyst for changing personal identity'.

This is the first book to deal with musical identity from a psychological perspective, and will be fascinating and important reading for postgraduate and research psychologists in social, developmental, and music psychology. The book will also appeal to those within the applied fields of health and educational psychology, music education, and music therapy.

This textbook offers a comprehensive guide to carrying out a research project in social psychology. With helpful suggestions and step-by-step guidance through every stage of the research process, the book challenges the reader throughout to tackle the key methodological and theoretical issues in conducting research.

Following an introduction to key issues, the book uses eight fully piloted social psychological studies to demonstrate a wide range of methods and associated theories. Methods described include: in-depth interviews; social representations of gender in the media; experimental studies of person perception and framing of risk; structured group observations; Kelly Repgrids; interaction diaries; and survey methods.

Doing Social Psychology is one of five books which form the core of The Open University's course Social Psychology: Personal Lives, Social Worlds.

This textbook offers a comprehensive guide to carrying out a research project in social psychology. With helpful suggestions and step-by-step guidance through every stage of the research process, the book challenges the reader throughout to tackle the key methodological and theoretical issues in conducting research. Following an introduction to key issues, the book uses eight fully piloted social psychological studies to demonstrate a wide range of methods and associated theories. Methods described include: in-depth interviews; social representations of gender in the media; experimental studies of person perception and framing of risk; structured group observations; Kelly Repgrids; interaction diaries; and survey methods. Doing Social Psychology is one of five books which form the core of The Open University's course Social Psychology: Personal Lives, Social Worlds.