Why do we think about and interact with other people in the particular ways that we do? Might these thoughts and actions be contemporary products of our long-ago evolutionary past? If so, how might this be, and what are the implications? Research generated by an evolutionary approach to social psychology issues profound insights into self-concept, impression formation, prejudice, group dynamics, helping, aggression, social influence, culture, and every other topic that is fundamental to social psychology. Evolution and Social Psychology is the first book to review and discuss this broad range of social psychological phenomena from an evolutionary perspective. It does so with a critical and constructive eye. Readers will emerge with a clear sense of the intellectual challenges, as well as the scientific benefits, of an evolutionarily-informed social psychology. The world-renowned contributors identify new questions, new theories, and new hypotheses-many of which are only now beginning to be tested. Thus, this book not only summarizes the current status of the field, it also sets an agenda for the next generation of research on evolution and social psychology. Evolution and Social Psychology is essential reading for evolutionary psychologists and social psychologists alike.

The aim of Evolution and Social Psychology is to give a complete overview of research and theory on evolutionary approaches to the understanding of social psychological topics.
Evolutionary psychology is one of the most controversial topics in psychology. The last few years have witnessed an explosion of research in which evolutionary principles are applied to fundamental social psychological processes. Evolutionary thinking is now being integrated into the entire range of topic areas traditionally considered by social psychologists - from fundamental aspects of social cognition, to interpersonal interaction, social influence, and group behavior.
This book showcases the multitude of ways in which an evolutionary framework informs social psychology. Not only does the book include chapters on aggression, cooperation, and interpersonal relationships (core topics in social psychology that are commonly associated with evolutionary psychology), it also includes chapters covering many additional topics such as impression formation, social identity, intergroup prejudice, coping with loss, and even the origins of cultural norms. Thus, the book should appeal not just to enthusiasts of evolutionary psychology, but also to anyone who wants to better understand the origins and contemporary workings of the human mind in social situations.
The list of contributors is diverse and international, including some of the most well-known and highly-respected social psychologists in the world. These contributors have been asked to make a special effort to focus on the unique insights and novel hypotheses that can emerge from an evolutionarily-informed social psychology. Consequently, this booknot only showcases the conceptual breadth of evolutionary social psychology, it also reveals an evolutionary social psychology that is conceptually sophisticated, empirically rigorous, and scientifically useful.
This volume - while putting forward the arguments and evidence from supporters of evolutionary psychology - also promises to provide a balanced and critical account of the failings and unanswered questions that continue to expose this discipline to harsh criticism. In sum, it should provide an excellent and uniquely comprehensive resource for senior undergraduates, graduates and researchers on a range of courses in social psychology, evolutionary psychology and biopsychology, as well as an up-to-date overview for the curious and skeptical.

Sharing stories and advice rooted in the science of evolutionary psychology, father and son authors Doug Kenrick and David Lundberg-Kendrick pinpoint the dangers of stone-age problem solving for our lives today, and present a new, systematic way to survive and be happy in the modern world. Over millennia, we humans have evolved a set of motivational systems to help us solve the seven basic problems of existence: surviving, protecting ourselves from attackers, forming friendships, winning respect, attracting mates, hanging onto mates, and caring for our families. We seek the same goals in the 21st century. However, the saber-tooth tigers and rival tribes that once threatened us have been replaced by marketers peddling sugar-laden foods, pundits fanning the culture war flames, and payday loan companies scamming those who can least afford it. Through a series of engaging narratives and science-based life tips, this book helps us see past our electronics and lattes and gain helpful insights into achieving the life we want.

Over the course of the last four decades, Robert Cialdini's work has helped spark an intellectual revolution in which social psychological ideas have become increasingly influential. The concepts presented in his book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, have spread well beyond the geographic boundaries of North America and beyond the field of academic social psychology into the areas of business, health, and politics. In this book, leading authors, who represent many different countries and disciplines, explore new developments and the widespread impact of Cialdini's work in research areas ranging from persuasion strategy and social engineering to help-seeking and decision-making. Among the many topics covered, the authors discuss how people underestimate the influence of others, how a former computer hacker used social engineering to gain access to highly confidential computer codes, and how biology and evolution figure into the principles of influence. The authors break new ground in the study of influence.

Why do three out of four professional football players go bankrupt? How can illiterate jungle dwellers pass a test that tricks Harvard philosophers? And why do billionaires work so hard only to give their hard-earned money away?

When it comes to making decisions, the classic view is that humans are eminently rational. But growing evidence suggests instead that our choices are often irrational, biased, and occasionally even moronic. Which view is right or is there another possibility?

In this animated tour of the inner workings of the mind, psychologist Douglas T. Kenrick and business professor Vladas Griskevicius challenge the prevailing views of decision making, and present a new alternative grounded in evolutionary science. By connecting our modern behaviors to their ancestral roots, they reveal that underneath our seemingly foolish tendencies is an exceptionally wise system of decision making.

From investing money to choosing a job, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, our choices are driven by deep-seated evolutionary goals. Because each of us has multiple evolutionary goals, though, new research reveals something radical there s more than one you making decisions. Although it feels as if there is just one single self inside your head, your mind actually contains several different sub-selves, each one steering you in a different direction when it takes its turn at the controls.

"The Rational Animal" will transform the way you think about decision making. And along the way, you ll discover the intimate connections between ovulating strippers, Wall Street financiers, testosterone-crazed skateboarders, Steve Jobs, Elvis Presley, and you."